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Addiction Education & Support

Addiction is a chronic, treatable medical condition that affects individuals, families, workplaces, and communities. This addiction education and support hub provides evidence-based information about substance use disorders, signs of addiction, treatment, recovery, stigma, and finding appropriate resources.

Whether you are concerned about your own substance use, supporting someone you care about, or seeking reliable educational materials, CSAM offers information grounded in medical science, public health, compassion, and respect.

What Is Addiction?

Addiction—also called a substance use disorder—is a medical condition involving changes in brain function and behavior. It may cause a person to continue using alcohol or other drugs despite harmful effects on their health, relationships, work, education, or daily life.

Addiction is not caused by a lack of character, morality, or willpower. A person’s risk can be influenced by genetics, brain chemistry, mental health, trauma, environment, substance exposure, and access to care.

Like other chronic medical conditions, addiction can involve periods of improvement and recurrence. Evidence-based treatment, recovery support, and ongoing care can help people manage substance use disorders and improve their quality of life.

Substance Use Disorder Education

Accurate substance use disorder education helps people understand how alcohol and other drugs can affect health and behavior. It can also challenge addiction myths, reduce stigma, encourage earlier care, and support more informed decisions.

CSAM provides educational resources for individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and others seeking reliable information about addiction and recovery.

Alcohol Use Disorder Resources

Alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe and may affect a person’s physical health, mental health, relationships, and daily responsibilities.

Explore common questions about alcohol use and problem drinking.

Marijuana Education and Resources

Marijuana use can affect physical health, mental health, memory, attention, judgment, and behavior. The risks can vary based on age, frequency of use, product potency, method of consumption, and individual health factors.

These resources provide factual information to help individuals and families better understand potential health and addiction risks.

Signs of Addiction and When to Seek Help

The signs of addiction can differ depending on the person, the substance involved, and the severity of the condition. Possible signs of a substance use disorder may include:

  • Difficulty reducing or controlling alcohol or drug use
  • Strong cravings or urges to use a substance
  • Continuing to use despite health, relationship, work, school, or legal consequences
  • Needing more of a substance to experience the same effects
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped
  • Giving up important activities or responsibilities because of substance use
  • Using alcohol or drugs in situations where doing so may be dangerous

No single sign confirms that someone has an addiction. A qualified healthcare professional can evaluate the person’s substance use, health, circumstances, and related concerns.

If you are concerned about your own substance use or someone you care about, learning more and speaking with a healthcare professional can be an important first step.

Read CSAM’s Addiction FAQs for additional guidance about signs, treatment, relapse, and finding care.

Treatment, Recovery, and Support

Addiction treatment works. Effective care is individualized and may include behavioral therapies, medications for certain substance use disorders, medical support, treatment for co-occurring health conditions, and family, peer, or recovery support.

Recovery is an ongoing process rather than a single event. A return to substance use does not mean that a person or their treatment has failed. It may indicate that treatment should be resumed, adjusted, or strengthened.

Reducing stigma is a critical part of supporting treatment and recovery. Shame and stigmatizing language can prevent people from seeking care, delay treatment, and worsen health outcomes. Respectful and accurate language can support healing while maintaining personal accountability.

Finding Addiction Treatment and Medical Support

An addiction medicine physician can assess substance use disorders, explain evidence-based treatment options, address withdrawal or other medical complications, and coordinate care for related physical and mental health conditions.

Use the CSAM Physician Locator to find a participating addiction medicine professional.

The locator is provided as an informational service. CSAM does not make clinical referrals, and inclusion in the locator does not constitute an endorsement.

If someone may be experiencing an overdose or another medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

Evidence-Based Addiction Resources

The following CSAM resources present medical, public health, and neuroscience perspectives on addiction, treatment, recovery, and stigma:

For additional clinical publications and professional guidance, visit CSAM’s Guidelines and Publications.

Consumer FAQs and Related Resources

Explore additional CSAM addiction education resources based on what you need:

  • Addiction FAQs: Answers about signs of addiction, treatment, relapse, recovery, supporting someone, and finding care
  • Physician Locator: Search for participating CSAM addiction medicine professionals by county or region
  • CSAM Education Center: Explore addiction medicine education and continuing medical education opportunities for healthcare professionals
  • Guidelines and Publications: Review CSAM clinical tools, guidelines, standards, and publications
  • News & Resources: Find current updates, educational materials, policy information, and archived CSAM resources

Addiction Education FAQs

What is addiction?

Addiction, also called a substance use disorder, is a chronic and treatable medical condition. It can affect brain function, behavior, health, relationships, and daily life. Addiction is not caused by a lack of character or willpower.

Is addiction a disease?

Yes. Addiction is recognized as a chronic medical condition influenced by biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors. Like other chronic conditions, it can be treated and managed with appropriate care and support.

What causes addiction?

No single factor causes addiction. Genetics, brain chemistry, mental health, trauma, environment, age of first substance use, patterns of exposure, and access to support can all influence a person’s risk.

Can people recover from addiction?

Yes. With evidence-based treatment, appropriate support, and time, many people recover from addiction or significantly improve their health and quality of life. Recovery may look different for each person and can require ongoing care.

Where can I find addiction education resources?

CSAM provides addiction education through its consumer FAQs, substance-specific information, clinical guidelines and publications, Education Center, and News & Resources section.

A Note on Language and Respect

The way we talk about addiction matters. Stigmatizing language can unintentionally cause harm, while respectful and accurate language can support treatment, recovery, healing, and accountability.

If you are seeking answers or support for yourself or someone else, you are not alone. Addiction is treatable, recovery is possible, and help is available.

This page provides general educational information and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.