The federal government's top doctor has released a report detailing substance misuse in the U.S. and how it can be addressed. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy spoke about the Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health Thursday at the Facing Addiction in America National Summit.
Murthy and his research team claim only 10 percent of people in need of specialized treatment can get it. He said treating addiction as a chronic illness is important to cutting into the “treatment gap” by empowering individuals to get help.
“It affects the circuitry in our brain. When we understand that, we understand the biological basis for why relapse is so common and why it’s so hard to resist the craving," he said.
Murthy also called for an investment in Medication Assisted Treatment in the Ohio Valley where the “treatment gap” has caused an increase in opioid abuse and overdose rates.
The report is a first of it’s kind from the Surgeon General. Divided into seven chapters, it details the science of substance abuse, treatment and prevention. Murthy said the report is not just about addiction, but what kind of country can be created.
“A country where people can live with dignity and respect, regardless of their life experience and background. A country where people who need help can get it,” he said.
