Our 13th publication, the Spring 2026 edition of the Duke Medical Ethics Journal, explores topics surrounding addiction and substance abuse. As we worked on this issue, it became hard to ignore how much addiction extends beyond substance use itself. From the consequences of stigma to the role of policy, this semester’s edition attempts to examine all aspects of addiction and the direct impacts on people’s lives. Within both the Duke community and broader society, we see how substance use impacts everything from healthcare systems to social environments, making it a pervasive part of society.

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When looking at addiction, we cannot view it simply as an individual choice or a matter of willpower. Instead, we must consider the underlying biology, along with the social systems that shape risk, treatment, and recovery. Contributors in this issue explore topics ranging from Medicaid’s role in treatment access and bias within addiction care, to the normalization of stimulant use on college campuses and the ethical challenges of prescribing opioids. Other pieces examine emerging questions, including whether medications such as GLP-1 drugs may play a role in addiction treatment, how language influences patient outcomes, and how shifting drug policies shape public health. Together, these pieces highlight the complexity of addiction and the need for approaches that are both evidence-based and ethically grounded.

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By critically examining all of these various factors, we can better understand the barriers that prevent effective and equitable care. This issue encourages readers to rethink how addiction is discussed and addressed, challenging common assumptions along the way.

The Duke Medical Ethics Journal team appreciates you for taking the time to engage with this issue and our team’s work. Our writers, bloggers, review editors, and graphic designers have worked over the past few months to bring forward timely and meaningful topics, raising questions that encourage deeper reflection on addiction and its place within medicine and society. We hope this issue offers a more nuanced perspective on substance use and recovery.

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Thank you for joining us in Duke Medical Ethics Journal’s Spring 2026 publication, Addiction & Substance Abuse: Science, Stigma, & Solutions.

Sincerely,
Co-Presidents
Devin Mulcrone & Jack Ringel