Published · Updated
Medically reviewed by Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM
No, there is no one-time cure for addiction, but it is treatable. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) calls addiction a chronic disease that, like diabetes or asthma, is managed rather than cured. With medications, therapy, and continuing care, many reach lasting remission, and most adults who have had drug or alcohol problems say they are in recovery. NIDA: Understanding drug use and addiction; SAMHSA: 2025 NSDUH.
Any program that promises to cure addiction is promising something the science does not support. What treatment can do is lower the harm, help a person stop or reduce use, and build a plan for the long term.
If someone may be overdosing, call 911 now. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988. For free, confidential treatment referrals at any hour, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. SAMHSA: National Helpline.
Can addiction be cured?
Not in the sense of a treatment that ends the condition for good. NIDA's answer to "Can addiction be treated successfully?" is "Yes, addiction is a treatable disorder," but it also says plainly that "addiction treatment is not a cure." Treatment manages addiction the way doctors manage other long-term illnesses. NIDA: Treatment and recovery.
The reason is biological. Drugs change the structure and function of the brain, and those changes can "persist long after drug use has ceased," which may explain why the risk of returning to use can remain even after long periods without using. NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.
"Managed" is not a weak word. NIDA says addiction "is treatable and can be successfully managed." NIDA: Understanding drug use and addiction.
What is the difference between remission and a cure?
Remission means a person no longer meets the criteria for a substance use disorder. A cure would mean the condition is gone for good, with no ongoing risk. Clinicians use remission because it describes where someone is now without promising the future.
The DSM-5, the manual clinicians use to diagnose substance use disorders, defines two stages:
- Early remission: at least 3 months, but less than 12 months, without meeting any substance use disorder criteria except craving.
- Sustained remission: 12 months or longer without meeting any criteria except craving.
Craving is the exception "because it can persist long into remission." Am J Psychiatry: DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders, 2013. In other words, still having urges does not mean someone has failed or lost their remission.
Substance use disorders are also graded by severity: mild (2 to 3 criteria), moderate (4 to 5), or severe (6 or more), and each can be in early or sustained remission. MSD Manual: Substance use disorders.
How common is relapse after addiction treatment?
NIDA puts relapse rates for substance use disorders at 40 to 60 percent. That is similar to relapse rates of 50 to 70 percent for high blood pressure and asthma, two other chronic illnesses whose treatment depends on changing deeply rooted behaviors. The figure comes from a NIDA page last updated in 2020. NIDA: Treatment and recovery.
NIDA is direct that "relapse doesn't mean treatment has failed." It is a sign that treatment should be resumed, adjusted, or changed. NIDA: Treatment and recovery. NIAAA says the same about alcohol: setbacks are common among people who overcome alcohol problems. NIAAA: Treatment for alcohol problems.
A return to use carries one specific danger. After a period without a drug, the body is no longer used to it, so a person who takes the amount they used before "can easily overdose." NIDA: Treatment and recovery. Call 911 for any suspected overdose. Our guide on what to do after a relapse walks through the next steps.
What does effective addiction treatment include?
Effective treatment usually combines medication where one exists, behavioral therapy, and care that continues after the first program ends. Two of NIDA's principles of effective treatment are that "no single treatment is appropriate for everyone" and that treatment must address medical, psychological, social, work, and legal needs, not only drug use. NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.
Medications for opioid use disorder
The FDA has approved three medications for opioid use disorder: buprenorphine (tablets, films, and extended-release injections), methadone, and extended-release injectable naltrexone. The FDA calls these medications "an effective treatment" and says all three "have been demonstrated to be safe and effective." FDA: Medications for opioid use disorder.
NIDA reports that people receiving methadone or buprenorphine "are less likely to die or to have an overdose than those who do not receive treatment." Taken as prescribed, these medications prevent withdrawal and cravings without producing an intense high, and naltrexone is not addictive. NIDA: Medications for opioid use disorder.
There is no set end date. SAMHSA says these medications are "safe for long-term use—ranging from months to a lifetime," and that people should talk with their doctor before stopping. SAMHSA: Treatment options.
Medications for alcohol use disorder
Three medications are approved in the United States for alcohol use disorder: naltrexone (a pill or an injection), acamprosate, and disulfiram. NIAAA: Treatment for alcohol problems. SAMHSA notes that they "do not provide a cure for the disorder but are most effective for people who participate in a treatment program." SAMHSA: Treatment options. Learn more in our article on how MAT for alcohol use disorder works.
When no medication is approved
There are no approved medications for stimulant use disorder, such as methamphetamine or cocaine, or for cannabis use disorder. For these, behavioral therapy is the treatment. NIDA: Treatment and recovery; SAMHSA: Finding quality treatment.
Behavioral therapies
Therapy helps people change the thinking and habits that drive substance use. Approaches with research behind them include cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management (incentives for staying drug-free), motivational enhancement therapy, family therapy, and twelve-step facilitation. NIDA: Treatment and recovery. Because many people with a substance use disorder also have a mental health condition, both should be assessed and treated together. NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.
Detox is a first step, not the treatment
Medically supervised detox can safely manage withdrawal, but NIDA says it "is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug abuse." NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment. Patients should be encouraged to continue treatment after detox. See what happens after detox for how the next stage is usually arranged.
Continuing care
Most people need at least 3 months in treatment to significantly reduce or stop their drug use, and the best outcomes occur with longer treatment. Recovery "frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment," and NIDA says a continuing care approach, with intensity that changes as needs change, works best for many patients. NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.
How many people recover from addiction?
In 2025, 30.6 million U.S. adults said they had ever had a problem with drugs or alcohol. Of those, 73.0 percent, or 22.3 million people, considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered. The share was 63.4 percent among adults aged 18 to 25 and 74.0 percent among adults 26 and older. SAMHSA: 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
These figures are self-reported. They describe how people see themselves, not a clinical measure of remission, and they include people who recovered with or without formal treatment.
The same survey shows how many people never get treatment. Of 44.6 million people aged 12 and older with a substance use disorder in 2025, only 11.0 percent received treatment in the past year. Of the 4.0 million with opioid use disorder, 15.7 percent received medication for it. Of the 25.7 million with alcohol use disorder, 2.6 percent received medication. SAMHSA: 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
What does "recovery" mean?
SAMHSA defines recovery as "a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential." It is a process, not a finish line. SAMHSA: Working definition of recovery.
SAMHSA describes four parts of a life in recovery:
- Health: managing the condition, which for someone with an addiction includes not using alcohol, illicit drugs, or non-prescribed medications, and making healthy choices.
- Home: a stable and safe place to live.
- Purpose: meaningful daily activities, such as work, school, volunteering, or caring for family.
- Community: relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.
Recovery "occurs via many pathways," including clinical treatment, medications, family support, faith-based approaches, and peer support. SAMHSA calls it "non-linear," with setbacks that are "a natural, though not inevitable, part of the recovery process." SAMHSA: Working definition of recovery; SAMHSA: About recovery.
What questions should you ask an addiction treatment program?
Ask questions that show whether a program follows the evidence and plans for the long term. NIAAA and SAMHSA suggest starting with these:
- What kind of treatment do you offer, and is it tailored to each person?
- Are the program and its clinicians licensed and accredited?
- Which evidence-based therapies do you use? Look for named approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy or motivational interviewing.
- Do you offer or coordinate FDA-approved medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder, and will you continue them if they are working?
- Can my family be involved, if the person in treatment wants that?
- Do you screen for and treat co-occurring mental health conditions?
- How do you handle a return to use? A good answer describes adjusting care, not discharging the person.
- What happens after this program ends? Ask to see what a continuing care plan includes before admission.
- How do you measure progress?
NIAAA: Treatment for alcohol problems; SAMHSA: Finding quality treatment.
Be cautious of any program that guarantees results or advertises a cure. SAMHSA warns that "not all health care professionals or programs provide quality care in healthy settings." SAMHSA: Finding quality treatment.
How Ambrosia approaches addiction treatment
Ambrosia does not cure addiction, and no honest program can. What we offer is treatment for substance use disorders that can begin with detox and continue through inpatient and outpatient care, and that helps people leave with relapse-prevention skills. Learn more about our addiction treatment programs.
- Medical detox at Midwest Detox in West Palm Beach provides medically supervised withdrawal for adults and adolescents, with the next stage planned while detox is underway.
- Medication-assisted treatment combines medication with therapy for alcohol and opioid use disorders. Whether it fits is a clinical decision made with each person.
- Dual diagnosis treatment treats co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use at the same time.
- Aftercare planning starts before discharge and can include continued therapy, support groups, and step-down outpatient care.
Frequently asked questions
Can you be cured of alcoholism?
No medication or program cures alcohol use disorder, which NIAAA calls "a chronic, relapsing disorder." Research shows most people with alcohol problems are able to reduce their drinking or quit entirely, and three approved medications can help. NIAAA: Treatment for alcohol problems.
Is addiction a lifelong condition?
Addiction is considered chronic, and the risk of returning to use can last even after years without using. Many people reach sustained remission, meaning 12 months or more without meeting the criteria for a substance use disorder. NIDA: Understanding drug use and addiction; Am J Psychiatry: DSM-5 criteria, 2013.
Does relapse mean treatment did not work?
No. NIDA says relapse "doesn't mean treatment has failed" and is a signal to resume or adjust treatment. Relapse rates for addiction, 40 to 60 percent, are similar to those for asthma and high blood pressure. NIDA: Treatment and recovery.
Do you have to take addiction medication forever?
Not necessarily. SAMHSA says medications for opioid use disorder are safe for months to a lifetime, and the length is a decision for each person and their doctor. Don't stop on your own: these medications are tapered slowly, and tolerance drops after stopping, which raises overdose risk if use resumes. SAMHSA: Treatment options; NIDA: Medications for opioid use disorder.
Is detox enough to treat addiction?
No. Detox manages withdrawal, but NIDA says it does little by itself to change long-term substance use. It works best as the first step into ongoing treatment. NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.