title: Classical and novel psychoactive substances: rethinking drug misuse from an evolutionary psychiatric perspective.
abstract: In this article, ontogenetic and phylogenetic causes of drug abuse and links to human emotional development are considered. Some evolutionary perspectives (e.g. that under certain conditions, consumption of otherwise toxic alkaloids may confer both physical and cultural advantages) are reviewed. As described in the 'mismatch theory', the capacity of the human genome to evolve defences against toxins has been outstripped by the pace of cultural change and technological development, such as purposeful fermentation of alcohol and more recently distillation of alcohol; purification and chemical manipulation of plant alkaloids; and the engineering of entirely novel psychoactive substances (NPS). The functions of the neurobiological substrates that mediate substance misuse and dependence are reviewed. Reasons are given why NPSs present greater cause for concern than plant-derived substances of abuse. We argue that evolutionary biology provides an important orientation for the research agenda in substance misuse.
authors.affiliation: Hertsmere Community Mental Health Team, Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Borehamwood, UK. paulstjohnsmith@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: St John-Smith
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McQueen
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schifano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003468:Cultural Evolution; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: drug misuse; evolutionary perspective; pharmacophagy; psychiatry; toxic alkaloids