The USC Institute for Addiction Science supports collaborative research and education that advances science, awareness, preve ... ntion, treatment, and policy to improve the lives of those touched by addiction. Our mission is motivated by the unfortunate truth that addiction is a wicked problem and leads to an array of recalcitrant epidemics that plague society. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, sexually transmitted infections, mental illness, violence, unplanned pregnancy, obesity, child abuse, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and social inequities are each associated with addictive behaviors. The addiction crisis may be increasing with the proliferation of new types of tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes), commercialization of the cannabis industry, and an expanding opioid epidemic. Beyond substance misuse, addiction to digital media is interfering with the mindfulness and social connectedness of our society and food addiction is becoming increasingly accepted by the medical community as a health condition. Given the interplay of societal, political, psychosocial, and biological influences on addiction, transdisciplinary approaches are needed to reduce the addiction epidemic. Faculty with addiction expertise are members in dozens of academic units across USC. The Institute for Addiction Science integrates and mobilizes USC’s intellectual resources while leveraging the diverse and populous backdrop of Los Angles to yield evidence with local, state, national and global implications. The vision of USC Institute for Addiction Science (IAS) is to strengthen the field of addiction science and improve the lives of those touched by addiction. The mission of IAS is to promote well-being through knowledge, intervention and policy by engaging in creative, transdisciplinary science and training. read more