Second, addiction is neither chronic nor relapsing for most of the general population. Finally, for the majority of the psychiatric population, for whom addiction can be chronic and relapsing, it is not a neurobiological disease. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on communities across the United States. But people can recover from addiction and lead full lives.
Getting help is critical to recovery. Different tools work for different people, but ongoing therapy and self-help groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous, help many. With drug and alcohol addiction, substances hijack the brain's reward system. This could lead to physical dependence on substances.
