It was an eventful year in addiction treatment and addiction psychiatry. Here’s what stood out most to me.

Far too many people suffer a non-lethal overdose, are brought to the ER, receive treatment, and then get released days or even hours later. These patients are sometimes in active withdrawal when they leave the hospital and thus are at maximum risk of relapse. They often do exactly that, and the addiction cycle continues.

At long last, this is now changing in many parts of the country. Where I’m based in north Florida, some systems are in place whereby many who come into the ER suffering from a drug or alcohol event can speak to a peer counselor or case manager who can help them get into treatment right away. This is a critical advancement, and it is saving lives.

More people than ever now understand that opioid addiction and other addictions are treatable brain diseases, not evidence of bad character or moral weakness. The scientific evidence has proven this time and again, and people are hearing that message. As a result, the you’re-a-bad-person stigma around addiction keeps dropping—and clearly did so in 2023.

A big reason is that people are simply talking about addiction more, and they’re more open about their struggles. Celebrities, athletes, and people from all walks of life are sharing their stories. This........

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