Why someone becomes addicted to a substance has long baffled scientists and philosophers. Now leading researchers are getting the clearest picture yet of how addiction works in the brain and body.

Consider someone addicted to alcohol, drugs, or a behavior like gambling. Why do they continue, even when they say they want to stop? It's a question that highlights a fundamental disconnect: the gap ...

Like many who have endured childhood trauma, Shannon Hicks turned to drugs at an early age. Pregnant by 16 and a mother of two by 19, she was married and living in her first home — believing she was ...

As the opioid addiction crisis continues in America, there are both new and old medications available to treat it. One of the oldest is methadone. It is also the most stigmatized — and the most ...

Addiction isn’t simply a lack of willpower or a moral failing—it’s a response to stress and disconnection. At its core, addiction is about escape. When the present moment feels overwhelming, ...

Addiction is a widespread issue that affects millions of people around the world. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, over 39.5 million people globally suffer from substance use ...

Matthew Perry's struggle with addiction manifested itself physically, impacting his outward appearance in extreme ways over ...

The fentanyl crisis has taken a toll on communities all across Oregon. It has also shined a light on the challenges frontline responders face when trying to get people help for substance use disorder, ...

Editor's Note: The graphic at the end of this segment used imprecise terminology. The Legal Action Center survey referred to “substance use disorder.” This week, we are reporting on some promising ...

The Princess of Wales has urged an end to the "stigma" surrounding addiction, calling for society to show "compassion and love" to those dependent on drugs, alcohol, or gambling. Marking Addiction ...

On her first day of Intro to Psychology in 2012, Mia* struck up a conversation with a fellow freshman named Jack. The two formed a friendship and then a relationship. Eventually, they got married.

Matt Field receives research funding from the Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, Alcohol Change UK, and the Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling. He is a trustee of ...