Addiction is regarded as a physical mental and social problem. Researchers are working of the complete elimination of addiction and for advancements in treatments of addiction.
The American Foundation for Addiction Disorders is an association that fosters scientific research to understand addiction and improve treatment. Research is focused on the individual substance that causes the addiction and psychological conditions that form the basis of an addiction. Research is also conducted on addiction as a general psychological problem. The National Institute of Drug Abuse funds and encourages research on the prediction, prevention and elimination of addiction. Many research teams in Universities conduct research on improving the methods of therapy to help addicts. One team at the Vanderbilt University Medical School are researching sexual addiction and developing a model based on which addiction to sex can be predicted. Improvements in therapy and medication through research give greater hope to addicts for getting rid of their addiction.