Chapter 3. Epidemiology of Addiction
Nathan Smith, Linda B. Cottler
Abstract
Addiction is a common mental health disorder with multiple complex features that has resisted simple definition and treatment. It is a ubiquitous subject in film, television, literature, and art. Nearly every person has been touched by addiction, and many have formed strong opinions on the disorder based on personal or family experiences, political beliefs, or moral philosophies. For all of these reasons, determining the epidemiology of addiction—the science of identifying how addiction is distributed in the population (Robins 1978)—is important and complicated. In this chapter, we present the historical framework of the epidemiology of addiction, where the field stands today, and thoughts on where the field is going and how it will get there.