9/27/2013 The Ethics of Substance Abuse

by Nicholas Palladino

        Mental illness provides interesting challenges to conventional ethical systems. Ethical judgments often rely on competent agents using their capacity for reason to determine good moral behavior. In cases of mental illness these capacities may be hindered and it is hard to determine culpability in such cases. This discussion will examine these issues through the specific lens of addiction and substance abuse.

I will focus on introducing the biological and psychological components of addiction. Using this scientific framework we can discuss the ethical implications and questions that arise. Ideally this will be an open discussion with the conversation developing around the group's interest, but I will maintain a list of specific questions to stimulate discussion.

This discussion will be mainly be based around the book Addiction Neuroethics by Adrian Carter; Wayne Hall; Judy Illes. I've taken the only physical copy from the library, but I think it might be availible in e-book format as well.

http://umass.worldcat.org/title/addiction-neuroethics-the-ethics-of-addiction-neuroscience-research-and-treatment/oclc/731925427/editions?referer=di&editionsView=true