What is Addiction

What You Need to Know About Addiction in Four Minutes: Addiction Policy Forum Releases Dramatic, Understandable Video on Opioids' Brain Impact, Prevention, and Treatment. Want to better understand the brain science of #addiction? Watch this short explainer video. Learn More
Read moreWine for your health: truth and myth

Cutting through the Clutter about Heart Health The following outline formed a webinar that NCADD presented in August 2015 as part of Cigna’s Alcohol and Drug Awareness Series. The presentation focused on the impacts of wine as it relates to cancer and cardiac health, weighing out the benefits and the risks...
Read moreFacts About Alcohol

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States: 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence along with several million more who engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. More than half of all adults...
Read moreUnderstanding Addiction

People experiment with drugs for many different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Use doesn’t automatically lead to abuse, and...
Read moreFrequently Asked Questions About Alcohol and Drugs

NCADD has prepared this list of Frequently Asked Questions to help with the many questions people have with Addiction, Treatment and Recovery. We have conveniently split this into sections for Parents, Youth, Women, Seniors, Treatment and Veterans.
Read moreThe REAL story about alcohol and other drugs

As a young person, you’ll hear everything there is to hear about alcohol and other drugs from friends, your brother or sister or other young people. Unfortunately, much of what you hear from them is based on myth and misconception and, as a result, it may not always be true or...
Read moreDriving While Impaired -- Alcohol and Drugs

FACT: An estimated 32% of fatal car crashes involve an intoxicated driver or pedestrian. (NHTSA) FACT: 3,952 fatally injured drivers tested positive for drug involvement. (FARS) FACT: Over 1.2 million drivers were arrested in 2011 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. (FBI) FACT: Car crashes are the leading...
Read moreWhat Is Treatment?

What is treatment -- and does it work? The good news is that no matter how severe the alcohol or drug problem may seem, most people with a substance use disorder can benefit from some form of treatment. In the past, society viewed alcoholism and drug addiction as a moral flaw. Popular...
Read moreWhat Is Prevention?
Can alcoholism and addiction be prevented? In a society that continually promotes alcohol and drug use at every level, the need to provide education on the dangers of alcohol and drug…
Alcoholism, Drug Dependence and Co-Occurring Disorders
When a person has both an alcohol/drug problem and a mental health issue such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety, it is called a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis. Dealing…
For Parents: What to Look For
Do you suspect that your child is abusing alcohol or using drugs? Are you worried? Have you noticed some changes with your child? As a parent, it is normal to…
Alcohol Energy Drinks
Alcohol energy drinks (AEDs) or Caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) are premixed beverages containing not only alcohol but caffeine and other stimulants. Sold in tall, narrow cans similar to non-alcoholic energy drinks…
Alcohol, Drugs and Youth
There is no single age group of people more affected by alcohol and drugs than young people. In some ways it feels like it is an issue everywhere: for you…
Alcohol, Drugs and Crime
The use of alcohol and drugs can negatively affect all aspects of a person’s life, impact their family, friends and community, and place an enormous burden on American society. One…
Ten Tips for Prevention for Youth
As a young person you are faced with many challenges. However, very few have the potential to affect your life in a more significant way than the decisions you make…
Family History and Genetics
Why do some people become addicted to alcohol and drugs and others do not? Whether a person decides to use alcohol or drugs is a personal choice, influenced by multiple biological…
Underage and College Drinking
FACT: Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth. More kids try alcohol than try cigarettes and a substantial number of young people begin drinking at…
Frequently Asked Questions from Young People
Why is age of first use of alcohol so critically important? Kids who start drinking alcohol before age 15 are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol abuse or dependence than…