Understanding Addiction: Causes, Costs, And Care

We define addiction as a treatable brain-based disorder, map the scale of substance use in the U.S., and explain why early use drives risk. We call for evidence-based care, less stigma, and practical support for both substance and behavioral addictions.

• clinical definition of addiction and why words matter
• national prevalence and early-onset risk patterns
• teen statistics and developmental vulnerability
• screening, brief interventions, and evidence-based treatments
• gaps in access, quality, and standards of care
• justice system referrals versus healthcare pathways
• health, social, and economic costs of substance use
• behavioral addictions beyond drugs and alcohol
• harm reduction, recovery, and supportive community actions

If you want more resources on addiction, there will be a link below
And if you do want to, you know, cop yourself some gear and support the channel, that would be great.

Addiction takes center stage as we unpack what it really is, why it begins so early for so many, and how evidence-based care can turn grim statistics into real recovery. We start with a clear definition—addiction as a neuro-psychological disorder—then explore how that lens shifts everything from personal choices to public policy. Along the way, we confront the tough numbers: early initiation, treatment gaps, and the enormous health and economic toll that touches every community.

We trace the developmental story behind risk, showing how adolescent brains are uniquely primed for reinforcement and why delaying first use can be a powerful protective factor. From there, we dig into what works: screening and brief interventions in primary care, medications for alcohol and opioid use disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and peer support that sustains change over time. We challenge the status quo where justice systems drive most referrals while healthcare lags, and we make the case for shifting resources from paying for consequences to paying for prevention and effective treatment.

This conversation also broadens the frame beyond substances. Behavioral addictions—gaming, gambling, compulsive sexual behavior, problematic pornography use, and sugar-laden ultra-processed foods—recruit the same reward circuits and can derail daily life. We share practical, compassionate steps for harm reduction and recovery, emphasizing support over shame: one appointment, one meeting, one skill at a time. If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone—and help works when it’s accessible, consistent, and grounded in evidence. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nonjudgmental nudge, and leave a review so more people can find resources that make change possible.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Topic Setup
• 0:14 Defining Addiction Clearly
• 0:46 Scope Of Substance Use In America
• 2:30 Why Early Use Raises Risk
• 3:16 Prevention Screening And Treatment Gaps
• 6:12 Justice System Referrals And Costs
• 6:18 Health And Social Consequences
• 7:55 Who Pays And How Much
• 10:49 Beyond Substances: Behavioral Addictions
• 12:33 Reduce Harm Seek Help Show Love
• 13:35 Gratitude Resources And Support
• 15:06 No Judgment Offer Help Endnote

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:02

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night wherever you are and however you are watching or listening. Welcome to Fruit Blenders Podcast. On today's episode, our main topic and subject is addiction. What is an addiction? Addiction is a neural psychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or alcohol or engage in a behavior that produces natural rewards despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Addiction and substance use. Addiction is a complex disease with the behavioral characteristics. Forty million Americans ages twelve and older have substance problems. Addiction and substance use affect more Americans than heart conditions, diabetes, or cancer. Another eighty million people engage in risky use of addictive substances in ways that threaten public health and safety, but do not meet the clinical criteria for this disease. The earlier substance use starts, the greater the risk of addiction. Teen Addic Statistics. Addiction is a developmental disease. More than ninety percent of people with a substance problem begin smoking, drinking, or using other drugs before age 18. More than 96% begin using these substances before the age of 21. One in four Americans who begin using any addictive substance before age 18 has a substance problem compared to one in 25 Americans who started using at age 21 or older. Forty-six percent of children under age 18 live in a household where someone age 18 or older is smoking, drinking excessively, misusing prescription drugs, or using illegal drugs, screening, intervention, and treatment. Addiction can be prevented and treated using a wide range of evidence-based screening, intervention, treatment tools and practices. Screening and brief interventions are appropriate for all substance users where areas like medications and therapies are usually necessary for those with addiction and substance use. Seven in ten people with the chronic diseases of high blood pressure, major depression, and diabetes receive treatment, but only about one in ten people who need treatment for substance problems receive any form of care. Of those who do receive treatment, most do not receive anything that approximates evidence-based care. There are no clearly delineated, consistent, and regulated national standards that stipulates who may provide addiction treatment in the US. Standards vary by state and by payer. Taxpayers. Forty-four percent of all referrals to publicly funded addiction treatment come from the justice system, while less than six percent come from health care providers. Cost of addiction and substance use. Addiction, substance use, and abuse are the largest preventable and most costly health problems facing the U.S. today, responsible for more than twenty percent of deaths in the U.S. Addiction, substance use and abuse cause or contribute to more than seventy other conditions requiring medical care, including cancer, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, HIV, AIDS, pregnancy complications, and trauma, and account for one-third of all hospitals in patient costs. Addiction, substance use, and abuse cause or contribute to a wide range of costly social consequences, including crime, accidents, suicide, child neglect and abuse, family dysfunction, unintended pregnancies, and lost work productivity. Total cost to federal, state, and local governments of addiction substances, use and abuse are at least four hundred and sixty eight billion dollars per year. That's a lot of money. That's a lot. Almost fifteen hundred for every person in America. Of every dollar state and federal governments spend on substance problems, only two cents, two cents goes to prevention and wow, ninety-six cents pays for the consequences or our failure to prevent and treat this problem. This is back in 2010. Only twenty-eight billion dollars, one percent of total health care cost was less than the amount of treating diabetes. Let me say that again. Each of which affects far fewer people in the US. Immediate costs per year of teen substance uses or use include our estimated sixty eight billion associated with underage drinking and fourteen billion dollars in substance-related juvenile costs, justice costs. Underage drinkers and adult drinkers who have an alcohol problem consume between thirty seven point five percent and forty-eight point eight percent of the value of all alcohol sold in the US. So let's just take a moment here. Let's take a moment here. All right, deep thoughts. So everyone has an addiction. I know, I know, not everything is all about drugs and alcohol, but listen, listen, okay. Sometimes an addiction does not have to be just alcohol or drugs. I'm speaking facts here, like I've been, an addiction can be anything, such as they forgot to put, you know, sex in there, food in there, depends on what type of food, like the sugars and all that stuff, video games, porno, some sort of craving. Addiction includes so many things we can talk about. So many. But the end goal is to quit it or reduce the use of it. The excessive use of it. And to be quite frankly, I mean, I have an addiction, you have an addiction, but we both need to seek help. All of us need to seek help. Once we get the help, we can reduce the excessive use of it or quit it. So don't sit there and act like you don't have an addiction. Whatever addiction you have can be resolved or cured. But, anyways, um, that was the full episode. I would like to thank my new new supporters who've been tuning in. And if you're new to the channel or to the podcast, you are really appreciated. If you see me out there, say hi. Because I've seen a lot of my supporters in person and they are just amazing. They talk about the episode and how they loved it and which ways and what ways they uh received help from it and benefits and resources. I really appreciate running into all of you and you know asking you what's your favorite episode because that makes me really happy. The fact that you know so many facts about the episode, and it makes me happy that you are a big supporter. One day we'll do something special, all of us together, and that's what's gonna be. It's all about positivity. I love you all. Thank you for all tuning in. You are much appreciated. If you want more resources on addiction, there will be a link below. And if you do want to, you know, cop yourself some gear and support the channel, that would be great. There's gonna be a link below as well. Thank you. You are appreciated. I love you all. Stay beautiful, stay confident, stay motivated, and stay out of trouble and also stay safe. See you on the next podcast episode. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up. Before I end this episode, I just want to say um those out there who are really going through it, and those who are not, let's not judge other people because you don't know what type of background they come from. If they come from uh, you know, broken homes, broken families, uh, relationships, whatever they're going through, let's not judge them for going through these things. Addiction is not an easy battle, it's a hard battle. And the best thing we can do is, you know, support them and um help them out, give them the resources that they need to, you know, in this situation, or at least reduce it, like I said. But, anyways, um, I'm gonna end it here. Thank you all for the support. I love you all. I hope you have a great one, okay? Thank you. I'll see you on the next podcast episode. Thank you.