Psychoactive Drug Use in Evolutionary Perspective

• DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5335.63
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:44:47Z
• Authors: Randolph M. Nesse; Kent C. Berridge
• Keywords: Neurotransmitter Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Illicit Drugs; Substance-Related Disorders; Dopamine; Mental Disorders; Emotions; Biological Evolution; 3. Good health; Behavior, Addictive; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans

Pure psychoactive drugs and direct routes of administration are evolutionarily novel features our environment. They inherently pathogenic because they bypass adaptive information processing systems act directly on ancient brain mechanisms that control emotion behavior. Drugs induce positive emotions give a false signal fitness benefit. This hijacks incentive "liking" "wanting," can result in continued use no longer bring pleasure. block negative impair useful defenses, although there several reasons why their is often safe nonetheless. A deeper understanding the evolutionary origins functions neural needed as basis for decisions about drugs.