Public Health and Epidemiology: Open Access
The Common Items Involved in Substance Use Disorder and their Pharmacology
Abstract
Mei Jung Chen
People with substance use and addiction (SUD) is characterized as uncontrollable useof the substance even they known it is harmful with using the substance, and then getaddictive. Once these substances have been addictive, they are able to change mentalcondition, develop severe psychiatric problems and induce other chronic diseasessubsequently. Due to this kind of mental change, patients will not only hurtthemselves but also jeopardize other people or stuff uncontrollably. Consequently, it develops a major social problem. These phenomena have become more and morecommon worldwide.
According to the announcement by the Food and DrugAdministration of Taiwan, the case numbers of SUD were increasing year by year.Besides, the user’s age is younger than before. Report from the [Analysis of the 112Annual Report on DrugAbuse Cases and Inspection Statistics] shows that the priorityof abused substances are central stimulants, sedative, cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol.In this paper, the neurotransmitters triggered by these substances will be discussed,followed by the mechanisms and physiological responses induced by these substances. Information from this paper may provide more knowledge for clinical diagnosis andmanagement.