title: [The endogenous opioid system and drug addiction].
abstract: Drug addiction is a chronic brain disorder leading to complex adaptive changes within the brain reward circuits. Several neurotransmitters, including the endogenous opioid system are involved in these changes. The opioid system plays a pivotal role in different aspects of addiction. Thus, opioid receptors and endogenous opioid peptides are largely distributed in the mesolimbic system and modulate dopaminergic activity within the reward circuits. Opioid receptors and peptides are selectively involved in several components of the addictive processes induced by opioids, cannabinoids, psychostimulants, alcohol and nicotine. This review is focused on the contribution of each component of the endogenous opioid system in the addictive properties of the different drugs of abuse.
authors.affiliation: Laboratori de Neurofarmacologia, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Espagne. rafael.maldonado@upf.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maldonado
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012201:Reward; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins