Is addiction a brain-disease? An overview of the evidence

Substance use disorder (SUD) affects more than 200 millions of individuals worldwide and remains a significant public health concern. During recent decades, our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to SUD has improved significantly, due to advances in genetics and neuroscience research, and the brain-disease model of addiction (BDMA) has been consolidated as the most appropriate framework for studying addiction. However, these advances have not been accompanied by clinically significant improvements in therapies, medications and prevention strategies, creating increasing controversy among researchers and clinicians, who argue that the BDMA has failed to deliver its promises. Increasing evidence suggests that addiction cannot be explained by a single model, as it encompasses a complex interaction between genetic, psychological and social factors during the course of one's life at various degrees. Therefore, interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate these different factors are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of addiction. This talk will provide an overview of the current state of addiction research and propose ways forward for future research. By highlighting the limitations of the BDMA and the need to abandon the 'paradigm shift' narratives in addiction research, this talk aims to promote new ideas and collaborations for advancing addiction research and improving clinical outcomes.