Addiction is a disease, and treatment works (Baltimore Sun Op-ed)

Tuesday Mar 7th, 2017

Regarding the March 3,　"If addiction is a disease, why haven't we cured it?": It makes no sense to say that because addiction lacks a cure, it is not a disease. There are thousands of diseases with no known cure, including chronic diseases such as heart disease and infectious viruses such as HIV.　

Every major medical organization endorses the scientific fact that addiction is a chronic brain disease. According to the surgeon general, addiction will affect one in seven people in their lifetimes. Addiction treatment is proven to be effective, and millions of people are living examples that recovery is possible. This is no different than the disease of diabetes — while there may not be a cure, treatment exists and enables people to live their lives.　

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Mark O'Brien and Dr. Leana S. Wen, Baltimore

Mr. O'Brien is the Baltimore City Health Department's director of opioid overdose prevention and treatment, and Dr. Wen is Baltimore City health commissioner.

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