Dr. James H. Berry, DO, medical director of Chestnut Ridge Inpatient Acute Dual Diagnosis Program and assistant professor at the West Virginia Health Science Center's Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, answers a few short questions for smokers.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University released a report on addictions today that is remarkably comprehensive and even more remarkably honest in portraying the virtually utter failure to identify and effectively treat addiction in the U.S.

Is addiction a "disease?" With the recent, tragic death of singer Amy Winehouse, though, the commentary came fast and furious about how much she and others were responsible for her struggles and demise.

The new addiction medicine specialty won't result in clear-cut benefits and progress, to say the least. But that it will make the addiction landscape worse -- that is an idea to grapple with.

Most people who are addicted to smoking need help to quit. There are programs to help, but unfortunately many are not getting the help they need because health insurance plans don't cover treatments.