Substance addiction is not a modern phenomenon. In fact, problematic substance use has been observed since the 1700s. Over the course of these many centuries, our understanding of substance addiction has greatly evolved and many noteworthy milestones have been hit along the way.
1784: Physician Benjamin Rush declares that addiction is a disease that should be treated.
1864: New York State Inebriate Asylum, led by Dr. Joseph Edward Turner, becomes the first medically monitored addiction treatment center to open in the United States.
1935: The first federal narcotics farm, which provided “free” addiction treatment as part of human research trials, opened in Lexington, Kentucky.
1935: Recovering alcoholics Dr. Bob Smith and Bill Wilson establish Alcoholics Anonymous.
1952: The American Medical Association (AMA) defines alcoholism for the first time.
1970: Congress passes the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies substances into one of 5 schedules based on their medical use, the potential for abuse, and addictiveness.
1972: The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approves of the use of methadone for the treatment of narcotics addiction.
1982: Cocaine Anonymous, which adopts the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program for cocaine use, is established.
1987: The American Medical Association (AMA) labels all substance addictions as diseases.
While improvements in substance addiction treatment may have lagged initially, the care available now is better than ever.
The Asana Recovery Center offers a supervised detoxification and residential treatment program in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. Call us today at (949) 438-4504 to find out whether our drug and alcohol addiction treatment program may be right or you.
