Editor’s note: We’re excited to introduce addiction expert Adi Jaffe, who will be blogging for us on the latest in neuroscience, treatment, and policy-issues related to addictions. We hope that, through providing quality information, we can change the dialogue about addiction in the US for the better.

We’ve all been touched by addiction one way or another. Addictions are a global problem affecting more than 30 million Americans. Drug addictions, including alcoholism, make up the lion’s share of the problem, but other addictions such as sex addiction, gambling, and food addictions are only recently getting the attention they’ve long deserved.

For those dependent on drugs, food, sex, or gambling, addiction means a lifetime of struggle to regain control over their fragile lives. For their loved ones, addiction is the sword, hanging by a thread, threatening their all.

The collateral damage of addiction is immense: Homelessness, terrorism, money-driven territory wars, the international sex-trade, and sky-rocketing prison populations are but a few of the ways in which addictions drag down our potential. The total annual cost of addiction in the US is more than $500 Billion, and with rising healthcare costs, those estimates are going nowhere but up.

Addiction treatment in the US is improving, but is still ages behind where it needs to be to provide the all important missing piece in the fight. Political wrangling has been keeping some of the most promising advances in addiction treatment out of the public’s reach, denying so many the help they need and deserve.

When I met the TakePart team, I was impressed by their zeal to produce effective, lasting, change in the world. Their passion mirrors my own quest to do everything I can to change forever the dialogue around drugs, addiction, and mental health treatment. Having spent the better part of the last decade researching neuroscience, treatment, and policy-issues related to addictions, I believe it is time to move to action.

Using the TakePart platform, it is my intention to educate and inform readers about the constant changes and advances in the many fields related to addictions, be they to drugs, or otherwise. The internet seems to be the best tool to finally put to rest the stigma of addiction and bring to light the nature of this progressive, chronic, disease.

Drawing on my experience, I will write about the neuroscience behind addiction, about groundbreaking treatment options and research advances. I will tackle policy issues and cost analyses, revealing the absurdity of the notion that putting away drug addicts is somehow a better solution to offering even today’s, less-than-optimal, treatment.

Addictions affect us all. As difficult as it may be, we need to put aside our shame, guilt, and misgivings and tackle this problem head on. Together, we can all TakePart in the solution.

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Adi Jaffe is a doctoral student at UCLA who has been studying addiction-related matters for over 6 years, has published several articles and book chapters on the topic as well as having given numerous presentations on addiction at national conferences. In 2008, Adi began publishing the blog All About Addiction, which has been constantly growing in popularity. After receiving his Ph.D., Adi plans to continue his research in addiction while making it his mission to educate the public about addiction to drugs, as well as other behavioral addictions (gambling, food, and sex addictions).