Definition

A medical specialty focused on the study, diagnosis, and treatment of addictive behavior disorders, including substance-related disorders and impulse control disorders; and the management of co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions (adapted from MeSH).

Discussion

The major focus of addiction medicine literature is the study and treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse, but the field also addresses other addictions.

Scope and emphasis

The emphasis of the collection is on works of basic science; pharmacology; clinical diagnosis and therapy; epidemiology and public health aspects; health policy; and ethics. NLM generally does not collect the criminological and sociological literature of substance use and abuse, except when it pertains to health.