Nature of the Problem: Addiction as a chronic disorder

In the next set of Briefings, we look at the time course of addiction and how it influences the way that we should be building systems, including for the delivery of treatment, that help people find recovery. In this first Briefing, we look at acute and chronic disorders and how they are managed in today’s medical world.

‘The terminology used to describe addiction can be influential in a variety of ways. It can shape people’s attitudes towards whether they can overcome addiction, shape the way we deliver treatment and the way we help people along the path to recovery, and influence society’s attitudes towards people with substance use problems.’