ABSTRACT
Over the past decade GPs have moved away from their traditional commitment to the individual patient to take on a wider role in tackling the problems of society. The treatment of drug addicts is one example of this trend, which is leading to a transformation in the nature of medical practice as GPs take on some of the concerns of the criminal justice system. The expanding scope of general practice extends into the field of mental health, a territory that has itself expanded through the annexation of more and more areas of personality and behaviour under psychiatric disease labels. We focus here on the expansion of the concept of addiction and at the way this has contributed to the growing medicalisation of society. We look finally at the treatment of these problems in general practice, through counselling and medication and at the consequences of these developments for both doctors and patients.
