Outline the major divisions of psychoactive substance-related disorders, define alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, summarize the many negative consequences of alcohol for both the individual and society, and indicate the prevalence and gender ratio of excessive drinking.
Describe the clinical picture of alcohol abuse, including the biological and psychological effects of chronic consumption of alcohol.
Review the biological, psychosocial, and sociocultural contributors to alcohol abuse and dependence.
Summarize the research findings on the results of treatment and relapse prevention for alcohol-dependent persons.
List the specific drugs and their effects, summarize theories of causal factors, and review treatments for the following drugs of abuse: opium and its derivatives, cocaine and amphetamines, barbiturates, LSD and other hallucinogens, marijuana, and caffeine and nicotine.
Discuss the controversy surrounding controlled drinking versus abstinence.
