There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
Since 1997 the US National Institute on Drug Abuse has advocated a brain disease model
of addiction (BDMA). We assess the strength of evidence for the BDMA in animals, neuroimaging
studies of people with addiction, and current research on the role of genetics in
addiction. We critically assess claims about the medical and social benefits of use
of the BDMA because the social implications are often implied as a reason to accept
this model. Furthermore, we argue that the BDMA is not supported by animal and neuroimaging
evidence to the extent its advocates suggest; it has not helped to deliver more effective
treatments for addiction; and its effect on public policies toward drugs and people
with addiction has been modest. The focus of the BDMA is on disordered neurobiology
in a minority of severely addicted individuals, which undermines the implementation
of effective and cost-effective policies at the population level to discourage people
from smoking tobacco and drinking heavily. The pursuit of high technology direct brain
interventions to cure addiction when most individuals with addiction do not have access
to effective psychosocial and drug treatments is questionable.