{"$schema":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/page.schema.json","formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/addiction","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/addiction","path":"/community/addiction","title":"Addiction","description":"Connect around the experiences, relationships, and questions that surround addiction.","family":"Topic community","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"custom-shared-preview","indexable":true},"provenance":{"contentCompleteness":"page","sourceUrl":null},"authors":[],"dates":{},"images":[{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-14636.webp","alt":"Adults sit in a circle during a support group discussion."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-13880.webp","alt":"An older man rests his arm around a younger man outdoors.","width":1200,"height":600},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-12785.webp","alt":"A group of adults talks together in a comfortable 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Health"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/therapists","label":"Find care"}],"content":{"html":"<nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><ol><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community\">Community</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Addiction</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"topic-community\"><header class=\"community-hero hub-entry-hero\"><div class=\"hub-entry-copy\"><p class=\"community-eyebrow\">Community</p><h1>Addiction</h1><p>Connect around the experiences, relationships, and questions that surround addiction.</p><form id=\"topic-search\" class=\"search-island\" role=\"search\" action=\"/community/addiction\" method=\"get\" aria-label=\"Search Addiction\"><div class=\"search-field\"><label class=\"visually-hidden\" for=\"topic-query\">Search Addiction</label><input id=\"topic-query\" name=\"q\" type=\"search\" placeholder=\"Search Addiction\" maxlength=\"150\" required></div><button class=\"search-button\" type=\"submit\">Search</button></form><div class=\"suggested\" aria-label=\"Topics in this community\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/addiction?topic=Treatment#browse\">Treatment</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/addiction?topic=Recovery#browse\">Recovery</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/addiction?topic=Support#browse\">Support</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/addiction?topic=Stress#browse\">Stress</a></div></div><img class=\"community-hero-image\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-14636.webp\" alt=\"Adults sit in a circle during a support group discussion.\" loading=\"eager\"></header><nav class=\"community-section-nav\" aria-label=\"On this community page\"><a data-division=\"library\" href=\"#library\">Library</a><a data-division=\"answers\" href=\"#answers\">Conversations</a><a data-division=\"blog\" href=\"#blog\">Perspectives</a></nav><section class=\"community-section\" id=\"library\"><div class=\"community-section-heading\"><h2>Library</h2><p>A place to begin, understand, and go deeper.</p></div><div class=\"community-resource-grid\"><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/addiction\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-14636.webp\" alt=\"Adults sit in a circle during a support group discussion.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/addiction\" title=\"An Overview of Addiction\">An Overview of Addiction</a></h3><p>Identify addiction risks, explore treatment options, and learn prevention strategies for lasting recovery.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/causes-of-addiction-theories-and-models\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"card-photo\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-13880.webp\" alt=\"An older man rests his arm around a younger man outdoors.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/causes-of-addiction-theories-and-models\" title=\"Causes and Models of Addiction\">Causes and Models of Addiction</a></h3><p>Explore addiction's impact on the brain, decision-making, and pleasure/reward system.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/mental-health-behavioral-addiction-dual-diagnosis\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"card-photo\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-12785.webp\" alt=\"A group of adults talks together in a comfortable counseling room.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/mental-health-behavioral-addiction-dual-diagnosis\" title=\"Dual Diagnosis in Mental Health and Addiction\">Dual Diagnosis in Mental Health and Addiction</a></h3><p>Discover how dual diagnoses combine mental health and addiction disorders, sharing risk factors and complicating treatment.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/recovery-from-addiction-social-support\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/editorial-247/3505.webp\" alt=\"A person offers a reassuring touch during a small group conversation.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/recovery-from-addiction-social-support\" title=\"Addiction Recovery and Social Support\">Addiction Recovery and Social Support</a></h3><p>Discover the power of social support in addiction recovery. Enhance your sense of belonging, reduce stress, and find meaning.</p></article></div></section><section class=\"community-section\" id=\"answers\"><div class=\"community-section-heading\"><h2>Conversations</h2><p>Real questions and professional responses from our Answers archive.</p></div><div class=\"community-resource-grid\"><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/anxious-depressed-confused-angry-the-typical\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/answers/anxious-depressed-confused-angry-the-typical-20261003.webp\" alt=\"A student and adult talking at a campus table.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Conversation</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/anxious-depressed-confused-angry-the-typical\" title=\"Why do I keep using drugs when I know it’s a problem?\">Why do I keep using drugs when I know it’s a problem?</a></h3><p>A college student describes repeated substance use alongside anxiety and depression despite previous rehabilitation.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/how-to-prevent-any-relapse-into-pornography\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/answers/how-to-prevent-any-relapse-into-pornography-20261003.webp\" alt=\"An adult closing a laptop beside a sunny garden doorway.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Conversation</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/how-to-prevent-any-relapse-into-pornography\" title=\"How can I prevent relapse into pornography?\">How can I prevent relapse into pornography?</a></h3><p>A 29-year-old in a satisfying relationship repeatedly returns to online pornography despite filters and a wish to stop.</p></article></div></section><section class=\"community-section\" id=\"blog\"><div class=\"community-section-heading\"><h2>Perspectives</h2><p>Ideas and experiences that offer another point of view.</p></div><div class=\"community-resource-grid\"><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/how-the-addicted-brain-hijacks-the-mind\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/perspective-20261004/how-the-addicted-brain-hijacks-the-mind.webp\" alt=\"Wooden chairs form a circle in a bright meeting room.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Perspective</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/how-the-addicted-brain-hijacks-the-mind\" title=\"When the Addicted Brain Takes Over the Mind\">When the Addicted Brain Takes Over the Mind</a></h3><p>Addiction is a brain disease, not a mind disease. Understanding this distinction is crucial.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/a-pesky-problem-with-12-step-programs\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/perspective-20261004/a-pesky-problem-with-12-step-programs.webp\" alt=\"A quiet circle of six mismatched chairs in a modest community room before a peer support meeting, sunlight across worn wooden floor, a single thermos on side table\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Perspective</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/a-pesky-problem-with-12-step-programs\" title=\"Challenges in 12 Step Programs\">Challenges in 12 Step Programs</a></h3><p>Discover how non-believers can benefit from twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous.</p></article></div></section><section class=\"community-related\"><h2>Connected communities</h2><div><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/substance-use-disorders\">Substance Use Disorders</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/recovery\">Recovery</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/behavioral-health\">Behavioral Health</a></div></section><section class=\"community-support\"><div><h2>Find support that fits you.</h2><p>Explore people and care options near you.</p></div><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/therapists\">Find care</a></section></div>","text":"HomeCommunityAddictionCommunityAddictionConnect around the experiences, relationships, and questions that surround addiction.Search AddictionSearchTreatmentRecoverySupportStressLibraryConversationsPerspectivesLibraryA place to begin, understand, and go deeper.LibraryAn Overview of AddictionIdentify addiction risks, explore treatment options, and learn prevention strategies for lasting recovery.LibraryCauses and Models of AddictionExplore addiction's impact on the brain, decision-making, and pleasure/reward system.LibraryDual Diagnosis in Mental Health and AddictionDiscover how dual diagnoses combine mental health and addiction disorders, sharing risk factors and complicating treatment.LibraryAddiction Recovery and Social SupportDiscover the power of social support in addiction recovery. Enhance your sense of belonging, reduce stress, and find meaning.ConversationsReal questions and professional responses from our Answers archive.ConversationWhy do I keep using drugs when I know it’s a problem?A college student describes repeated substance use alongside anxiety and depression despite previous rehabilitation.ConversationHow can I prevent relapse into pornography?A 29-year-old in a satisfying relationship repeatedly returns to online pornography despite filters and a wish to stop.PerspectivesIdeas and experiences that offer another point of view.PerspectiveWhen the Addicted Brain Takes Over the MindAddiction is a brain disease, not a mind disease. 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