THEORIES OF DRUG ADDICTION

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Abstract
A review of literature leads to the conclusions: Addiction to a drug may occur independently of acquired tolerance to that drug. Only those drugs to which tolerance is developed produce such profound alterations in the central nervous system as to demand more of the drug to establish functional normality. Tolerance appears to be developed only to that class of drugs which produce a reduction in the activity of cells. Increased sensitivity as contrasted to tolerance is developed to those drugs which increase activity. To that class of drugs which selectively increase the activity of some cells and depress others, sensitivity is developed by the first and tolerance by the latter. Demonstrable neuropathologic changes occur in all cases of serious drug addiction. The difference in rate of destruction and elimination between the addicted and non-addicted is not sufficient to account for all the developed tolerance to depressant drugs and sensitivity to stimulant drugs. Exclusive of the central nervous system, the addict is organically essentially normal.

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