title: Drug addiction.
abstract: Many drugs of abuse, including cannabinoids, opioids, alcohol and nicotine, can alter the levels of endocannabinoids in the brain. Recent studies show that release of endocannabinoids in the ventral tegmental area can modulate the reward-related effects of dopamine and might therefore be an important neurobiological mechanism underlying drug addiction. There is strong evidence that the endocannabinoid system is involved in drug-seeking behavior (especially behavior that is reinforced by drug-related cues), as well as in the mechanisms that underlie relapse to drug use. The cannabinoid CB(1) antagonist/inverse agonist rimonabant has been shown to reduce the behavioral effects of stimuli associated with drugs of abuse, including nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana. Thus, the endocannabinoid system represents a promising target for development of new treatments for drug addiction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Services, Preclinical Pharmacology Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Justinova
authors.forename: Leigh V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Panlilio
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012201:Reward; D000077285:Rimonabant; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000077285:Rimonabant