Addiction is considered by most to be a social problem that must be addressed through social solutions, i.e., incarceration. But scientific evidence says the opposite: addiction is a brain disease. “The World Health Organization has defined addiction as “a condition, psychological and sometimes also physical, resulting from the interaction between a living organism and a drug, characterized by behavioral and other responses which always include a compulsion to take drug on a continuous or ongoing basis.” periodically in order to feel its psychological effects, and sometimes to avoid the discomfort of its absences. Tolerance may or may not be present” (4). Interestingly, however, this clinical condition has both behavioral and social components that need to be addressed, just as other disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, are treated. Furthermore, researchers argue that drug addicts should be viewed as victims, suffering from an altered brain state, just like schizophrenics (1). Advances in the fields of neural and behavioral sciences have led to this new definition of addiction. Researchers have identified physical differences between the brain structure of an addict and a "non-addict," implying that these habits are behaviors that alter the pathways built by neurons and synapses, as well as the availability of recently identified receptors, genes. expression, and even the responsiveness of an addict to their environment. Biologists have also highlighted elements common to all addictions, regardless of the substance abused. Such standardization constitutes a great advance in the treatment of the disease (1). On this biological note, it is argued that addiction proliferates through activation of the mesolimbic reward system, a pathway that is affected by all addictive substances and that mediates complete reinforcement, including reinforcement from artificial substances such as drugs ( 2). This reinforcement does not always act in a positive way, since it can possibly cause withdrawal in the victim: the physical effects felt when a substance to which the circuit is repeatedly exposed are absent; drug addicts react so violently because this recurring contact with their substance of choice causes the nervous system to adapt to maintain a kind of homeostasis in the body that is constant when the drug is...... in the middle of paper..... ...need to be treated, but if we cannot recognize these substances as drugs that are actually substances of abuse, then we cannot begin to treat this disease that afflicts so many Americans. Prolonged abuse of any substance can cause lasting and widespread changes in brain function and structure. This fact should then encourage research into ways to treat this disease – addiction – because of the universality of the effects of drug addiction. Its implications are even felt in the field of public health, since drug consumption is responsible for the transmission of numerous diseases (e.g. AIDS, hepatitis), and this abuse is recognized as a brain disorder “characterized by research compulsive drug addict. and use” will help reduce the social costs linked to the consequences and ineffective treatment of the disease (1). Works Cited (1) Alan I. Leshner “Addiction is a Brain Disease,” Drug Abuse: Opposing Viewpoints. , Ellen M. Unterwald(3) Cocaine dependence, Frank H. Gawin(4) “Nicotine and dependence”, Action on smoking and health.