Addiction affects your brain as well as your body – that’s why detoxing is just the first stage of recovery

Substance use disorders are widespread in the US, but many people wrongly equate detoxing with being cured.

By: Emma Fenske, DO, Oregon Health & Science University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 12, 2026

Words: 1,299

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Emma Fenske, DO, Oregon Health & Science University

Addiction is one of the most common and consequential chronic medical conditions in the United States. Nationwide, more than 46 million people met the criteria for a substance abuse disorder as of 2021, the most recent data available.

Decades of evidence show that addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease of the brain. Nonetheless, there’s still widespread public misunderstanding of what constitutes “treatment” for addiction, …

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