Surgeon General issues report on alcohol, drugs and health
A new Surgeon General’s report finds alcohol and drug
misuse and severe substance use disorders, commonly called addiction, to be one
of America’s most pressing public health concerns. Nearly 21 million Americans –
more than the number of people who have all cancers combined – suffer from
substance use disorders.
“Alcohol and drug addiction take an enormous toll on
individuals, families, and communities,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek
Murthy. “Most Americans know someone who has been touched by an alcohol or a
drug use disorder. Yet 90 percent of people with a substance use disorder are
not getting treatment. That has to change.”
The report, “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon
General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health,” marks the first time a U.S.
Surgeon General has dedicated a report to substance misuse and related
disorders. The report addresses alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drug
misuse, with chapters dedicated to neurobiology, prevention, treatment,
recovery, health systems integration and recommendations for the future. It
provides an in-depth look at the science of substance use disorders and
addiction, calls for a cultural shift in the way Americans talk about the issue
and recommends actions we can take to prevent and treat these conditions and
promote recovery.
“It’s time to change how we view addiction,” said Murthy.
“Not as a moral failing but as a chronic illness that must be treated with
skill, urgency and compassion. The way we address this crisis is a test for
America.”
For the full report and executive summary, visit http://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/.
More
information about the work of the department’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division is on the DHS website.
Neurobiology of Substance Use, Misuse and Addiction. Well-supported scientific evidence
shows that addiction to alcohol or drugs is a chronic brain disease that has
potential for recurrence and recovery. The addiction process involves a
three-stage cycle: binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and
preoccupation/anticipation. This cycle becomes more severe as a person
continues substance use and it produces dramatic changes in brain function that
reduce a person’s ability to control their substance use.
Supported scientific evidence shows
that these changes in the brain persist long after substance use stops. It is
not yet known how much these changes may be reversed or how long that process
may take.
Prevention works. However, it must be
evidence-based, and there is a need for an ongoing investment in resources and
infrastructure to ensure that prevention policies and programs can be
implemented faithfully, sustainably, and at sufficient scale to reap the
rewards of reduced substance misuse and its consequences in communities.
Treatment is effective. As with other chronic, relapsing
medical conditions, treatment can manage the symptoms of substance use
disorders and prevent relapse. Rates of relapse following treatment for
substance use disorders are comparable to those of other chronic illnesses such
as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. More than 25 million individuals with a
previous substance use disorder are in remission and living healthy, productive
lives.
People can and do recover. The recovery movement offers a
valuable opportunity for people with substance use disorders and their loved
ones to get the support they need to gradually return to a healthy and
productive life away from the destructive impact of substance use. The movement
also provides an opportunity for people to advocate for improvements in
prevention and treatment services. Equally, this movement can contribute to
efforts to reduce negative public attitudes as well as discrimination embedded
in public policies and the health care system.
Healthcare Systems and Substance Use
Disorders. Well-supported scientific evidence shows that the
traditional separation of substance use disorder treatment and mental health
services from mainstream health care has created obstacles to successful care
coordination. Efforts are needed to support integrating screening, assessments,
interventions, use of medications, and care coordination between general health
systems and specialty substance use disorder treatment programs or services.
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