The Science of Addiction

Substance use and behavioural addictive disorders are major health problems with high personal impact and societal costs. These addictive disorders involve changes in the brain of those affected. Individual differences in brain networks relevant to reward/punishment learning and executive functions predict vulnerability to addiction, and continued exposure to drugs and other powerful incentives weakens the function of these systems.

This workshop features a panel of experts on the neurobiological and neuropharmacological underpinnings of drugs and drug addiction, and social policy concerning addictive disorders, to discuss a range of issues such as new trends in diagnosis, treatment and recovery and the need to apply new thinking to how society can best deal with the growing problem of addiction.