Narcology

Narcology (Russian: наркология: narkológija), from Russian нарко- (narco-, pertaining to narcotics, illicit drugs) + -логия (-logy, "branch of study") is a subspecialty of psychiatry dealing with the prevention, treatment, diagnosis, social care and recovery of drug-dependent persons. The study and science of phenomena of "narcomania", "toxicomania", chronic alcoholism, and its ætiology, pathogenesis, and clinical aspects. The term for a practitioner of narcology is narcologist. In the United States, the comparable terms are "addiction medicine" and "addictionist".

Narcology was introduced as a separated medical specialty in the Soviet Union during the early 1960s through the 1970s. The term "narcology" is used especially in the countries of the former Soviet Union, including Russia.