Drugs and substances of abuse, whether licit or illicit, share common neurobiological mechanisms. While providing a biological basis for the common observation of polydrug abuse and of escalation along different drug classes, this also allow s to look at drug and substance abuse as a unitary phenomenon and to consider the possibility of developing common strategies for its treatment and prevention. Knowledge of the neurobiology of drug dependence has already been instrumental in devising new pharmacological therapies for this condition and one can predict that further knowledge will result in major advances in its prevention and therapy. Neurobiological basis of substance abuse. Experimental and clinical brain imaging and psychophysiology of substance abuse .
New management approaches for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments.
Behavioural consequences of psychostimuli and cannabis use. The suffering of those affected and their relatives is enormous because of the physical and mental handicap. We are determined to ensure that brain research is given greater prominence and achieves faster growth and results than in the past. With the active help of the EC, we can move forward even more effectively to reach the goals of arresting the increase and, eventually, reducing the effect of these illnesses. This will at the same time advance basic research with implications for teaching, computer science, the manufacturing industry and, not least, the pharmaceutical industry.