Scientists and researchers certainly know already that addiction is a brain disorder. But when the assertion is reechoed by a respected authority in the medical world, it probably rings a bell and emphasizes the need for specific recommendations like a culture shift in how Americans think about addiction.

This is particularly the case with the US Surgeon General which in a 2016 news release, stressed the fact that addiction is not just a public health crisis, but an actual brain disorder.

The US Surgeon General is the lead communicator on public health issues in America. It notes that in the last few years, the rate of addiction has skyrocketed, especially those related to prescription drug. The CDC notes that 2014 recorded the highest number of drug overdose and drug induced deaths in recent time, with 60 percent of them involving an opioid or a painkiller.

There seems to still be a lot of stigma around addiction cases in America. As such, a good number of addicts continue to be discouraged from visiting treatment centers. The Surgeon General notes that unless negative stereotypes are eradicated from society, America will not succeed in creating an environment where people can freely and comfortably ask for help.

With confirmation from the Surgeon General that addiction is a brain disorder, there seems to be a bleak future for addiction in the United States. But that is not exactly the case.

Research shows that America is gradually beginning to welcome addicts and create a more conducive environment for them. As such, many of them are beginning to be a little more comfortable visiting treatment centers. There is also evidence of increased medical and technological expertise to deal with cases of addiction in the United States.