Live Webcast: Drug abuse and addiction is a complex phenomenon
4/20/2017 9:00:00 AM - Behavioral Health

   Complex causes

   Complex consequences

   Multiple and interactive factors

      Genetic and environmental considerations

      The centrality of the human brain

Drug abuse is a preventable behavior

   Risk factors

   Protective factors

   Levels of factors

   Relationship of drug abuse to major mental illnesses

Drug abuse is a developmental phenomenon

   Peak age of drug use

   Drug use trends in the U.S.

   Racial and ethnic drug use trends

   (Importance of having and using data)

Drug abuse is dependent on the "Brain": Biology in a social/cultural context

   Biology of motivation and pleasure

   A "real" picture of your brain on drugs

   Role of the neurotransmitter dopamine

Drug addiction is a treatable brain disease...Biological basis for the brain disease of addiction

   Drugs hijack the brain causing chemical changes

   Changes in brain pathways responsible for memory, learning, motivation

   ...and "free will"

   These brain changes can be reversible

   Susceptibility to mental illness

   Biology of recovery

Drug treatment: All approaches impact the brain

   Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease like arthritis and diabetes

   Co - occurring disorders are the rule

Comprehensive -Bio/Psycho/SocioCultural- approach to drug abuse and addiction

   Science can be applied to neutralize stigma

   Science as the basis for drug prevention and treatment policy

   Science as an on going tool for future approaches to eradicate opiate addiction