Introduction

Abstract

Pharmacology is the scientific discipline concerned with determining the biochemical actions and behavioral effects of drugs. Understanding the pharmacological actions of drugs on brain and behavior is thus the cornerstone of basic research directed at elucidating etiology of the substance use disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Although etiology of the substance use disorders involves manifold factors, including genetic predisposition, social context (family, peers, societal norms, demography), psychological disposition (temperament, personality, cognition), as well as regulations and legal controls determining drug cost and availability, the complex causal variables resulting in these clinical disorders originate from pharmacology.