Substance Abuse

Abstract

Psychotropic substances were used throughout history for medicinal, ritual, and recreational purposes. Overuse may result in pathological consumption styles, mainly dependence and other forms of abuse (hazardous use, harmful use). Attempts at political, religious, and social control of use, including total prohibition of all or specific substances, show mixed success. While traditional use and experimental use mostly have a sociocultural background, dependence and other forms of abuse are classified as a behavioral pathology and as medical conditions. Different ethical aspects and rules apply for use, nondependent abuse, and dependence, respectively. Human rights and medical ethics provide a framework of consequential ethics. Interventions for abuse, their organization, and performance are discussed in some detail, and special attention is paid to the vulnerabilities (stigmatization, marginalization, comorbidities) of people with addictive behavior.