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Contents
Foreword ix
Acknowledgements xi
List of background papers and contributors xv
Abbreviations xvii
Chapter 1. Introduction 1
Structure of the report 1
Psychoactive substances and their sociolegal status 1
Global use of psychoactive substances 4
Tobacco 4
Alcohol 5
Illicit use of controlled substances 9
Adverse effects of psychoactive substances and their mechanisms
of action 10
Substance dependence in relation to neuroscience 12
The burden of harm to health from psychoactive substance use 16
Chapter 2. Brain Mechanisms: Neurobiology and Neuroanatomy 19
Introduction 19
Organization of the brain 19
The neuron 25
Cell body 26
Dendrites 26
Axon 28
Terminal buttons 28
Neurotransmission 29
Action potential 29
Neurotransmitter release 30
Receptors 31
Neurotransmitters 32
Acetylcholine 33
γ-aminobutyric acid 33
Glutamate 33
Dopamine 34
Norepinephrine 34
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Pagetit 3 19.1.2004, 12:36
