We still misunderstand addiction. Here’s what you should know

Addiction remains widely misunderstood as a personal failing rather than a health condition. According to Shalini Arunogiri, an addiction psychiatrist at Monash University, this distinction carries real weight. Viewing addiction through a moral lens—as weakness or lack of willpower—undermines treatment and stigmatizes those struggling with substance use. Reframing it as a medical condition, comparable to diabetes, transforms how we approach prevention, care, and policy. This shift, grounded in neuroscience research, is essential for addressing the public health crisis surrounding addiction.

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