Alan Leshner

In the following viewpoint, Alan Leshner maintains that drug addiction is a chronic illness that is linked to changes in brain structure. According to Leshner, drugs activate a pathway in the brain; activation of that pathway, known as the mesolimbic reward system, prompts a dependency on these substances. Leshner concludes that by understanding the connection between the brain and addiction, society can develop more effective treatments and public health strategies. Leshner is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In Leshner’s opinion, what is the most common view of drug addicts?
2. According to the author, in what ways are addicted brains different from nonaddicted brains?
3. What does Leshner consider “a reasonable standard for treatment success”"

Dramatic advances over the past two decades in both the...