![Image - Learn about the issues](/sites/default/files/2023-02/Hero-LearnAboutIssues_0%20copy.jpg)
Learn about the issues
Addiction is a complex social issue as well as a medical condition. Learn what the research shows about key topics.
![Responsible opioid prescribing](/sites/default/files/2021-06/thumb-1_0.png)
Responsible opioid prescribing
It’s critical to take steps to reduce the risks and harms of prescription opioids without reducing the availability of opioids when medically necessary.
![Medications for Addiction Treatment](/sites/default/files/2021-06/thumb-2_0.png)
Medications for Addiction Treatment
It’s not "replacing one addiction with another." It's an science-based treatment that's proven to save lives, reduce relapse, and help people live happy, healthy lives.
![Mass incarceration](/sites/default/files/2021-06/thumb-3.png)
Mass incarceration
Research shows that strict punitive approaches for drug offenders do not reduce crime, improve health, or protect communities. People with substance use disorders need treatment, not jail time.
![12-step programs](/sites/default/files/2021-06/thumb-4.png)
12-step programs
These programs can be an invaluable resource for some people in recovery. But they don’t work for everyone, and 12-step programs alone are not a substitute for science-based addiction treatment.
![Medical marijuana](/sites/default/files/2021-06/thumb-5.png)
Medical marijuana
Evidence supports the drug's therapeutic effects for certain conditions, but more research is needed.
![Diversion from the criminal legal system](/sites/default/files/2021-06/thumb-6.png)
Diversion from the criminal legal system
An alternative to punishment, diversion programs offer a range of effective community responses to substance use and addiction.