This book presents the main concepts and tools for the adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to psychotropic substances use and abuse management, prevention and treatment. It aims to provide resources for the design and implementation of health strategies and public policies to deal with psychotropic substances use in a way that fully recognizes the complex articulations between its biological, psychological and social aspects, taking these three dimensions into account to develop both health and social care policies and strategies aimed at psychotropic substance users.
The book is organized in five parts. Part one presents a historical overview of psychotropic substances use throughout human history and introduces key concepts to understand the phenomenon from a biopsychosocial perspective. The next three parts approach psychotropic substances use from one of the interrelated dimensions of the biopsychosocial perspective: part two focuses on the neurobiological aspects; partthree, on the psychological aspects; and part four, on the social aspects and its implications for public policy design. Finally, a fifth part is dedicated to special topics related to psychotropic substances use.
Drugs and Human Behavior: Biopsychosocial Aspects of Psychotropic Substances Use is a guide to public agents, health professionals and social workers interested in adopting the biopsychosocial perspective to develop and implement both health and social care strategies and policies based on an interdisciplinary approach and aimed at dealing with psychotropic substance users in a more humanized way.
Denise De Micheli is a professor at the Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil, where she is is the head of the Interdisciplinary Center for Studies on Neuroscience, Adolescent Health and Education. A member of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse, she holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Universidade Paulista, Brazil, and MSc and PhD degrees from the Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil.
André Luiz Monezi Andrade is a professor at the Department of Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Brazil. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Universidade Positivo, Brazil, and Msc and PhD degrees from the Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil, where he also conducted post-doctoral studies, always focusing on the neurobiology of addiction in adolescence. His main research interests are internet and substance abuse, psychopathology, preventive programs in drug addiction and psychopharmacology in adolescents.
Richard Alecsander Reichert holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Brazil, where he is a researcher of the Professional Master Program in Public Policy Management. He is also a member of the Interdisciplinary Center for Studies on Neuroscience, Health, and Adolescent Education at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil, and research assistant of the Laboratory of Basic and Applied Cognitive Psychology at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil.
Eroy Aparecida da Silva is a researcher at the Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil, and head of Cognitive Therapies on Substance Abuse at the Unity of Drug Dependency at the same university. She holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Universidade Paulistana, Brazil, and MSc and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil.
Bruno de Oliveira Pinheiro holds a PhD in Education and Health in Childhood and Adolescence from Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil, where he is a member of the Interdisciplinary Center for Studies on Neuroscience, Health, and Adolescent Education. Graduated in Physical Education and Pedagogy, he is a Physical Education teacher at the São Paulo State Department of Education, Brazil, and a member of the Sport & Society Research Network.
Fernanda Machado Lopes is a professor at the Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil. She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil, where she has also conducted post-doctoral studies in Neurosciences. She is a Certified Therapist by the Brazilian Federation of Cognitive Therapies (FBTC) and associate member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals.
