Before he assumed his position as U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, MD, says, he stopped by to say good-bye to his colleagues. The nurses had 1 parting request: If you can only do 1 thing as Surgeon General, please do something about the addiction crisis in America.
Thus, for the first time, a U.S. Surgeon General has dedicated a report to substance misuse and related disorders, calling these issues one of America’s most pressing public health concerns. “I am issuing a new call to action,” he says in the foreword, “to end the public health crisis of addiction.” Nearly 21 million Americans suffer from substance use disorders—more than the number of people who have all cancers combined.
Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health offers an in-depth look at the science of substance use disorders and addiction, with chapters on neurobiology, prevention, treatment, recovery, health systems integration, and recommendations for the future.
One of the findings is that substance use disorder treatment in the U.S. remains “largely separate” from the rest of health care and serves only a fraction of those in need of treatment. An estimated 1 in 7 people in the U.S. develops a substance use disorder at some point in their lives, yet only 1 in 10 receives treatment. Many factors contribute to this treatment gap, including the stigma associated with drug and alcohol addiction.
There has been progress: The Obama administration has invested in research, development, and evaluation of programs to prevent and treat substance misuse and substance use disorders, as well as support recovery, the report says.
“It’s time to change how we view addiction,” said Dr. Murthy. “Not as a moral failing, but as a chronic illness that must be treated with skill, urgency and compassion. The way we address this crisis is a test for America.”
