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Alan I. Leshner, PhD

JAMA. 1999;282:1314-1316.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

INTRODUCTION

More than two thirds of people with addiction see a primary care or urgent care physician every 6 months, and many others are regularly seen by other medical specialists.^1-2 These physicians are therefore in a prime position to help patients who may have drug abuse problems by recognizing and diagnosing the addiction, helping to direct patients to a program that can meet their treatment needs, and helping to monitor progress after specialty treatment and during recovery.^3-6 Many physicians, however, find the domain of drug abuse particularly daunting and often avoid the issue with their patients. This is understandable given the relatively short shrift drug abuse is given in formal medical education. There is a widespread misperception that drug abuse treatment is not effective, which may account for the reluctance of physicians to even broach the subject of drug abuse or treatment with their patients.

On the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Understanding Why People Use Drugs

The Nature of Addiction

What Is Drug Addiction Treatment?

The Best Treatment Programs Are Comprehensive and Multidimensional

Drug Addiction Treatment Is Effective

Conclusion

Author Affiliation: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.

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