Addiction Neuroethics
The Promises and Perils of Neuroscience Research on Addiction

Addresses the social and ethical challenges raised by the promise of neuroscience to revolutionise the treatment of addiction.

Adrian Carter (Author), Wayne Hall (Author)

9781107003248, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 November 2011

364 pages, 10 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.5 x 2 cm, 0.7 kg

Addiction is a significant health and social problem and one of the largest preventable causes of disease globally. Neuroscience promises to revolutionise our ability to treat addiction, lead to recognition of addiction as a 'real' disorder in need of medical treatment and thereby reduce stigma and discrimination. However, neuroscience raises numerous social and ethical challenges: • If addicted individuals are suffering from a brain disease that drives them to drug use, should we mandate treatment? • Does addiction impair an individual's ability to consent to research or treatment? • How will neuroscience affect social policies towards drug use? Addiction Neuroethics addresses these challenges by examining ethical implications of emerging neurobiological treatments, including: novel psychopharmacology, neurosurgery, drug vaccines to prevent relapse, and genetic screening to identify individuals who are vulnerable to addiction. Essential reading for academics, clinicians, researchers and policy-makers in the fields of addiction, mental health and public policy.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. What is addiction?
3. The neurobiology of addiction
4. Neurobiological treatments of addiction
5. Autonomy, addiction and the public good
6. Autonomy and the capacity to consent to addiction treatment
7. The rights of individuals treated for drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction
8. Coerced treatment of addiction
9. Ethics of addiction research
10. New developments in the treatment of addiction
11. In search of a neurobiological 'cure' of addiction
12. Preventing addiction and personalised addiction treatment
13. Feeling 'better than well'
14. The implications of addiction neurobiology for public policy
15. Concluding remarks
Index.

Subject Areas: Addiction & therapy [MMZR], Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH], Medical ethics & professional conduct [MBDC]