New Cross-cutting Oxford Handbook Highlights the Latest Advances in Addiction Science (original) (raw)
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Crossing boundaries: Implications of advances in basic sciences for the management of addiction
Addictive Behaviors, 2004
Crossing boundaries: Implications of advances in basic sciences for the management of addiction This set of papers was presented at the 2004 Addictions conference, which, for the first time, was held in the Southern Hemisphere, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. The theme of the conference, Crossing Boundaries: Implications of Advances in Basic Sciences for the Management of Addiction, speaks for itself.
PREFACE How Science Has Revolutionized the Understanding of Drug Addiction For much of the past century, scientists studying drugs and drug use labored in the shadows of powerful myths and misconceptions about the nature of addiction. When scientists began to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, people addicted to drugs were thought to be morally flawed and lacking in willpower. Those views shaped society's responses to drug use, treating it as a moral failing rather than a health problem, which led to an emphasis on punishment rather than prevention and treatment. Today, thanks to science, our views and our responses to addiction and the broader spectrum of substance use disorders have changed dramatically. Groundbreaking discoveries about the brain have revolutionized our understanding of compulsive drug use, enabling us to respond effectively to the problem. As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a medical disorder that affects the brain and changes behavior. We have identified many of the biological and environmental risk factors and are beginning to search for the genetic variations that contribute to the development and progression of the disorder. Scientists use this knowledge to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches that reduce the toll drug use takes on individuals, families, and communities. Despite these advances, we still do not fully understand why some people become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug use. This booklet aims to fill that knowledge gap by providing scientific information about the disorder of drug addiction, including the many harmful consequences of drug use and the basic approaches that have been developed to prevent and treat substance use disorders. At the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), we believe that increased understanding of the basics of addiction will empower people to make informed choices in their own lives, adopt science-based policies and programs that reduce drug use and addiction in their communities, and support scientific research that improves the Nation's well-being.
Addiction Science: A Rationale and Tools for a Public Health Response to Drug Abuse
Public health reviews
New scientific knowledge and effective, evidence-based interventions have provided health leaders and policymakers a remarkable paradigm to guide the development of addiction treatment services around the world. The definition of addiction as a brain disease, validated screening and assessment tools, medication-assisted treatment, and effective behavioral treatments have served as vehicles for both the United States and other countries to guide the transformation of their substance abuse treatment systems. Seeking to expand international research and infrastructure, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)'s International Program has engaged international investigators and institutions in addiction research to promote dissemination of addiction science globally. This paper presents three mixed-methods case studies to exemplify the use of advancements in evidence-based practice in addiction treatment as guides and tools for the creation or further development of treatment syst...
HSOA Journal of Addiction & Addictive Disorders Research Article
HSOA Journal of Addiction & Addictive Disorders, 2022
The use of drugs dates back into the prehistory of man. Since time in memorial, Drugs such as herbs, roots, bark trees have been used to relieve pain or cure and control diseases [1]. History tells us that Chinese used Opium as a cure of dysentery before the 18 th century.
Addiction and substance misuse
Medicine, 2008
alcohol and psychoactive substance misuse has far-reaching social, psychological and physical consequences. the numbers of women and young people exposed to the harmful effects of substances have increased. substance use, misuse and addiction incur immense cost to the individual and to society. it is paramount to adequately assess substances misuse, and recognize the effects of intoxication, withdrawal and chronic effects. it is also important to diagnose associated disorders to treat promptly and adequately these often life-threatening conditions. Focus should be put on management of the misuse itself, using appropriate pharmacotherapy as an adjunct to psychosocial approaches, but also remember to address any physical and psychiatric sequelae.