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Authors: Christian Lüscher, Mark A. Ungless

The Mechanistic Classification of Addictive Drugs. PLoS Med 3(11): e437 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030437 

Published: November 14, 2006 

To read the original article, click here. Originally published in PLoS. Open Access. 

ABSTRACT

The consumption of a variety of natural and synthetic substances can lead to addiction, which is commonly defined by the loss of control and compulsive consumption despite negative consequences. Although addictive drugs have diverse molecular targets in the brain, they share the common initial effect of increasing the concentration of dopamine released from mesocorticolimbic projections.

In this article, we review recent research that has advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this increase of dopamine. Based on this research, we propose a new classification for addictive drugs that we believe may help in directing research towards more effective treatment of addiction.