Throughout much of the last century, scientists studying drug abuse labored in the shadows of powerful myths and misconceptions
about the nature of addiction. When science began to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, people addicted to drugs were thought
to be morally flawed and lacking in willpower. Those views shaped society’s responses to drug abuse, treating it as a moral failing
rather than a health problem, which led to an emphasis on punitive rather than preventative and therapeutic actions. Today, thanks to
science, our views and our responses to drug abuse have changed dramatically. Groundbreaking discoveries about the brain have
revolutionized our understanding of drug addiction, enabling us to respond effectively to the problem.
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior. We have identified many of
the biological and environmental factors and are beginning to search for the genetic variations that contribute to the development and
progression of the disease. Scientists use this knowledge to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches that reduce the toll drug
abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.