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Addiction Science: From Molecules to Managed Care
- Introduction
- What Is Addiction?
- Why Do People Abuse Drugs?
- Drug Use Changes the Brain
- Prolonged drug abuse changes the brain in fundamental ways that reinforce drug taking and lead to addiction.
- Drug abuse changes both the structure of the brain and its functionality.
- Exposure to some drugs of abuse can change the structure of neurons in the brain.
- Repeated drug exposure also changes brain function.
- Methamphetamine abuse decreases dopamine transporter activity and compromises mental function.
- Implication?
- Research has identified a number of brain circuits that are affected by drug abuse and addiction.
- Prevention/Development
- Genes, Environment, Comorbidity
- Treatment
- Relapse
- HIV/AIDS
- International Program & Conclusion
Drug Use Changes the Brain
In This Section
- Prolonged drug abuse changes the brain in fundamental ways that reinforce drug taking and lead to addiction.
- Drug abuse changes both the structure of the brain and its functionality.
- Exposure to some drugs of abuse can change the structure of neurons in the brain.
- Repeated drug exposure also changes brain function.
- Methamphetamine abuse decreases dopamine transporter activity and compromises mental function.
- Implication?
- Research has identified a number of brain circuits that are affected by drug abuse and addiction.
This page was last updated July 2008.
Featured Publication
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.
External link, please review our disclaimer.
External link, please review our disclaimer.
External link, please review our disclaimer.




