++
Drug abuse is usually taken to mean the use of an illicit drug or the excessive or nonmedical use of a licit drug. It also denotes the deliberate use of chemicals that generally are not considered drugs by the lay public, for example, solvents, but may be harmful to the user. A primary motivation for drug abuse appears to be the anticipated feeling of pleasure derived from the CNS effects of the drug. The older term “physical (physiologic) dependence” is now generally denoted as dependence, whereas “psychological dependence” is more simply called addiction.
+++
THE DOPAMINE HYPOTHESIS OF ADDICTION
++
Dopamine in the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens of the mesolimbic system appears to play a primary role in the expression of “reward,” and excessive dopaminergic stimulation may lead to reinforcement such that the rewarded behavior may become compulsive—a common feature of addiction. Though not the only neurochemical characteristic of drugs of abuse, it appears that most addictive drugs have actions that include facilitation of the effects of dopamine in the CNS. A classification system for these drugs is set forth in Figure 32–1.
++
++
The sedative-hypnotic drugs are responsible for many cases of drug abuse. The group includes ethanol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed drugs for anxiety and, as Schedule IV drugs, are judged by the US government to have low abuse liability (Table 32–1), however short-acting benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam) have high addiction potential when used long-term. Short-acting barbiturates (eg, secobarbital) have high addiction potential. Ethanol is not listed in schedules of controlled substances with abuse liability although it is clearly a heavily abused drug.
++
++
Sedative-hypnotics reduce inhibitions, suppress anxiety, and produce relaxation. All of ...