The Addicted Brain Why We Abuse Drugs, Alcohol, and Nicotine

by Kuhar, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780132542500
• ISBN10: 0132542501
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-11-02
• Publisher: Ft Pr

Summary

The Addicted Brain: Why We Abuse Drugs, Alcohol, and Nicotineexplains clearly and vividly what has been learned about how and why some people become addicted and abuse drugs or other substances, the relatively long-term changes these substances can make in the brain, and the progress being made on treatments. It should provide the best biological grounding on why addictions occur, and a practical overview of the best ways for society and for those personally affected by addictions to respond to and treat addictions.

Author Biography

Michael Kuhar, Ph.D., is currently a professor at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Candler professor in the Emory University School of Medicine, and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar. His general interests have been the structure and function of the brain, mental illness, and the drugs that affect the brain. Addiction has been his major focus for many years, and he is one of the most productive and highly cited scientists worldwide. He has trained a large cadre of students, fellows, and visitors, received a number of prestigious awards for his work, and remains involved in many aspects of addiction research and education. In June 2011, he received the Nathan B. Eddy lifetime achievement award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.

Table of Contents

Introduction     xi
Chapter 1: What’s in This Book, and Why Should I Read It?     1
Chapter 2: Hardwired: What Animals Tell Us About the Human Desire for Drugs     15
Chapter 3: Feeling Good: The Brain’s Own Reward System     29
Chapter 4: The ABCs of Drug Action in the Brain     39
Chapter 5: The Dark Side Develops!     59
Chapter 6: Why Are Drugs So Powerful?     73
Chapter 7: The Brain Is Changed—For a Long Time!     85
Chapter 8: Could I Become an Addict?     99
Chapter 9: Stress, Social Status, and Drugs     115
Chapter 10: Gambling, Sex, and Food     127
Chapter 11: What Else Do Drugs Do to Me?     137
Chapter 12: Women and Adolescents     159
Chapter 13: Treatment: How Do I Get Better?     171
Chapter 14: What Does the Future Hold?     189
Glossary     203
Index     211