McQueen, Daniel, St John-Smith, Paul, Edwards, Lindsey and Schifano, Fabrizio (2013) Classical and novel psychoactive substances: Rethinking drug misuse from an evolutionary psychiatric perspective. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 28 . pp. 394-401. ISSN 1099-1077

Full text not yet available from this repository.

Abstract

In this article, ontogenetic and phylogenetic causes of drug abuse and links to human emotional development are considered. Some evolutionary perspectives (e.g. that under certain conditions, consumption of otherwise toxic alkaloids may confer both physical and cultural advantages) are reviewed. As described in the ‘mismatch theory’, the capacity of the human genome to evolve defences against toxins has been outstripped by the pace of cultural change and technological development, such as purposeful fermentation of alcohol and more recently distillation of alcohol; purification and chemical manipulation of plant alkaloids; and the engineering of entirely novel psychoactive substances (NPS). The functions of the neurobiological substrates that mediate substance misuse and dependence are reviewed. Reasons are given why NPSs present greater cause for concern than plant‐derived substances of abuse. We argue that evolutionary biology provides an important orientation for the research agenda in substance misuse.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Disabilities & Disorders (mental & physical) > Addictions Psychological Therapies, Psychiatry, Counselling > Psychiatry
Department/People:	Children, Young Adult and Family Services
URI:	https://repository.tavistockandportman.ac.uk/id/eprint/1812

Actions (Library Staff login required)

View Item