Drug addictions: towards socially accepted and medically treatable diseases.

What is the disease that affects more than 30 million individuals in the United States and Europe, is a leading cause of death and costs 2-3.5% of gross domestic product? The answer -- alcohol abuse and drug addictions -- still surprises many, and in general, addictions are undertreated. But advances in the understanding of the underlying biology and clinical manifestations of addictions are creating new opportunities for the development of novel pharmacotherapies to complement psychosocial interventions.