"Depressant drugs, such as alcohol or heroin, produce a much greater physical dependence than stimulant drugs, such as cocaine, which causes a mainly psychological dependence". This was stated today by Dr. Elena Puerta, an expert at Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Navarra, during a course that addresses the phenomenon of drug addiction. The program is organized by the School of Pharmacy and is part of the summer courses of the universities of Navarra.

Drugs can be classified in many ways: as legal or illegal; of natural or synthetic origin; as stimulants or depressants. However, says Puerta,"all are considered 'drugs of abuse' because they are psychoactive (they cause changes in mood, consciousness or behavior), after consumption they produce a pleasure that incites repeated self-administration (positive reinforcing effect), they develop physical or psychological dependence or both, and they are consumed without therapeutic purposes.

Dr. Maite Solas, also an expert at Pharmacology and Toxicology of the academic center, explained that the addictive potential of a substance can be assessed as early as laboratory : "Drugs act directly on the brain, generating addiction by changing the release of brain neurotransmitters (substances essential for brain function), thus generally producing a wellbeing effect". "This happens in any species, not only in humans, so that even a rat or a mouse can become addicted," says Solas.

About 50 people attend this course, graduate 'What do we know about drugs of abuse', which aims to provide the necessary knowledge about addiction to these substances.

Experts from the scientific, health, social, educational, economic and legal fields will participate. All of them come from the Navarra Hospital Complex, the Foundation project Hombre Navarra, the association Hegoak or the University of Navarra. The course continues in the afternoon and lasts until tomorrow. The course is being held today and tomorrow at the Science Library building of the University of Navarra.