Alcoholism and drug dependence, and addiction, known as substance use disorders, are complex problems. People with these disorders once were thought to have a character defect or moral weakness; some people mistakenly still believe that. However, most scientists and medical researchers now consider dependence on alcohol or drugs to be a long-term illness, like asthma, hypertension (high blood pressure), or diabetes. Most people who drink alcohol drink very little, and many people can stop taking drugs without struggling. However, some people develop a substance use disorder—the use of alcohol or drugs that is compulsive or dangerous (or both)[1]. Fortunately, there’s a lot of substance abuse treatment obtainable for all kinds of addiction.