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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
- Prevention/Development
- Genes, Environment, Comorbidity
- What factors affect vulnerability to drug abuse and addiction?
- Levels of dopamine receptors in a person’s brain can influence whether they "like" or "dislike" the effects of a particular drug.
- Studies have shown that 40-60 percent of the predisposition to addiction can be attributed to genetics.
- Genome wide analyses are being used to identify novel candidate genes that increase the risk for addiction.
- What Other Biological Factors Contribute to Addiction?
- The converse is also true.
- Why do mental illnesses and substance abuse co-occur?
- Many environmental factors also contribute to a person's propensity to take drugs of abuse.
- How can the environment shape the response to drugs?
- Knowledge from scientific research has prompted notable shifts in attitudes and behaviors toward drug abuse.
- Prevention messages can make a difference.
- Treatment
- Relapse
- HIV/AIDS
- International Program & Conclusion
Genes, Environment, Comorbidity
In This Section
- What factors affect vulnerability to drug abuse and addiction?
- Levels of dopamine receptors in a person’s brain can influence whether they "like" or "dislike" the effects of a particular drug.
- Studies have shown that 40-60 percent of the predisposition to addiction can be attributed to genetics.
- Genome wide analyses are being used to identify novel candidate genes that increase the risk for addiction.
- What Other Biological Factors Contribute to Addiction?
- The converse is also true.
- Why do mental illnesses and substance abuse co-occur?
- Many environmental factors also contribute to a person's propensity to take drugs of abuse.
- How can the environment shape the response to drugs?
- Knowledge from scientific research has prompted notable shifts in attitudes and behaviors toward drug abuse.
- Prevention messages can make a difference.
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.




