The Evolutionary Bases of Substance Use and Abuse (Report)

Conventional Theories of Substance Use and Abuse The abuse of psychoactive substances is a pattern of maladaptive and self-destructive behavior that, seemingly, offers little or no advantage to the substance user. Traditional explanations (whether they be psychosocial, behavioral, or neurobiological) of substance abuse focus on the pleasurable effects inherent in many psychoactive substances. According to these theories, use of psychoactive substances is rewarded with pleasure, while discontinuation is punished via painful withdrawal symptoms [1].