There has long been a search for things that may “cause” addiction. Researchers are always looking for ways to make addiction less complicated to understand and predict. The FDA and Washington State have approved a new test to try and help with addiction rates. This preventative test is called the Avert D test. The doctors swab the cheek of the patient and test the DNA on the swab for 15 different genetic markers. These genetic markers can signify to the person administering the test whether the patient may be more likely to suffer from opioid addiction through seeing how their reward pathways interact with the test. The reward pathways are the parts of your brain that relate to things such as pleasure, happiness, and other positive feelings and experiences. Drugs make these reward pathways light up giving people the high they feel when under the influence. If someone shows positive for possible opioid addiction in the Avert D test, then it shows they may have more active or sensitive reward pathways and may be more likely to become addicted to opioids once given them. Why should we have this test? Why does it matter? I mean, when looking into the research surrounding addiction prediction testing and the Avert D test, we know that these tests cannot see for certain who will become an addict and who won’t. So why even try? It is important for people to know the risks they may personally face before deciding with their healthcare provider to further what pain medication treatments could or should be avoided due to an increased risk of addiction. Having the Avert D test as an option for both patient and doctor can alleviate some stressors surrounding treatment and help make pathways clearer on which will suit each person the best. Having full knowledge of your own health and health care is important, especially to be educated on the dangers of addiction and its possibilities. If a patient and their provider still decide to prescribe opioids, then it will be under the educated lens that was granted by the Avert D testing. Hopefully with the implementation of this test we can see people have more say in their health care and in turn, hopefully, addiction rates to prescribed opioids may also decrease. Since it takes 3-5 days to process the Avert D test it would not be indicated for use in “emergency situations;” however, we were not always asked the question “Are you allergic to any Medications?” This test certainly could be a standard part of scheduled procedures which would typically require pain medications post procedure. The complexity of addiction does not allow for tests like these to be black and white. But of course, nothing about life is. These tests should be looked at as tools that can be utilized to only help with the outcome of addiction rates and help patients and their health care providers both feel more comfortable when it comes to treatment. Education and knowledge of one’s own body is so important in all areas of life but especially health care that may put you at risk for lifelong journeys such as addiction. The Avert D test can only help aid this process of the fight against opioid addiction in Washington state. Washington passing the use of this test by medical professionals is a step further into individually helping to fight addiction and support those who have gone through it.