Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Law
Addiction As Disease, Teneille R. Brown
Addiction As Disease, Teneille R. Brown
Utah Law Faculty Scholarship
The opioid addiction epidemic is the most overwhelming public health crisis our country has faced. It is now creating a legal crisis, as the its poisonous fruits spill over into the criminal, tort, and family courts. The epidemic costs the U.S. economy about $500 billion every year, and the pressure is crippling our legal systems. This Article is an attempt to relieve some of that pressure, by advocating for a comprehensive public health campaign based upon a new model of addiction. Research shows that the prevalent “moral choice” model of addiction has facilitated stigma and discouraged treatment, by viewing affected …