Impact

Why this work matters

Addiction to substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and opioids has devastating consequences on our society. Substance use disorders are more prevalent than most major diseases, yet treatments often have poor efficacy or poor compliance.

50MPeople in the U.S. addicted to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco

205MPeople directly affected when families are counted

130+Peer-reviewed papers from the lab

190+Scientists and students trained since 2006

The impact of addiction in the U.S.

Substance use disorders rival heart disease and cancer in prevalence and cost, driving hundreds of thousands of deaths each year through overdose, tobacco-related disease, and alcohol-related harm. Public perception still lags behind the science: addiction is a chronic brain disorder, not a moral failing. Better mechanisms, better medications, and better policies are the solution — and that is what this lab works on every day.

See how the concept of addiction has evolved over the past century →

Infographic: Comparison to other diseases — Comparison to other diseases

Infographic: Public perception — Public perception

Our research in the news

The lab's discoveries have been covered by more than 50 outlets, including The Washington Post, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Wired, ABC News, Live Science, ScienceDaily, and KPBS, and featured in the Netflix docuseries Chelsea Does. See News & Press for coverage and press releases.