The dragon was feared throughout the land, and few were brave enough to seek his lair.

But courageous knights sought him out so that they could learn more about the beast. One day, they hoped this knowledge would help them to defeat him, and free the people from the terror.

With more than 20 million American suffering from a diagnosed substance use disorder, we ALL know people who have this disease. it might be your uncle who downs a case of beer while he watches football, or a cousin who loves to “do lunch” that includes a bottle of wine or three dry martinis, or your nephew who was suspended from school the third time his dad’s prescription pills were found in his locker.

And here’s where it gets sticky: in our culture, drugs and alcohol are everywhere, and the majority of people can have a drink, or puff on a pipe for relaxation, without consequences. So we tend to view those who can’t seem to control their use of substances as being weak-willed…they could stop if they wanted to, right???

Science  tells us otherwise. According to the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, substance use disorder (SUD) (also known as alcoholism or addiction) is a chronic, progressive disease of the brain that is fatal if left untreated. 

The media and resources below will introduce you to some of the evidence for the disease concept of SUD. When we understand more about the parts of the brain it impacts, it is easier to frame the behaviors of those suffering from it. The videos also highlight the genetic aspect of SUD…something that all of us who work with young children can see as a call to action about the importance of supporting their development.