Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: A Commentary

ABSTRACT

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health is a historic document that comprehensively addresses substance use. It presents information on the neurobiological theories of substance use, early intervention, treatment, and recovery. It places substance use in the context of medical illness that will hopefully diminish the stigma associated with it, encourage treatment-seeking behaviors, and engage more health professionals in the treatment and management of substance use disorders. The report is written with the general public as the intended readers; and to this end, the concepts were presented concisely and clearly. Further, the management strategies in the report can serve as an excellent reference for patients and health professionals and as a basis for public health policies.

KEYWORDS:

• Addiction
• community involvement
• public health
• recovery
• substance use disorders
• Surgeon General’s report
• treatment