A Personal Reflection
As a physician who has spent much of my career in emergency medicine, I have treated patients from every walk of life. Some come in with broken bones, others with chest pain, and still others in the throes of addiction. What has always struck me is how differently society—and at times even the medical community—responds to people suffering from substance use disorder compared to other illnesses.
Addiction is often viewed through the lens of stigma, as though it were a moral failing rather than what it truly is: a chronic, complex disease of the brain and body. This stigma not only prevents people from seeking help, but it can also affect the quality of care they receive once they do walk through our doors. That’s why I believe we need to treat addiction with the same compassion and urgency we would extend to a patient with diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.
The Power of Words and Perceptions
Language matters in medicine. When we describe someone as a “drug abuser” or “junkie,” we reinforce harmful stereotypes that suggest they are defined by their disease. We would never call someone with diabetes a “sugar abuser.” We call them a patient with diabetes. Similarly, we must speak of patients with substance use disorder in a way that acknowledges their humanity first.
I’ve learned that when we shift our language, we shift our perspective. Patients feel this difference too. They are more willing to trust, to open up, and to consider treatment options when they know they are not being judged but rather cared for.
Addiction as a Medical Condition
The science of addiction is clear. Substance use disorder alters brain chemistry, affecting the very circuits that govern decision-making, reward, and impulse control. The result is a disease that is not cured by willpower alone. Just as we would not expect a patient with advanced heart failure to improve without medication and intervention, we cannot expect someone with opioid use disorder to simply “stop” without support.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is one of the most effective tools we have. Medications like buprenorphine not only reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms but also give patients the stability they need to engage in counseling, rebuild relationships, and return to meaningful lives. To me, that is no different from prescribing insulin to a patient with diabetes or beta-blockers to someone with heart disease.
The Emergency Department as the First Step
The emergency department often serves as the first—and sometimes the only—point of care for many patients battling addiction. They may arrive after an overdose, in withdrawal, or simply at a breaking point. In those moments, we have an opportunity to plant the seeds of recovery.
When I offer MAT in the ED, I am not just treating symptoms. I am opening a door that might not otherwise be there. A patient who leaves the ED with their withdrawal managed and a prescription in hand has a much better chance of connecting with ongoing treatment than someone who is simply discharged with advice to “find help.” In rural areas especially, the ED may be the only access point for care, making our role all the more vital.
Why Compassion Is Essential
Compassion in addiction medicine is not about being soft or permissive—it is about being effective. Patients who feel respected are more likely to engage in treatment and less likely to return in crisis. I have seen patients transform when treated with dignity. Sometimes the smallest gestures—a kind word, a nonjudgmental explanation, a willingness to listen—can be the spark that shifts a patient’s entire outlook.
It is humbling to remember that addiction does not discriminate. I have treated professionals, students, parents, and grandparents. Many began with prescription medications for legitimate medical issues and slowly slid into dependency. Others faced trauma, mental illness, or socioeconomic hardship that made them vulnerable. The common thread is that they are human beings who deserve compassion, not condemnation.
A Call to My Colleagues
As physicians and healthcare providers, we must hold ourselves accountable to this higher standard of compassion. We must look at addiction through the same lens of medical necessity as any other illness. When we do, we not only provide better care but also help shift the culture of stigma that continues to hold patients back.
This begins with education. Every medical student and resident should be trained to understand addiction as a chronic disease and to use MAT as a first-line treatment when appropriate. It continues with advocacy, pushing for policies that expand access to MAT and support for patients in rural and underserved communities. And it extends to our day-to-day interactions, where every patient encounter is a chance to make a difference.
Moving Forward with Hope
Breaking the stigma around addiction will not happen overnight, but every compassionate act moves us closer. When we choose to treat addiction with the same seriousness and humanity as any other chronic illness, we help dismantle barriers to care and build bridges toward recovery.
For me, this commitment is personal. I have seen firsthand how stigma can crush a patient’s spirit and how compassion can reignite it. My goal is to continue advocating for a model of care that is not only evidence-based but also grounded in respect and empathy.
At the end of the day, addiction is not a moral failing. It is a medical condition that deserves treatment, understanding, and hope. And as physicians, it is our responsibility to provide nothing less.