PHA-Exchange> SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE TREATABLE, SAYS NEUROSCIENCE EXPERT REPORT

[Claudio]

From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel at undp.org>
> From: Judith Ladinsky <jlladins at wisc.edu>
>
>
> > *SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE TREATABLE, SAYS NEUROSCIENCE EXPERT REPORT
> > *
> >
> > *Psychosocial, environmental, biological and genetic factors all play
> > significant roles in dependence, says new report published by WHO
> > *
> >
> > *Geneva/Brasilia -* The World Health Organization (WHO) today
> > launched/ Neuroscience of Psychoactive Substance Use and Dependence/,
> > an authoritative report summarizing the latest scientific knowledge on
> > the role of the brain in substance dependence. The report* is the
> > first of its kind produced by WHO, and cites an explosion of advances
> > in neuroscience to conclude that substance dependence is as much a
> > disorder of the brain as any other neurological or psychiatric disorder.
> >
> > Substance dependence is multifactorial, determined by biological and
> > genetic factors, in which heritable traits can play a strong part, as
> > well as psychosocial, cultural and environmental factors, says the
> > report. It has been known for a long time that the brain contains
> > dozens of different types of receptors and chemical messengers or
> > neurotransmitters. The report summarizes new knowledge on how
> > psychoactive substances are able to mimic the effects of the naturally
> > occurring or endogenous neurotransmitters, and interfere with normal
> > brain functioning by altering the storage, release and removal of
> > neurotransmitters.
> >
> > The report discusses new developments in neuroscience research with
> > respect to craving, compulsive use, tolerance and the concept of
> > dependence. The report shows that psychoactive substances have
> > different ways of acting on the brain, though they share similarities
> > in the way they affect important regions of the brain involved in
> > motivation and emotions. The report discusses how genes interact with
> > environmental factors to sustain psychoactive substance-using
> > behaviours. This knowledge is the basis of novel diagnostic tools and
> > behavioural and pharmacological treatments.
> >
> > The report urges increasing awareness of the complex nature of these
> > problems and the biological processes underlying drug dependence. It
> > also supports effective policies, prevention and treatment approaches
> > and the development of interventions that do not stigmatize patients,
> > are community based and cost-effective.
> >
 >
> > United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) data estimates about
> > 205 million people make use of one type of illicit substance or
> > another. The most common is cannabis, followed by amphetamines,
> > cocaine and the opioids. Illicit substance use is more prevalent among
> > males than females, much more so than cigarette smoking and alcohol
> > consumption. Substance use is also more prevalent among young people
> > than in older age groups. UNODC data shows that 2.5% of the total
> > global population and 3.5% of people 15 years and above had used
> > cannabis at least once in one year between 1998 and 2001.
> >
> >
> > *The Global Burden of Disease (GBD)* from the use of all psychoactive
> > substances, including alcohol and tobacco, is substantial: 8.9% in
> > terms of DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years). However, GBD findings
> > re-emphasize that the main global health burden is due to licit rather
> > than illicit substances. Among the 10 leading risk factors in terms of
> > avoidable disease burden cited in/ The World Health Report 2002/,
> > tobacco was fourth and alcohol fifth for 2000, and remains high on the
> > list in the 2010 and 2020 projections. Tobacco and alcohol contributed
> > 4.1% and 4.0%, respectively, to the burden of ill health in 2000,
> > while illicit substances contributed 0.8%. The burdens attributable to
> > tobacco and alcohol are particularly acute among males in the
> > developed countries (mainly Europe and North America). Measures to
> > reduce the harm from tobacco, alcohol and other psychoactive
> > substances are thus an important part of the public health response,
> > says WHO.
> >
> >
> >
> > /* The/ Neuroscience of psychoactive substance use and dependence/
> > report is a product of three years work involving the contributions of
> > many experts from around the world. The project began in 2000 with a
> > consultation in New Orleans, USA, during the Congress on Neuroscience.
> > A meeting convened by WHO was attended by representatives of
> > international societies and selected experts in the field. Twenty-five
> > reviews were commissioned, completed and submitted and these formed
> > the basis of the final report. Meetings were held in Geneva and Mexico
> > to discuss the outline of the report and the background papers.
> > /
> > *For further information please contact (WHO):* Dr Catherine Le
> > Galès-Camus, Assistant-Director General, Noncommunicable Diseases and
> > Mental Health, e-mail: _legalescamusc at who.int_