When science began to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, people addicted to drugs were thought to be morally flawed and lacking in willpower. Today, thanks to science, our views and our responses to drug abuse have changed dramatically. Groundbreaking discoveries about the brain have revolutionized our understanding of drug addiction, enabling us to respond effectively to the problem.

As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior. We have identified many of the biological and environmental factors and are beginning to search for the genetic variations that contribute to the development and progression of the disease. Scientists use this knowledge to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches that reduce the toll drug abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities. To read more . . .

Addiction Links

• Principles of Effective Treatment
• Managing Addictions through Meditation
• How to Quit Smoking
• Club Drugs
• Steroid Abuse
• Marijuana Resources
• Cocaine
• Addictions Group Forum

Specific Drug Abuses

• A list of drugs commonly abused and information on how to deal with specific addictions
• Chart of Commonly Abused Drugs: Chart showing street names, medical uses, health consequences, etc.
• Medical Consequences of Specific Drug Addictions

Many clinicians and addiction medicine specialists suggest that stress is the number one cause of relapse to drug abuse, including smoking. Now, research is elucidating a scientific basis for these clinical observations. In both people and animals, stress leads to an increase in the brain levels of a peptide known as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). The increased CRF levels in turn triggers a cascade of biological responses.