Reframing drug abuse through science: A call for evidence-based policy and practice (Scientific commentary)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14295/bjs.v6i2.952Keywords:
addiction science, substance use disorders, neuroscience, evidence-based policy, public healthAbstract
Substance use remains a significant global public health challenge, yet responses to drug-related harms are often influenced by stigma, misinformation, and punitive approaches. This commentary argues for reframing drug abuse through a scientific lens that recognizes addiction as a complex health condition shaped by interactions among biological vulnerability, psychological processes, social environments, and lived experiences. Advances in neuroscience, genetics, and public health have demonstrated that substance use disorders involve changes in brain function and are influenced by broader social determinants of health. A science-based approach can improve prevention, treatment, policy, and public understanding by replacing moral judgment with evidence-informed strategies. Prioritizing research, accessible care, harm reduction, and stigma reduction is essential for developing more effective and compassionate responses to substance use disorders.
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