Substance abuse is one of society's serious problems. Drugs seem to be readily available in various countries. The disorder is the overindulgence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health or welfare of others. This book presents the research in the field.

Substance abuse is one of society's most serious problems. Drugs seem to be readily available in virtually every country in the world. Substance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health, or the welfare of others. The disorder is characterised by a pattern of continued pathological use of a medication, non-medically indicated drug or toxin, that results in repeated adverse social consequences related to drug use, such as failure to meet work, family, or school obligations, interpersonal conflicts, or legal problems. There are on-going debates as to the exact distinctions between substance abuse and substance dependence, but current practice standard distinguishes between the two by defining substance dependence in terms of physiological and behavioural symptoms of substance use, and substance abuse in terms of the social consequences of substance use. This book presents the latest research in the field.