,,iv  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,h4 ,,res4 #gad  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of
 ,,representatives  ,november #ai1      
#bjai,mr4 ,brindisi 7for himself and    
,mr4 ,budd7 submitted the following     
resolution2 which was referred to the   
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce     
,,resolution  ,recognizing addiction as 
a disease and supporting efforts to     
prevent1 treat1 and destigmatize        
substance use disorder and addiction4   
,whereas substance use disorder is a    
diagnosis made based on a checklist of  
symptoms1 is specific to the substance  
used1 and may be mild1 moderate1 or     
severe2 ,whereas the ,american ,society 
of ,addiction ,medicine defines         
addiction as a chronic medical disease  
involving complex interactions among    
brain circuits1 genetics1 the           
environment1 and an individual's life   
experiences2 ,whereas people with       
addiction use substances or engage in   
behaviors that become compulsive and    
often continue despite harmful          

consequences1 symptoms that correspond  
to a moderate or severe substance use   
disorder2 ,whereas recognizing addiction
 as a disease helps to destigmatize     
substance use disorder and addiction and
 acknowledges that substance use may be 
beyond an individual's control2 ,whereas
 certain factors place individuals at   
heightened risk of developing addiction2
 ,whereas an individual's environment   
and surroundings may intensify the risk 
of developing a substance use disorder2 
,whereas addiction may impact the mental
 and physical health of an individual1  
and mental and physical health disorders
 may contribute to substance use2       
,whereas diagnosing substance use and   
mental health disorders is a complex    
process that requires consultation with 
appropriate professionals and experts2  
,whereas substance use by an individual 
with addiction may dominate all aspects 
of that individual's life and1          
therefore1 the biological1              
psychological1 and social aspects of    

individuals diagnosed with substance use
 disorder should be treated and         
addressed through a mutually agreed-upon
 plan of action to accommodate the      
individual needs of the patient2        
,whereas treatment approaches for       
substance use disorder that target the  
symptoms and drivers of alcohol and drug
 use1 as well as the mental health      
effects of such use1 are needed2        
,whereas treatment approaches for       
substance use disorder that address the 
biological1 psychological1 and social   
aspects of the disorder are necessary   
for individuals to make a full recovery2
 ,whereas while some treatment options  
may differ for different substance use  
disorders1 other interventions such as  
motivational interviewing and cognitive 
behavioral therapy are effective        
regardless of the substance or behavior2
 and ,whereas individuals with substance
 use disorder may lack financial1       
social1 emotional1 or other resources   
necessary to secure treatment1 even if  

such individuals recognize the need for 
treatment3 ,now1 therefore1 be it  ,that
 the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7  
recognizes addiction as a treatable1    
chronic medical disease involving       
complex interactions among brain        
circuits1 genetics1 the environment1 and
 an individual's life experiences2  7#b7
 supports evidence-based treatment      
approaches for substance use disorder   
that address the biological1            
psychological1 and social aspects of the
 disorder2 and  7#c7 supports efforts to
 prevent and destigmatize substance use 
disorder and addiction4