Addiction is a chronic brain disorder, and not merely a behavioral problem or simply the result of taking the wrong choices, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), which has ...

My previous posts have focused on recognizing and preventing excessive substance use, with an emphasis on providing the latest information about my special interest – cannabis (see 20 Questions to ...

“When I use a word,” one of 19th century British author and mathematician Lewis Carroll’s characters once said, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” Though he was a ...

Why do so many people struggle to stop drinking, quit smoking, or resist endless scrolling on their phones? Addiction touches millions of lives, yet it's often misunderstood as a personal weakness or ...

When science first studied addictive behavior individuals who became addicted to a substance commonly were viewed as being morally flawed human beings lacking willpower. Today, that view has changed.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American Over the past year and a half, Scientific ...

Clinical psychologist Ashwin Thind outlines the warning signs to watch for and how loved ones can offer support.

America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life Benoit Denizet-Lewis Simon & Schuster; 352 pages The Gist: Kate is a 32-year-old stay-at-home mom and shoplifter. Marvin is an 80-year-old ...