Addictions are a plague on the health and well-being of individuals, families and American society, draining billions from the economy every year.

What if the cost of health care in America could be contained by helping people address and perhaps even control, or overcome, addictions? The idea may sound too simplistic to even consider. However, addictions directly contribute to the majority of the conditions that bring people into the doctor's office and through the hospital doors. These include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, traffic accidents and burns.

And what if, by aggressively treating addictions, we were able to make the world a much better place? Maybe it's not just wishful thinking. Addictions play a significant role in many of society's ills: domestic violence, child abuse, suicide, loss of productivity, murder, rape and robbery. continued..