Drug use and addiction are pervasive. Addiction has very high overall health costs, once related factors such as heart disease, cancer and accidents are considered. The progression from initial drug use to addiction is influenced by the drug, the user’s personality, peer influences and environmental stressors. In our November issue, we present a special focus on addiction, highlighting the biology of some of the most commonly abused substances, exploring the genetics of predisposition to addiction, and examining the components of addictive behavior itself.

Our focus consists of reviews and opinion pieces on this topic as well as a commentary on how the neuroscience of addiction should guide public policy and treatment. Thanks to our sponsors, NIDA and NIAAA, this focus is freely available on-line through January 2006. To access the focus, click here.

Let us know what you think of the focus! Are there some reviews or perspectives you enjoyed more than others? How good are our animal models for addiction? What can be done to improve translation of our knowledge of the basic biology of addiction into effective therapies? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this focus, and on this topic!