Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse (3hrs)

Description

3 Hour CE

There is an inherent need in all of us to seek out that which is positive and avoid the negative, a formula that has progressed to maximize adaptive fitness and the chances of survival. However, the extent to which these strategies are successful depends on complex interactions between individuals and their environment orchestrated by the nervous system.

The application of scientific technologies in humans and laboratory animals has led to remarkable advances in understanding the neurobiological foundations of drug reinforcement and addiction. As a result, addiction, which has been viewed historically as a “moral deficiency,” is being increasingly regarded as a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by an urge to consume drugs and by the progressive loss of control over, and escalation in, drug intake despite repeated (unsuccessful) attempts to resist doing it (Hohl et al., 2017)