Chapter 12: Addiction and Substance Abuse
Synopsis
Author
Miss Mishthi Prajapati,
PharmD Scholar, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Parul Institute of Pharmacy & Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Abstract
Addiction and substance abuse represent significant public health concerns with complex biological, psychological, and social dimensions requiring comprehensive understanding and management. Common drugs of abuse span multiple categories with distinct characteristics: stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines produce euphoria, increased energy, and sympathomimetic effects; opioids generate analgesia and euphoria while risking respiratory depression; sedative-hypnotics including benzodiazepines and alcohol cause anxiolysis and sedation; hallucinogens alter perception and cognition; and novel psychoactive substances continuously emerge to evade legal restrictions. Clinical manifestations of substance use disorders follow recognized patterns including compulsive use despite consequences, tolerance requiring escalating doses, withdrawal symptoms upon cessation, and neurobiological adaptations reflecting altered reward circuitry functioning. Acute intoxication and overdose present with substance-specific syndromes requiring targeted interventions, while chronic use leads to characteristic medical, psychological, and social complications. Treatment approaches incorporate pharmacological interventions including medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders, psychosocial therapies spanning cognitive-behavioral approaches and motivational enhancement, and recovery support services delivered across a continuum from outpatient to residential settings. Prevention programs target different population levels, with universal strategies addressing entire communities, selective approaches focusing on high-risk groups, and indicated interventions targeting individuals showing early substance use patterns, all within a framework that addresses risk factors while enhancing protective factors.
Keywords: Substance Use Disorder, Addiction, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Withdrawal, Intoxication, Harm Reduction
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