[Drug dependence: Progress in neurobiology and perspectives in therapeutics]

Abstract

The knowledge on neurobiology of drug dependence substantially progressed with animal models. All drug of abuse share the effect of an increase of dopamine in nucleus accumbens that contributes to induce dependence. Chronic drug use disrupts numerous neurotransmission systems (glutamate, serotonin, neuropeptides…) and this may participate in relapse. Therapeutic approaches are classified in two types: agonist strategies consist of drug replacement by medicine acting on the same target and strategies using medicines acting on multiple neurotransmission systems.