Letter: Substance abuse disorder still a major problem, even as health focus has shifted to COVID-19

Thank you for publishing the commentary “Deaths from diseases rising, that’s unacceptable,” in the July 14 edition of The Aegis. The editorial responsibly and straightforwardly addressed the necessity for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine and to trust the expertise of doctors and scientists, not that of quacks. Missing from the commentary, however, was any mention of substance use disorder, often referred to as “drug addiction.” The National Institute of Health defines drug addiction as “a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.”