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Stunning Court Decision: The Shocking Truth About Opioid Addiction You Need to Know

Learn How This Groundbreaking Verdict May Change Everything — And Why Families Can’t Afford to Look Away.

Timothy Harrington
4 min readDec 30, 2024
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

In today’s ever-evolving conversation on substance use, particularly opioids, families are often left feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information. On one hand, there is the fear of addiction, and on the other, the very real need for pain relief. Recent court rulings — most notably in Orange County, California — underscore that the “disease theory” of opioid addiction is far more complex than many media narratives suggest. As a Family Wellth Management advisor, my role is to guide families through these complexities, ensuring they have the resources to make informed, empathetic decisions for their loved ones.

Understanding the “Disease Theory” of Addiction

Traditionally, the “disease theory” paints addiction as an inevitable, biological switch — once a person is exposed to a drug like opioids, they are almost guaranteed to become addicted. However, courtroom testimony and historical evidence (such as the Vietnam War veteran experience) suggest that the journey to addiction varies from person to person. Many individuals who try or even misuse…

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Timothy Harrington
Timothy Harrington

Written by Timothy Harrington

Champion of Family and Community Powered Change Related to Addiction, Mental and Emotional Health Challenges

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