On November 17, 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General released a comprehensive report on addiction, substance misuse, and substance use disorders.  The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health is considered a landmark publication in that it is the first report from the Surgeon General covering addiction and related issues, and it calls for a shift in policy away from a criminal justice strategy to a healthcare integration approach. 

The Surgeon General’s Report notes that services for the prevention and treatment of substance misuse and substance use disorders traditionally have been delivered separately from other healthcare services.  Historically, substance misuse has been viewed as a social or criminal problem, and only a limited range of treatment options was covered by insurance.   The Surgeon General’s Report emphasizes that “[e]ffective integration of prevention, treatment, and recovery services across health care systems is key to addressing substance misuse and its consequences and it represents the most promising way to improve access to and quality of treatment.”  The Surgeon General’s Report further emphasizes that integrating care for substance use disorders into mainstream healthcare will ultimately increase the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of healthcare, reduce health disparities, and lead to improved health outcomes.  As one example, the Surgeon General’s Report encourages substance use and misuse to be screened and monitored in primary care settings, whereas previously substance use and misuse were largely ignored in primary care.

The Surgeon General’s Report is available here.