What We Know and Think We Know About Addiction We know that addiction is a disease that affects the mind, body, and soul. Addiction is extremely hard to overcome, and even when you think you have, there are still triggers and temptations everywhere you go. Those who struggle with substance abuse will forever have to work on themselves and their sobriety. We believe that to help those who are dependent on drugs and alcohol, they must be isolated and in a sense “punished” for their mistakes. However, what results have we as a nation, or as a world, seen with this sort of approach? What We Should Know About Addiction In a TED Talk starring Johann Hari, it is clear that this “American Way” of dealing with those who are dependent on drug and alcohol is not providing the right treatment they need. Drugs were banned about a century ago from both America and Britain, and it spread throughout the world. It became an idea that if we punished those who were addicted to substances, we could “cure” them. However, we kept seeing the same patterns. We should know that isolation is not the key to helping someone with an addiction. Instead, we should socialize them. Those who abuse substances begin their addiction because they are isolated and alone. They believe they have nothing to look forward to each day, they have no support, and drugs and alcohol are the…