Brain-behavior research has produced compelling models of the function (and dysfunction) of the addicted brain. Addiction treatment personnel have developed a vast store of wisdom about facilitating recovery in addicted patients. We have also learned that trauma plays a vital role in the development of many addictive disorders, and learned about the brain’s trauma response. It is the author’s contention that education (of patients, family, and treatment providers) that links our knowledge of brain-behavior relationships with recovery treatment principles should pay off in terms of improving compliance in patients, empathy in family members, and competence in treatment providers. Learning to integrate trauma awareness and treatment is also necessary and a cornerstone of addiction recovery.