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Dr. Charles Smith brings critical insights about addiction as a legitimate medical disease requiring scientific understanding and treatment approaches that match its complexity and timeline.

• Addiction is a brain disease affecting the dopamine reward system, comparable to diabetes or heart disease
• Approximately 1 in 10 people have vulnerable dopamine systems predisposing them to addiction
• Risk factors include genetic predisposition, early age of first use, childhood trauma, high substance tolerance, and co-occurring mental disorders
• Full brain healing from addiction typically requires 1-2 years, making 30-day rehab models inadequate
• Dr. Smith shares his personal journey from practicing physician to addiction patient following DEA intervention
• Ending stigma requires treating addiction like other medical conditions while maintaining accountability
• The fentanyl crisis represents a national security threat with unprecedented overdose deaths
• Recovery success requires long-term monitoring, support networks, and avoiding all mind-altering substances
• Physician monitoring programs achieve 90% success rates through comprehensive care and accountability

Understanding Addiction: Know Science, No Stigma by Dr. Charles Smith and Dr. Jason Hunt is available on Amazon and provides thorough education on addiction science.