This experimental issue of DRUG DEPENDENCE is prepared jointly by the Division of Narcotic Addiction and Drug Abuse and the National Clearinghouse for Mental Health Information, both in the National Institute of Mental Health, and is published by the Clearinghouse. Its purpose is to facilitate the dissemination and exchange of information in the field of drug dependence and abuse and to provide abstracts of the current literature in that general field. The publication is distributed to individuals and institutions involved or interested in the field of drug addiction and related peripheral areas. Requests to be added to the mailing list, changes of address, and correspondence regarding submission of materials for Drug DependENCE should all be directed to: DAVID D. SWENSON, M.D., Chief National Clearinghouse for Mental Health Information National Institute of Mental Health 5454 Wisconsin Avenue Chevy Chase, Md. 20015 Inquiries about the program of the Division of Narcotic Addition and Drug Abuse should be NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION Drug Dependence National Institute of Mental Health 5454 Wisconsin Avenue Chevy Chase, Md. 20015 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Foreword Throughout history, there is a record of man's social abuse of drugs and acquired dependence upon them with a seemingly rapid extension of the phenomenon at a time when our awareness of the consequences is acute. The need for a journal that will focus specifically upon the problems of substance abuse is evident. Scientists of almost every discipline, legislators, and lawyers, teachers and students, and many other groups have an unsatisfied interest for information in this area. To fill this need, the National Institute of Mental Health inaugurates DRUG DEPENDENCE. A major objective of this new journal will be to present recent annotated bibliographic materials in a readable style, together with a number of original articles by professionals in the field; and an occasional reprint of a historical article to provide a perspective of past drug misuse. Psychologic dependence upon a chemical-any chemical-can be conceptualized as a disorder of information. The user erroneously believes that the substance will magically solve his problems, ease his burdens, allay his anxieties, and procure genuine happiness, creativity, wisdom, or maturity. But such a belief is based on ignorance of the nature of human mentality, which develops only by encountering and solving problems and which acquires resilience only by surmounting stress, not by avoiding it. Dependency upon pills for happiness, creativity, wisdom, and maturity may actually prevent achievement of these goals by distancing the user from the opportunity to achieve. To that aspect of drug abuse which is a disorder of information, Drug Dependence will attempt to contribute in an endeavor to correct the disorder. It is with pleasure that I introduce this first issue. STANLEY F. YOLLES, M.D., Director, |