This paper provides a brief review of the addictions field in Latin America. Epidemiology, legal aspects, dual pathology, treatment, prevention and future directions are discussed. This increasing disease is one of the major contributors for mental health problems in the region. Efforts have been made in treatment and prevention but results and budgets are scarce. Dual pathology, new modalities such as injected heroin in countries such as Colombia, low coverage of programmes, training resources, research and publications are important challenges. The tendency to liberalize legal terms of use would require more effort for prevention and education. Based on relevant literature and a long and current experience in the area, the authors summarize this important theme.

Se hace una breve reseña de la evolución de la terapia comportamental. Se enfatiza el paso de un interés exclusivo por el organismo individual a grupos de organismos. Se analiza la aplicación de los principios conductuales al tratamiento del niño y cómo lo anterior llevó a utilizar, primero, a los miembros de la familia como agentes de cambio y, luego, a conceptuar la familia como un sistema complejo de contingencias. Se revisa la concepción conductual de la familia y sus aplicaciones terapéuticas.