Growing amounts of scientific knowledge, such as the health effects and treatments for substance use disorders, have led to advancements in the field of addiction psychiatry.
These advancements in understanding the neurobiology of rewarding behavior, along with federal funding, has allowed for ample opportunity for research in the discipline of addiction psychiatry.
Addiction psychiatry is an expanding field, and currently there is a high demand for substance use disorder experts in both the private and public sector.
As of 1997, there were only 13 addiction psychiatry programs that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) recognized.
Furthermore, addiction psychiatrists must also recognize certain health effects from illicit drugs in order to properly treat each individual.
Addiction psychiatry encompasses both medicine and psychotherapy, or professional therapeutic interaction, as the means of treating individuals.
Addiction psychiatrists are uniquely equipped to handle co-occurring mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders (whether in the context of active use, withdrawal or early/late recovery).
Addiction psychiatry can also be a method of recovery for those who have been unable to manage their substance use disorder without prior success.