Addiction: The Supplementary Series

In an informal therapy group, Dr Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA, discusses addiction as a brain disease with addicts and family members. She notes the environmental, behavioural and genetic factors that can make an individual vulnerable to addiction.

What leads to relapse? Why is drug addiction a chronic, relapsing disease? Experts explain that relapse is not the failure of treatment but part of the disorder.

Addiction can be difficult for both the addict and their family members. What can be even more difficult is finding the right treatment for an individual.

The adolescent brain is not fully developed, making a young person extremely vulnerable to drug and alcohol addiction. Co-occurring disorders such as anxiety or depression are typically present with adolescent addicts.

Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr Nora Volkow addresses a wide range of issues in this programme such as: addiction as a brain disease; the stigma associated with addiction; the adolescent addict and relapse.

Director of Treatment and Recovery Research at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Dr Mark Willenbring discusses the different factors that can lead to alcoholism, including genetics and psychiatric disorders.

Dr Michael Dennis is an expert on the treatment of adolescents with drug and alcohol problems. In this programme, he discusses the vulnerability of an adolescent's brain and the prevalence of co-occurring disorders in teen addiction.

Dr Kathleen Brady is a professor of psychiatry and an expert in addiction and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Here she discusses how underlying disorders like anxiety, depression or trauma can lead to addiction or relapse.

Dr Robert Meyers developed an innovative treatment method called Community Reinforcement and Family Training. This programme outlines the CRAFT approach, a gentle and effective method for helping families guide addicted loved ones into treatment.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is considered the most effective treatment for stimulant addiction. No medical treatment currently exists for stimulant addiction, which include methamphetamine and cocaine.

Justin and Amanda, a young couple addicted to opiates for several years, have entered a treatment facility at Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Maine. This programme follows their progress and presents expert commentary from Acadia administrator Scott Farnum.

Drug Courts are an alternative to incarcerating repeat, non-violent drug felons. In lieu of jail, addicts are mandated to receive comprehensive treatment, which often reduces relapses and re-arrests.

The story of one mother's attempt to rescue her daughter from her heroin addiction – a more complete telling of the story introduced in the centerpiece show, Addiction.