Drugs, Addiction, and the Brain explores the molecular, cellular, and neurocircuitry systems in the brain that are responsible for drug addiction. Common neurobiological elements are emphasized that provide novel insights into how the brain mediates the acute rewarding effects of drugs of abuse and how it changes during the transition from initial drug use to compulsive drug use and addiction. The book provides a detailed overview of the pathophysiology of the disease. The information provided will be useful for neuroscientists in the field of addiction, drug abuse treatment providers, and undergraduate and postgraduate students who are interested in learning the diverse effects of drugs of abuse on the brain. - Full-color circuitry diagrams of brain regions implicated in each stage of the addiction cycle - Actual data figures from original sources illustrating key concepts and findings - Introduction to basic neuropharmacology terms and concepts - Introduction to numerous animal models used to study diverse aspects of drug use. - Thorough review of extant work on the neurobiology of addiction

People use drugs for many different reasons, including the pursuit of "high," social factors and self-medication of other conditions. Many millions of people are addicted to at least one substance, and the cost of addiction is immense, at both the individual and societal levels. Neurocircuitry of Addiction is the first book of its kind, with a focus on addiction neuroscience from a neural circuit perspective. This book begins with a primer on circuit-based neuroscience that equips the reader with an understanding of the applications described throughout the book. Each subsequent chapter positions a different brain region at the "center" of addiction neurocircuitry and goes on to describe the anatomical connectivity of that brain region, how those circuits are affected by drug exposure, and the role of those circuits in controlling addiction-related behaviors. All chapters of this book are written by content experts for a target audience that has some basic neuroscience background, but no prior in-depth knowledge regarding the neurocircuitry of addiction. - Reviews the circuit-based tools that are used by scientists to investigate neural circuit function - Describes how acute and chronic alcohol and drug exposure affect neural circuit function - Describes the state of the science regarding the role of specific neural circuis in drug addiction - Chapters include data from both human neuroscience and animal models

Neurobiology of Addiction is conceived as a current survey and synthesis of the most important findings in our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction over the past 50 years. The book includes a scholarly introduction, thorough descriptions of animal models of addiction, and separate chapters on the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction for psychostimulants, opioids, alcohol, nicotine and cannabinoids. Key information is provided about the history, sources, and pharmacokinetics and psychopathology of addiction of each drug class, as well as the behavioral and neurobiological mechanism of action for each drug class at the molecular, cellular and neurocircuitry level of analysis. A chapter on neuroimaging and drug addiction provides a synthesis of exciting new data from neuroimaging in human addicts a unique perspective unavailable from animal studies. The final chapters explore theories of addiction at the neurobiological and neuroadaptational level both from a historical and integrative perspective. The book incorporates diverse finding with an emphasis on integration and synthesis rather than discrepancies or differences in the literature. - Presents a unique perspective on addiction that emphasizes molecular, cellular and neurocircuitry changes in the transition to addiction - Synthesizes diverse findings on the neurobiology of addiction to provide a heuristic framework for future work - Features extensive documentation through numerous original figures and tables that that will be useful for understanding and teaching

Research increasingly suggests that addiction has a genetic and neurobiological basis, but efforts to translate research into effective clinical treatments and social policy needs to be informed by careful ethical analyses of the personal and social implications. Scientists and policy makers alike must consider possible unintended negative consequences of neuroscience research so that the promise of reducing the burden and incidence of addiction can be fully realized and new advances translated into clinically meaningful and effective treatments. This volume brings together leading addiction researchers and practitioners with neuroethicists and social scientists to specifically discuss the ethical, philosophical, legal and social implications of neuroscience research of addiction, as well as its translation into effective, economical and appropriate policy and treatments. Chapters explore the history of ideas about addiction, the neuroscience of drug use and addiction, prevention and treatment of addiction, the moral implications of addiction neuroscience, legal issues and human rights, research ethics, and public policy. - Features outstanding and truly international scholarship, with chapters written by leading experts in neuroscience, addiction medicine, psychology and more - Informs psychologists of related research in neuroscience and vice versa, giving researchers easy one-stop access to knowledge outside their area of specialty

Recent scientific advances have provided substantial information on the brain circuits and pathways relevant to various aspects of dependence. Neurobiology of Alcohol Dependence highlights the most recent data at the molecular, cellular, neurocircuitry, and behavioral levels, fostering an understanding how neuroplasticity and neuroadaptation occur, and how different neural pathways and neurocircuits contribute to dependence. - Highlights recent advances in understanding alcohol addiction from molecular, cellular, neurocircuitry, and behavioral levels - Integrates several emerging areas of research and discusses the application of novel research techniques to the understanding of alcohol dependence - Chapters authored by leaders in the field around the globe — the broadest, most expert coverage available

A current survey and synthesis of the most important findings in our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction is detailed in our Neurobiology of Addiction series, each volume addressing a specific area of addiction. Alcohol, Volume 3 in the series, explores the molecular, cellular, and neurocircuitry systems in the brain responsible for alcohol addiction using the heuristic three-stage cycle framework of binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation/anticipation. - Outlines the history and behavioral mechanism of action of alcohol relevant to the neurobiology of alcohol addiction - Includes neurocircuitry, cellular, and molecular neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol addiction in each stage of the addiction cycle - Explores evolving areas of research associated with all three stages of the alcohol addiction cycle, including neurobiological studies of neurodevelopmental effects of early exposure to alcohol, sleep disturbances caused by alcohol, pain interactions with alcohol, sex differences in the response to alcohol, and epigenetic/genetic interactions with alcohol

An essential reference for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, trainees, and specialist nurses, as well as primary care physicians/GPs with a special interest in mental health conditions and other healthcare professionals.