Summury

Psychoactive substances are widely spread nowadays, used in clinical therapy as analgesics, general anesthetics and in cases of mental and psychiatric disorders, for example depression. Also psychoactive substances are often used because of their ability to cause subjective (although these may be objectively observed) changes in consciousness and mood that the user may find rewarding and pleasant (e.g. euphoria) or advantageous (e.g. increased alertness) and are thus reinforcing. Substances which are both rewarding and positively reinforcing have the potential to induce a state of addiction – compulsive drug use despite negative consequences – when used consistently in excess. In addition, sustained use of some substances may produce a physical dependence or psychological dependence syndrome associated with somatic or psychological-emotional withdrawal states respectively. Drug rehabilitation aims to break this cycle of dependency, through a combination of psychotherapy, support groups, maintenance and even other psychoactive substances. However, the reverse is also true in some cases, when certain experiences on drugs may be so unfriendly and uncomforting that the user may never want to try the substance again.

In part because of this potential for substance misuse, addiction, or dependence, the ethics of psychoactive drugs use is debated. Restrictions on their production and sales in an attempt to decrease drug abuse is very common among national and sub-national governments worldwide, but these measures seem to be insufficient.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-12