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Introduction

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Neuropathology of Drug Abuse

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Abstract

Drug abuse represents a significant health and social issue worldwide. The predominantly abused drugs include cannabis, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, “designer drugs,” and novel psychoactive substances. Since polydrug abuse is the rule rather than the exception, it is nearly impossible to ascribe neuropathological findings to a single substance. In addition, potentially neurotoxic adulterants and diluents, the lifestyle as well as various infections may contribute to additional morbidity and mortality. Despite difficulties regarding human studies, drugs of abuse have deleterious effects on the human brain. Although neurological and neuroimaging studies have shown conspicuous findings, little is known about the fundamental neuropathological alterations of the cellular elements of the human brain. This book will focus on the neuropathological findings associated with drugs of abuse in humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany

    Andreas Büttner

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  1. Andreas Büttner
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Büttner, A. (2021). Introduction. In: Neuropathology of Drug Abuse. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60531-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60531-5_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-60530-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-60531-5

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