Basic Sciences and Clinical Foundations: An Introduction

Abstract

We here introduce the section “Basic Scienes and Clinical Foundations”. In this section we will adress the social, cultural, and regional as well as the neurobiological and genetic aspects of addiction. The foundational section of this international textbook on addiction treatment aims to provide an apt prologue to the topic. This section includes chapters on neurobiology, a thorough review of the neurotoxic and neuroadaptive consequences of chronic drug intake with a focus on alcohol. A chapter on genetics presents the heritability of addiction and its genetic and epigenetic components; another chapter presents the international epidemiological aspects of addiction with a focus on the findings of the Global Burden of Disease study. Another focus is on sociocultural dimensions, thus two chapters present roles of socio-environmental factors in diagnosis and treatment and their impact on the patient-clinician interpersonal dynamics as well as interaction with the family, intimate social networks, community at large, and policy makers. Moreover, we show cultural factors, i.e., the shared beliefs, norms, and patterns of behaviors. The social patterning of psychoactive drug use differs as to whether it is medicinal, regular, intermittent, or addictive. Finally, two other chapters focus on the prevention applications of the components discussed with review of the international experience. In conclusion, this foundational section provides an informative basic science review of current knowledge. As this is the first section of this textbook the aim is to demonstrate the basic sciences and clinical foundations; and to reflect the commonalties and differences of broad global and international perspectives.