title: A biological view of drug abuse.
abstract: In the USA alone, one in four people report having misused psychoactive drugs at some time and over 11% have an active problem. The combined approaches of molecular biology and psychopharmacology reveal that addictive drugs cause long-term changes in brain function and, as a result, addiction is beginning to be seen as a chronic, relapsing illness. As the underlying cellular changes become clearer, the prospects for developing better pharmacotherapeutic strategies are improving.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D051381:Rats; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000502:physiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter