Addiction Psychiatry

Addiction Psychiatry entails the assessment and treatment of addictive diseases, including misuse of alcohol, cocaine, cannabis and other mood-altering substances, as well as process addictions such as gambling, sexual disorders and shoplifting.

The manifestation of addictive behavior is frequently multifactorial and often stems from genetic vulnerabilities, environmental influences and co-occurring psychiatric illness. Substance misuse is complex and often best responds to thoughtful multi-modal intervention, compassion, structure, and accountability.  Substance-related conditions are often insidious, can be placed in remission, but always have the potential to become active.

Just as an addictive process can have many causes, it would follow that effective treatment needs to be individualized, nuanced and flexible enough to accommodate the individual as they progress through the various stages of recovery.