It has been said that “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I used to paraphrase these words often in conversations. What I have learned to appreciate over the last few years as I have taken a new approach, is that insanity is a real disorder. We need to collectively find new ways to not only express ourselves when we reference these phrases, but also we need to remove the barriers to success in helping people heal, such as prejudice, out of reach healthcare costs, and stigmas.

“Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.

Prevention efforts and treatment approaches for addiction are generally as successful as those for other chronic diseases.”

Today, we are more connected than ever and expectations are high for us to respond, be somewhere, do something, buy something, or engage on the internet from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep.