Creatively respond to the problem of addiction and help to make a difference.
The devastating impact of the current opioid epidemic in the United States with 130 opioid-related overdose deaths every day has heightened public awareness about the danger of addiction. The fact that addictions are the top causes of preventable death and disability in the United States and also create a significant burden on families, social systems, and the economy clearly demonstrates the importance of confronting the nature of addiction and creating an effective and equitable societal response.
The goal of this Lab is to confront the complex challenge of addiction. We will pursue questions about the fundamental nature of addiction and the ways in which societies both influence and respond to addiction. We will ask whether it is useful to think of addiction as a brain disease or as genetic disorders and how these models influence the ways in which societies try to prevent and treat addiction and what social policies are adopted. Using an archive of literary, scientific, and media resources we will engage in hands-on activities in a small classroom environment, interact with guest consultants, and address a challenge posed by a community partner.