Substance abusers are an immunocompromised population, vulnerable to a wide array of new and resurgent infectious diseases - in spite of modern treatment. For example, opportunistic infections like tuberculosis are the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV positive patients. Alcohol- and drug-induced disorders are wide-ranging, gaining prominence as the spectrum of emerging diseases broadens. Alcohol, Drugs of Abuse, and Immune Functions reviews the role of these immunosuppressants as cofactors in disease. It covers the basic biology and immunology of impairments to defense against infectious disease. Alcohol and drug use is consistently associated with immunosuppression, although it isn't known if it is the substance itself, a metabolite, or an indirect effect that alters disease resistance. This text explores the advances toward answering this question, examines alcohol in different settings, its relationship to important cells, and the effects it can have on vital organs such as the liver and the lungs.

This important publication provides up-to-date reviews using data from human patients and animal models. The goal is to understand the relationship between immunological modification by drugs of abuse and disease resistance. Examined are the major drugs of abuse and their effects on lymphoid cell function, numbers, development, and interactions. Also addressed are reviews of how ethanol, cocaine, morphine, and marijuana effect the immune function. The book includes evaluations of the relationship of immunomodulation by drugs of abuse on resistance to infectious diseases. This is critical to understanding how drugs modulate diseases and cancer development. This invaluable publication is important to those in biochemistry, physiology, chemistry, biology, immunology, cancer, medicine, pharmacology, microbiology, psychology, psychiatry, and additive studies. It is also of value to those in nutrition, pathology, pediatrics, family medicine, gerontology, surgery, sociology, and anatomy. Specialty groups, such as those in tropical medicine and public policy, will have a strong interest in the book. It is also of significant interest to organizations that deal with major numbers of patients using drugs of abuse and with their associated diseases including AIDS.

This volume is based on the program of the International Conference on Drugs of Abuse, Immunity and Immunodeficiency held in Clearwater Beach, Florida. It was sponsored by the University of South Florida College of Medicine with the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. During the past few decades, drugs of abuse, including marijuana, cocaine, opiates and alcohol, have been studied by biomedical scientists in terms of the systemic effects of the drugs as well as alterations in neurophysiology and the psychology. More recently, the scope of such investigations has been broadened to include alterations within the immune system, and the influence of altered immunity on physiological and psychological consequences of drug abuse. In this regard, participants in the Clearwater Beach conference provided new information concern ing both basic and clinical aspects of drugs of abuse and immunity, especially immunodeficiency. Advances have been made in recent years in understanding the nature and mechanisms regulating the immune response and the mechanisms by which drugs may influence immune responses. In particular, the emergence of psychoneuroimmunology as a new discipline has heightened interest in immune responses influenced by psychoactive drugs. This has resulted in interdisciplinary investigations involving clinical and basic scientists including microbiologists, immu nologists, physiologists, psychiatrists, oncologists and others. The recreational use of the above mentioned drugs by large numbers of individuals has aroused serious concern about the consequences of this activity.

The second edition of Neuroimmune Pharmacology bridges the disciplines of neuroscience, immunology and pharmacology from the molecular to clinical levels with particular thought made to engage new research directives and clinical modalities. Bringing together the foremost field authorities from around the world, Neuroimmune Pharmacology will serve as an invaluable resource for the basic and applied scientists of the current decade and beyond.

This volume is based on the program of the Second International Conference on Drugs of Abuse, Immunity and AIDS, held in Clearwater Beach, FL in June 1992. The Conference was supported in part by the University of South Florida College of MediCine with financial assistance from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The focus of this conference was the effects of drugs of abuse on immunity. It is now widely recognized that psychoactive drugs of abuse, including marijuana, cocaine, and opiates, as well as alcohol, have marked effects in an individual, including effects on their nervous system and behavior. In the past two decades, the scope of studies concerning the effects of some drugs of abuse have also involved investigations of alterations of various physiologic parameters including effects on the immune system. and the influence of such immune alterations on normal physiological responses. In this regard, participants in this Second International Conference provided newer information concerning both basic and clinical aspects of drugs of abuse and immunity, especially immunodeficiencies. In this regard, advances have been made in recent years concerning the nature and mechanisms whereby the immune system is regulated and the possible mechanisms by which drugs of abuse influence such immune systems. In particular, the emergence of psychoneuroimmunology as a new discipline the last decade has heightened interest in the immune responses influenced by psychoactive drugs. This has resulted in interdisciplinary investigations involving both clinical and basic scientists, including microbiologists, immunologists, physiologists, psychiatrists, oncologists, psychologists, etc.

The studies presented in this symposium volume investigate the mechanisms of the immune dysfunction due to alcohol, heroin, and cocaine use, and attempt to elucidate what their ultimate effects are on AIDS, cancer growth and infectious disease.

During the past few decades, drugs of abuse, including marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and alcohol have been studied in detail by biomedical scientists in terms of their effects on the neurophysiology and psychological responses of individuals. Research over the last few years has provided increased knowledge about possible mechanisms by which such drugs increase the likelihood of infections in humans and experimental animals. In Drugs of Abuse, Immunity, and Infections prominent investigators review important new information concerning the effects of recreational drugs on susceptibility to infection by microorganisms. The volume examines the effects of drugs such as cocaine, morphine, marijuana, and opiates on immunity in humans and animals. It covers the molecular and cellular mechanisms of drug-induced immunosuppression and describes the overall enhanced susceptibility to infection in recreational drug users. It discusses the alteration of susceptibility to the retrovirus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the consensus that drugs of abuse may serve as a possible cofactor in the progression of AIDS. Drugs of Abuse, Immunity, and Infections also includes important information concerning public health aspects of drugs of abuse and infection.