Drug addiction is a fairly new epidemic.

Drug addiction is a fairly new epidemic.

• A. True
• B. Not true
• C. Sometimes
• D. False

Answer: (D)

Addiction isn’t a new problem; dependence on substances has appeared in many societies throughout history. People have used opiates, alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs for centuries, and patterns of dependence and associated social harm have reappeared across different eras. What’s changed over time are the substances that become most problematic, the ways they’re consumed, and how societies respond, not the basic idea that addiction exists. So the statement that drug addiction is a fairly new epidemic isn’t accurate, even though we may be seeing new waves or crises with specific drugs in certain periods.

Addiction isn’t a new problem; dependence on substances has appeared in many societies throughout history. People have used opiates, alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs for centuries, and patterns of dependence and associated social harm have reappeared across different eras. What’s changed over time are the substances that become most problematic, the ways they’re consumed, and how societies respond, not the basic idea that addiction exists. So the statement that drug addiction is a fairly new epidemic isn’t accurate, even though we may be seeing new waves or crises with specific drugs in certain periods.