15998. PHARMACOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. This paper looks at how knowledge of pharmacology can help addiction treatment practitioners to better understand the impact of different substances on the body and brain. Also discussed is the ways in which medical drugs can be used in substance abuse treatment, and the limits to what pharmacology can explain regarding substance abuse. Keywords: drug treatment pharmacology. Written 2004. 6 pages; 15 footnotes; 5 bibliographic sources. 1,284 words.