In the New York Times article, Can you get over an Addiction?, Maia Szalavitz writes on the importance of changing the way we view addiction. The author begins the article telling about her past struggles with drug addiction. She then shares that there are “two schools of thought on addiction: The first was that my brain had been chemically “hijacked” by drugs, leaving me no control over a chronic, progressive disease. The second was simply that I was a selfish criminal, with little regard for others.” Treatments are made using these schools of thought on addiction. It is important to change the way we view addiction because many existing forms of treatment doesn’t work. Szalavitz says: “Addiction is indeed a brain problem, but it’s not a degenerative pathology like Alzheimer’s disease or cancer, nor is it evidence of a criminal mind. Instead, it’s a learning disorder, a difference in the wiring of the brain that affects the way we process information about motivation, reward and punishment. And, as with many learning disorders, addictive behavior is shaped by genetic and environmental influences over the course of development.” With this revelation, people can view addiction in a different light.

Understanding addiction from a neurodevelopmental perspective offers a great deal of hope. Scientists are now starting to recognize which brain regions are involved in addiction and how. “In essence, addiction occurs when these brain systems are focused on the wrong objects: a drug or self-destructive behavior like excessive gambling instead of a new sexual partner or a baby. Once that happens, it can cause serious trouble.” Drugs like heroin are sometimes used when someone is feeling alienated, unlovable and stressed. When they are using drugs, they feel temporary relief of their problems. Once the person is used to feeling the relief that the drugs can give them, they become addicted. Once we understand that addiction is just different brain wiring, we can begin to teach recovery.