9The Addicted Brain: Why We Abuse Drugs, Alcohol, and Nicotine explains clearly and vividly what has been learned about how and why some people become addicted and abuse drugs or other substances, the relatively long-term changes these substances can make in the brain, and the progress being made on treatments. It should provide the best biological grounding on why addictions occur, and a practical overview of the best ways for society and for those personally affected by addictions to respond to and treat addictions.