The key scientific issue of the next century: the science of addiction

The problem of addiction is believed to be the most important scientific issue of the next century. The solution to the riddle of pharmacologic, psychological, and social addiction to nicotine, heroin, alcohol, and a high-fat diet, and the discovery and implementation of strategies for spreading healthy "addictions" will aid in solving many major public health and social science problems in the next century. All-out efforts should be expended on the comprehensive development of a science of addiction and to the wide-scale effective application of the results of such research in order to promote health, prosperity, and peace for every community in the world.