AMA applauds Surgeon General report on substance use disorders

“The AMA applauds Surgeon General Murthy for tackling the crisis of drug and alcohol addiction — an issue of vital importance to our patients and communities. The report’s detailed findings and research provide important guidance for the nation to see that addiction is a chronic disease and must be treated as such. This is a crucial starting point.

“The AMA supports the report’s emphasis on early detection and evidence-based interventions rather than providing treatment only after a crisis. The report clearly explains how alcohol and certain other drugs affect people’s brains and can develop into substance use disorders.