ABSTRACT
Substance addiction is a serious and widespread problem that affects millions of individuals worldwide. According to data from the United Nations: about 5.5 per cent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years have used drugs at least once in the past year, while 36.3 million people, or 13 per cent of the total number of persons who use drugs, suffer from drug use disorders. Before addressing a problem such as addiction, it is necessary to have at least a rough understanding of what the condition is. In fact, according to the American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is caused by a combination of behavioral, psychological, environmental, and biological factors, and in this way, is similar to both heart disease and type 2 diabetes: Choice does not determine whether something is a disease. Heritabilities of addictive disorders range from 0.39 for hallucinogens to 0.72 for cocaine.
