Introduction

 The Department of Drug Dependence Research conducts research with a mission to contribute to research on drug abuse prevention and drug addiction recovery support in Japan.

 This department is composed of researchers specializing in psychiatry, mental health, pharmacy, and public health, working across three sections. At the Section of Psychosocial Research, we conduct epidemiological studies from various angles to clarify the cause of the prevalence of substance abuse and to explore which kinds of people need drugs and for what purposes. In the Section of Addictive Drug Research, we conduct behavioral pharmacological studies using in vivo in vitro approaches to clarify the constituents, toxicity, and dependence of new psychoactive substances that are emerging in rapid succession. At the Section of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Development Research, we conduct clinical research, such as the development of a treatment program, while actually providing treatment for drug addiction and supporting families of drug addicts.

 Drug dependence is a multifaceted and complex disease. A "substance" referred to as an addictive drug must exist as a prerequisite in order for drug addiction to emerge. In addition, the "social environment" in which drugs are easily available, and the "individual" who feels the need for drugs must mutually influence each other. At the same time, drug addiction is an ever-changing disease. The form of distributed drugs varies depending on the times, regions, economic conditions, cultures, and trends, and the needs of those who use them can be just as diverse.

 We continue to study day and night, the various problems relating to drug addiction without neglecting any of the three view points of “substance,” “environment,” and “individual.”

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