In this chapter you will learn
 

• The major classifications of drugs and some of their effects
• What happens in the brain during addiction
• How addiction is treated pharmacologically
• How heredity influences addiction

Now that the basic framework of the nervous system has been described, students are introduced to more applied concepts. Chapter 5 examines drugs and drug addiction as a means of tying together previous discussions of brain anatomy and neural functioning. The characteristics and effects of several groups of drugs are described. Addiction is then addressed, with a focus on neural causes. The chapter also contains a detailed account of the genetic bases of drug addiction, with a focus on the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Finally, treatment options available for various drug addictions are discussed.