05/26/2026
Why do people become addicted to drugs or alcohol? It’s one of the most misunderstood questions in mental health and addiction medicine. Nobody wakes up one day wanting to develop substance use disorder, just like nobody chooses to develop schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. Addiction is not simply a lack of willpower. There are underlying emotional, neurological, environmental, and psychological factors that drive it. Understanding the root cause of addiction is one of the first steps toward recovery, healing, and long term sobriety. Dr. Andrei Dokukin discusses why substance use disorder should be treated as a medical condition, not a moral failure.