Drug Abuse and Addiction

 

Introduction to Drug Abuse and Addiction

Drugs of abuse are widely consumed in our society

Drug use in our society has increased and has become more heavily regulated over time

Features of Drug Abuse and Addiction

Drug addiction is considered to be a chronic, relapsing behavioral disorder

There are two types of progression in drug use

Box 9.1 Of Special Interest Should the Term Addiction Be Applied to Compulsive Behavioral Disorders That Don’t Involve Substance Use?

Which drugs are the most addictive?

Factors That Influence the Development and Maintenance of Drug Abuse and Addiction

The addiction potential of a substance is influenced by its route of administration

Most abused drugs exert rewarding and reinforcing effects

Drug dependence leads to withdrawal symptoms when abstinence is attempted

Discriminative stimulus effects contribute to drug-seeking behavior

Genetic factors contribute to the risk for addiction

Psychosocial variables also contribute to addiction risk

The factors contributing to drug addiction can be combined into a biopsychosocial model

The Neurobiology of Drug Addiction

Drug reward and incentive salience drive the binge–intoxication stage of drug use

The withdrawal/negative affect stage is characterized by stress and by the recruitment of an antireward circuit

The preoccupation/anticipation stage involves dysregulation of prefrontal cortical function and corticostriatal circuitry

Molecular neuroadaptations play a key role in the transition to an addicted state

Is addiction a disease?