Back to Search
Start Over
Drug use and addiction: evolutionary perspective.
- Source :
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry; Nov2009, Vol. 43 Issue 11, p1049-1056, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Drug use creates a significant amount of harm in modern societies. From an evolutionary perspective, the pervasive use of drugs and the ongoing risk of drug addiction can be explained in terms of the action of drugs on evolved motivational–emotional systems. Addiction arises through interaction of these evolutionarily ancient systems, designed to promote the pursuit of natural rewards, and contemporary environments where purified and potent forms of drugs are readily available. This evolutionary analysis is extended to account for developmental patterns in problem drug use, and to explain the existence of behavioural addictions, such as problem gambling. The paper concludes by considering some of the clinical and public policy implications of the evolutionary perspective presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- DRUG addiction
HUMAN behavior
DRUG abuse
SUBSTANCE abuse
HUMAN biology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00048674
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 45683499
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00048670903270449