The basis of addiction can be attributed to a combination of social, physiological and psychological aspects. Social factors highlight the fundamental tendency of humans to interact and form social groups that contribute to the onset of addiction. The complexity of the human brain has slowed the understanding of physiological and psychological factors, however experts agree that the neurotransmitter dopamine is instrumental in explaining the cause of addiction and ascertaining effective pathways to assist addicts. Analysis of addiction in the context of methamphetamine use provides insight into the causes and potential treatment strategies for these individuals. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for methamphetamine addiction, meaning that each aspect must be isolated when determining the paramount treatment plan, with the most effective strategies believed to target the elimination of specific addiction catalysts. Socio-environmental determinants characterize the essence and nature of addiction, which influence the strategies available to counteract this debilitating disease. Methamphetamine initiation is often triggered by close social networks, such as family, friends, and co-workers (Boshears, Boeri & Harbry, 2011). Morgan et al. (2002) highlight this, finding socially housed non-dominant monkeys more vulnerable to cocaine addiction than when housed separately from dominant monkeys, explaining why an individual may underestimate the consequences of drug use or alternatively feel forced to conform when family and close friends are methamphetamine users. In contrast, methamphetamine use in the workforce is justified by productivity reasons, as employees attempt to exploit the physiological benefits of… middle of paper… medical and pharmacological methods (Fowler, Volkow, Kassed & Chang, 2007). Addiction is a disease fueled by a combination of interrelated factors, creating the need for a holistic treatment strategy. Evidence outlining the contribution of social networks to addiction has led to the emergence of successful strategies that enable the effective management of the condition. However, a lack of understanding of the psychophysiological factors underlying addiction has hindered the creation of widely applicable coping strategies. At this point, the addiction must be “managed” in the short term by responding to psychophysiological symptoms on an individual basis. Effective long-term treatment strategies for addicts will develop based on ongoing clinical research to attenuate the impact of drugs on neurocircuitry..