According to “Statistics of Addiction in America” there are 20.6 million people affected by addiction alone, starting from the age of 12, in 2011. Tobacco addiction isn't even included in the statistics, imagine how many millions the actual number would be if it were included. Addiction is not a simple disease like coughs and colds that can be easily cured, or lack of physical attractiveness that can be remedied with makeup. It takes multiple sessions, heartbreak from loved ones out of sadness or embarrassment, and money that could have been used for something else just to cure the problem. If the solution process hasn't yet put a frown on readers' faces, how about the things that happen in the addiction stage. The drug addict spends a large sum of money to satisfy their desires and needs towards a substance, sometimes even going so far as to steal from people or cause harm if they have no money. Emotional pain is also an expected reaction from people who know that their friend or relative has a condition, at least for those who love and care for that addicted person. The point is that everyone is affected, even those who have no connection to the victim. The community will cease to exist or thrive if the people involved in it are handicapped, which is why we should remember the phrase “no man is left behind.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Addiction is defined as “the fact or condition of being dependent on a particular substance, thing, or activity.” This is a little too broad and general for one article. In the words of Merriam Webster, addiction is defined as “a compulsive need and use of an addictive substance (such as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and well-defined physiological symptoms at the time of onset. 'abstinence". This definition somewhat focuses on and addresses substance addiction, which will be the type of addiction that will be covered in this article. There are two types of substance addiction: substance use and substance-induced disorder. The October 10, 2012 document on substance use and drug-induced substances simplifies these two for better understanding. Here it is said that substance use concerns the attitude towards, dependence and abuse of a certain substance, while substance-induced is known when intoxication and withdrawal symptoms are already involved causing psychological and physiological effects specific to the individual. Good news, there is a way to address this problem, and that is by using cognitive behavioral therapy. According to an article titled “history of cognitive behavioral therapy,” cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, was introduced by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, around the 1960s. He has done numerous studies, alongside it there have been many that have followed him, and others have replicated the works making it one of the most researched therapies to date. CBT is usually used in depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, to name a few. Recently, it is now also widely used against addiction. CBT is a combined therapy of cognitive and behavioral therapy, two different but complementary in the treatment of disorders. The idea behind it is that while behavioral therapy focuses on observed behaviors and how to reinforce new, healthy ones, cognitive therapy deals with the thinking and cognitive processes that are believed to be the root problem of many bad behaviors. How does it work? CBT recognizes the importance of thoughts,.