Addiction: From Biology to Drug PolicyDrug addiction is a brain disease--that's the modern view and it is fully expressed in this up-to-date book. Among the many volumes on drugs written for lay readers, this one is unique in the breadth of its coverage and the depth of its science. The first part gives a clear scientific account of the nature of addiction, stressing neurobiology and addictive behavior and describing the "highs" that drugs can produce. The second section covers the seven families of addictive drugs, with emphasis on their actions in the brain and on psychological aspects: nicotine, alcohol, heroin and other opiates, cocaine and amphetamines, marijuana, caffeine, and hallucinogens like LSD. The third section deals with laws and drug control policies. Throughout, the author gives many interesting personal accounts of addiction research, to which he has highlighted new research on the genetics and neurobiology of susceptibility to addiction. |
Contents
Introduction | 3 |
DRUGS AND THE BRAIN | 17 |
Neurotransmitters The Brains Own Drugs | 19 |
Receptors Locks for the Addictive Keys | 37 |
Addictive Behavior | 53 |
Pain and Pleasure | 71 |
The Seesaw Brain Highs and Adaptations | 83 |
Are Addicts Born or Made? | 99 |
Cannabis Marijuana | 195 |
Caffeine | 207 |
Hallucinogens | 219 |
DRUGS AND SOCIETY | 233 |
Prevention Just Say No? | 235 |
Treating Addiction Preventing Relapse | 249 |
Three Lessons from the Street | 261 |
Three Lessons from Abroad | 273 |
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abstinence acetylcholine receptors action active addictive drugs agonist alcohol addicts amino acids amphetamines animal antagonist become behavior benzodiazepines binding blood brain caffeine cannabis cause cell chapter chemical cigarette clinic cocaine coffee craving described disease disulfiram dopamine dosage dose drink Drug Abuse drug addiction drug users endogenous opioids enzyme experiments GABA gene genetic hallucinogens harm heroin heroin addicts human illicit drugs inhalation injection intravenous drug LAAM levels ligand long-term lung marijuana measure membranes ment methadone maintenance morphine mu opioid receptors muscle naloxone naltrexone needle exchanges nerve neurons neurotransmitter nicotine addiction nicotinic acetylcholine receptors opiate opioid receptors pain patients peptide percent placebo pregnant prevention problem produce protein psychoactive drugs psychoactive effects reduce reinforcing relapse release reward pathway self-administration serotonin smoking social society spiking stimulation studies subjects substance tion tobacco toxic treatment typically urine withdrawal syndrome