BACKGROUND Addiction to online games is not uncommon.The patients usually refuse to take medications and present with affective symptoms such as anxiety,depression and negative coping styles.Psychological intervention...BACKGROUND Addiction to online games is not uncommon.The patients usually refuse to take medications and present with affective symptoms such as anxiety,depression and negative coping styles.Psychological intervention based on positive psychology is a promising treatment for such patients.AIM To evaluate the effect of positive psychological intervention on anxiety,depression and coping in people addicted to online games.METHODS This self-controlled study included 89 people addicted to online games,who received treatment at Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital,Hangzhou,China in 2019.The Hamilton Anxiety Scale,Hamilton Depression Scale and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire were administered to evaluate the anxiety,depression and coping style among these people.Psychological intervention based on positive psychology was provided for 6 wk followed by another evaluation.The results were compared against those from the previous evaluation.RESULTS After 6 wk of psychological intervention,89 people achieved a significant improvement in the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale-24 scales.The score for positive coping style in Trait Coping Style Questionnaire was significantly improved,while that of the negative coping style decreased significantly(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Psychological intervention based on positive psychology alleviated affective symptoms,such as anxiety and depression,in subjects addicted to online games.Psychological intervention corrected negative coping style,thereby improving mental health.展开更多
Aim: The effectiveness of nutritional supplementation on drug-seeking behavior of amphetamine-addicted rats during withdrawal was investigated using a biased conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Method: Twenty...Aim: The effectiveness of nutritional supplementation on drug-seeking behavior of amphetamine-addicted rats during withdrawal was investigated using a biased conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Method: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats exhibiting baseline preference for the black chamber during a 20-minute pre-conditioning exploration of the CPP box completed the study. On alternate days of an 8-day schedule, twelve rats (Group AMP) were randomly selected, given either amphetamine sulfate (5 mg/ml, i.p.) and confined to the white chamber;or vehicle (1 ml saline, i.p.) and confined to the black chamber. A significant increased percentage time spent and number of entries made by Group AMP to the drug-paired, white chamber on the test day confirmed amphetamine addiction. Group AMP subsequently received increasing doses of amphetamine over 6 days. Following acute drug withdrawal, their CPP performance was compared with that of vehicle treated rats (Group SAL). Groups AMP and SAL were equally divided and randomly assigned to animals fed chow reconstituted with the nutritional supplement (AMP-S and SAL-S) over 8 weeks or standard rat chow (AMP-N and SAL-N). CPP performances for all rats were determined blindly from video recordings following this period. Results: Nutritionally supplemented, amphetamine withdrawn rats (AMP-S) exhibited significantly decreased percentage entries and time spent in the white chamber (p ?ve, control animals. Conclusion: Drug-seeking behavior by amphetamine-addicted animals was eliminated after treatment with a nutritionally supplemented diet.展开更多
BACKGROUND Chronic cocaine use is associated with stroke, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, resulting in severe impairments or sudden mortality. In the absence of clear cardiovascular symptoms, indivi...BACKGROUND Chronic cocaine use is associated with stroke, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, resulting in severe impairments or sudden mortality. In the absence of clear cardiovascular symptoms, individuals with cocaine use disorder (iCUD) seeking addiction treatment receive mostly psychotherapy and psychiatric pharmacotherapy, with no attention to vascular disease (i.e., atherosclerosis). Little is known about the pre-clinical signs of cardiovascular risk in iCUD and early signs of vascular disease are undetected in this underserved population. AIM To assess inflammation, plaque burden and plaque composition in iCUD aiming to detect markers of atherosclerosis and vascular disease. METHODS The bilateral carotid arteries were imaged with positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) in iCUD asymptomatic for cardiovascular disease, healthy controls, and individuals with cardiovascular risk. PET with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) evaluated vascular inflammation and 3-D dark-blood MRI assessed plaque burden including wall area and thickness. Drug use and severity of addiction were assessed with standardized instruments. RESULTS The majority of iCUD and controls had carotid FDG-PET signal greater than 1.6 but lower than 3, indicating the presence of mild to moderate inflammation. However, the MRI measure of wall structure was thicker in iCUD as compared to the controls and cardiovascular risk group, indicating greater carotid plaque burden. iCUD had larger wall area as compared to the healthy controls but not as compared to the cardiovascular risk group, indicating structural wall similarities between the non-control study groups. In iCUD, wall area correlated with greater cocaine withdrawal and craving. CONCLUSION These preliminary results show markers of carotid artery disease burden in cardiovascular disease-asymptomatic iCUD. Broader trials are warranted to develop protocols for early detection of cardiovascular risk and preventive intervention in iCUD.展开更多
The prefrontal cortex is involved in the regulation and control of substance addiction-related cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes. The present study identified prefrontal cortex protein profiles in morphine-...The prefrontal cortex is involved in the regulation and control of substance addiction-related cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes. The present study identified prefrontal cortex protein profiles in morphine-addicted rats; these were subsequently compared with normal rats. Results showed 87 protein spots with differentially expressed levels in the morphine addiction group, with the majority located in meta acid zones at pH 4.2-6.8 and having a molecular weight of 30-110 kDa In addition, 2 protein spots were identified as being associated with neurotoxicity （Snap25 isoform β-Snap25 of synaptosomal-associated protein 25 and βactin）.展开更多
Nowadays, using the Internet, for academic and non-academic activities, is an integral part of students’ daily life. Studies showed that excessive use of the Internet has negative effects on physical and mental healt...Nowadays, using the Internet, for academic and non-academic activities, is an integral part of students’ daily life. Studies showed that excessive use of the Internet has negative effects on physical and mental health. The present research was conducted in order to compare the psychological disorders of Internet addicted students and ordinary Internet users in Zabol University of medical sciences. It applied a causal-comparative method. Through applying purposive sampling method, 252 undergraduate and postgraduate students of Zabol University of Medical Sciences were selected in May 2015. Data collection was performed using standard questionnaires of Young’s Internet Addiction Test and the Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Data analysis was carried out using independent t-test with SPSS21. Results indicated that the Internet addicted students, compared with ordinary Internet users had more psychological disorders. Considering the high prevalence of psychological disorders in the Internet addicted students, teaching appropriate use of the Internet to students is an important factor in controlling the Internet addiction.展开更多
Methamphetamine(METH)addiction is a severe and increasingly prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder for which current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches remain limited and predominantly symptom-oriented.Exercise,as a s...Methamphetamine(METH)addiction is a severe and increasingly prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder for which current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches remain limited and predominantly symptom-oriented.Exercise,as a safe,accessible and cost-effective non-pharmacological intervention,has emerged as a promising strategy to ameliorate METH-induced neurotoxicity and addiction-related behaviors.Growing evidence indicates that these benefits are closely linked to the regulation of exercise-induced biomarkers,defined as molecular indicators whose expression or activity is dynamically altered during or after physical activity.This review focuses on the core regulatory role of exercise-induced biomarkers in METH addiction and systematically summarizes their involvement in key neurobiological pathways,outlining molecular pathological mechanisms such as dysregulation of dopamine,glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter systems,neuroinflammation and oxidative stress,and epigenetic remodeling,and emphasizing how these processes converge on changes in candidate biomarkers in the brain and periphery.On this basis,the review describes how exercise modulates neural plasticity,neurotransmitter systems,inflammation and oxidative stress through biomarkers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),exerkines,inflammatory cytokines,metabolites and noncoding RNAs,with particular attention to neurotrophic and immune-related markers,microRNAs and other epigenetic regulators that can reverse METH-induced synaptic and structural abnormalities and promote recovery of cognitive and emotional functions.Advances in high-throughput omics technologies,including transcriptomics,metabolomics and multi-omics integration,are summarized to illustrate the screening and identification of key exercise-responsive biomarkers.Studies in METH-addicted animal models have revealed differentially expressed genes,signaling pathways(e.g.,PI3K-Akt,mTOR,Wnt)and core nodes such as NFKBIA and CXCL12 that may mediate the protective effects of exercise.The review further discusses the potential of exercisemediated biomarkers as objective indicators for diagnosis,dynamic monitoring of therapeutic efficacy and patient stratification.Multi-gene diagnostic models based on peripheral samples(e.g.,hair follicles,blood)demonstrate how biomarker panels can distinguish non-recovered,almost-recovered and healthy individuals,providing a molecular basis for staging METH use disorder and evaluating the impact of exercise interventions.The temporal dynamics of biomarker changes before and after exercise are highlighted,underscoring the value of longitudinal monitoring of factors such as BDNF,immune-related genes and circulating microRNAs to capture treatment-relevant windows of plasticity.In addition,the underlying molecular basis of exercise as an adjunct therapy and gene-targeted exercise strategies that leverage individual biomarker and gene expression profiles to optimize exercise prescriptions are summarized.Current conceptual and technical challenges are outlined,including heterogeneity of biomarker responses,individual variability,assay sensitivity and specificity,and gaps between preclinical findings and clinical application,together with future directions for integrating exercise with multi-omics,artificial intelligence-assisted biomarker discovery and,prospectively,gene-editing-based interventions.Particular emphasis is placed on the need to standardize exercise protocols,incorporate stage-specific and sex-sensitive designs,and combine exercise with pharmacotherapy and psychosocial rehabilitation in real-world clinical settings across diverse healthcare systems.Overall,this review aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated mechanistic framework and updated theoretical support for the application of exercise-mediated biomarkers in the diagnosis,therapeutic effect monitoring and personalized intervention of METH addiction,and to offer new and clinically relevant insights into the development of precision medicine strategies for substance use disorders.展开更多
In December 2025,Australia became the first country to ban social media for people under 16,sparking a worldwide debate on how to protect teens online without undue interference.While the goal of keeping young people ...In December 2025,Australia became the first country to ban social media for people under 16,sparking a worldwide debate on how to protect teens online without undue interference.While the goal of keeping young people away from harmful content and addictive algorithms is wise,a total ban may be counterproductive.A better approach is to combine regulation,education and parental guidance.展开更多
This study examined the relationship between loneliness and mobile phone addiction(MPA),and the mediating roles of social anxiety and self presentation in that relationship.The sample comprised 559 students(male=250,f...This study examined the relationship between loneliness and mobile phone addiction(MPA),and the mediating roles of social anxiety and self presentation in that relationship.The sample comprised 559 students(male=250,female=309,mean age=20.78 years,SD=1.13 years).Based on bias-corrected bootstrap method,our indicate loneliness to be associated with MPA of college students.Additionally,social anxiety and self-presentation,respectively,partially mediated the association between loneliness and college students’MPA.Specifically,as loneliness increased,both social anxiety and self-presentation rose,thereby increasing MPA.Social anxiety and self-presentation also sequentially mediated the relationship between loneliness and MPA among college students,such that greater loneliness heightened social anxiety,which subsequently enhanced self-presentation,ultimately resulting in increased MPA.These findings are consistent with Compensatory Internet Use Theory(CIUT).This study findings suggest for college students counselling and development services should alleviate loneliness and social anxiety through group activities,Cognitive-behavioral Therapy(CBT),and social skills training to foster belonging and reduce students’reliance on mobile phones.展开更多
This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on external risk factors for adolescent smartphone addiction.Scopus and Web of Science were searched for English peer-reviewed empirical articles from 2008 onward;...This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on external risk factors for adolescent smartphone addiction.Scopus and Web of Science were searched for English peer-reviewed empirical articles from 2008 onward;28 met inclusion criteria(excluding non-adolescents,generic internet addiction,non-empirical work,or non-English).Thematic synthesis organized findings into three external risk domains—family,school,and peers—considering cultural/contextual mechanisms.Family dynamics(parental phubbing,harsh parenting,dysfunction),school stressors,and adverse peer relationships were identified as accumulating,direct and indirect contributors to smartphone addiction.These operate within a techno-ecological framework,where digital technologies amplify vulnerabilities and create new pathways for maladaptive use.Evidence favors an ecological,multi-level perspective.Future research should use longitudinal designs,standardize measures across cultures,and examine understudied regions—especially Africa—to guide culturally sensitive interventions.展开更多
Background:In the Chinese context,the impact of short video applications on the psychological well-being of older adults is contested.While often examined through a pathological lens of addiction,this perspective may ...Background:In the Chinese context,the impact of short video applications on the psychological well-being of older adults is contested.While often examined through a pathological lens of addiction,this perspective may overlook paradoxical,context-dependent positive outcomes.Therefore,the main objective of this study is to challenge the traditional Compensatory Internet Use Theory by proposing and testing a chained mediation model that explores a paradoxical pathway from social support to life satisfaction via problematic social media use.Methods:Data were collected between July and August 2025 via the Credamo online survey platform,yielding 384 valid responses from Chinese older adults aged 60 and above.Key constructs were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS),Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale(BSMAS),Simplified UCLA Loneliness Scale,and Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS).A chained mediation model was tested using stepwise regression and non-parametric bootstrapping(5000 resamples),controlling for age,gender,household income,and health status.Results:The analysis revealed a paradoxical pathway,which was clarified by a key statistical suppression effect.Social support significantly and positively predicted problematic usage(β=0.157,p=0.002).After controlling for the suppressor effect of social support,problematic usage in turn negatively predicted social connectedness(β=−0.177,p<0.001).Finally,reduced social connectedness—reflecting a state of solitude—positively predicted life satisfaction(β=−0.227,p<0.001).Conclusion:The findings suggest that for older adults with sufficient offline social support,these resources may serve a“social empowerment”function.This empowerment allows behaviors measured as“problematic usage”to be theoretically reframed as a form of“deep immersive entertainment”.This immersion appears to occur alongside a state of“high-quality solitude”,which ultimately is associated with higher life satisfaction.This study provides a novel,non-pathological theoretical perspective on the consequences of high engagement with emerging social media,offering empirical grounds for non-abstinence-based intervention strategies.展开更多
On the first day of class of fresh- men oral English at a university in Changzhou,Jiangsu Province,I usually let the students ask me any question they want because for many of them,
Objectives:SocialNetworkAddiction(SNA)is becoming increasingly prevalent among college students;however,there remains a lack of consensus regarding the measurement tools and their optimal cutoff score.This study aims ...Objectives:SocialNetworkAddiction(SNA)is becoming increasingly prevalent among college students;however,there remains a lack of consensus regarding the measurement tools and their optimal cutoff score.This study aims to validate the 21-item SocialNetwork Addiction Scale-Chinese(SNAS-C)in its Chinese version and to determine its optimal cutoff score for identifying potential SNA cases within the college student population.Methods:A crosssectional survey was conducted,recruiting 3387 college students.Latent profile analysis(LPA)and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis were employed to establish the optimal cutoff score for the validated 21-item SNAS-C.Results:Three profile models were selected based on multiple statistical criteria,classifying participants into low-risk,moderate-risk,and high-risk groups.The highest-risk group was defined as“positive”for SNA,while the remaining groups were considered“negative”,serving as the reference standard for ROC analysis.The optimal cutoff score was determined to be 72(sensitivity:98.2%,specificity:96.86%),with an overall classification accuracy of 97.0%.The“positive”group reported significantly higher frequency of social network usage,greater digitalmedia dependence scores,and a higher incidence of network addiction.Conclusion:This study identified the optimal cutoff score for the SNAS-C as≥72,demonstrating high sensitivity,specificity,and diagnostic accuracy.This threshold effectively distinguishes between high-risk and low-risk SNA.展开更多
Objectives:The addiction of the student population to short-form video platforms such as TikTok(Douyin)is becoming increasingly apparent and is rapidly expanding.This emerging addiction is also believed to have negati...Objectives:The addiction of the student population to short-form video platforms such as TikTok(Douyin)is becoming increasingly apparent and is rapidly expanding.This emerging addiction is also believed to have negative impacts on students’academic,social,and emotional well-being.Consequently,video addiction has become an important public health issue on campuses around the world.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the relationship between two types of TikTok addiction(video and live streaming)and social and emotional learning(SEL),including self-awareness,self-management,social awareness,relationship skills,and responsible decision-making.Methods:Previous research has indicated that some students at vocational colleges become addicted to short-form videos.Accordingly,this study employed a snowball sampling method to survey students at vocational institutions across China.A total of 563 valid responses were obtained,yielding an effective response rate of 84.66%.The mean age of participants was 20.20 years old(SD=1.36).Data were validated with structural equation modeling.Results:Results showed that both video content addiction and live-streaming content addiction negatively correlatedwith all five dimensions of SEL.This also represents that all 10 hypotheses are valid and significant at p<0.001.Theeffect sizes ranged from 0.48 to 0.54,which represents larger effect sizes.Notably,TikTok addiction showed the strongest explanatory power for self-awareness.This indicates that higher levels of addiction to either video or live-streaming content are associatedwith poorer performance across all facets of social and emotional learning,including self-awareness,emotion regulation,interpersonal relationships,sense of responsibility,and empathy.Conclusion:This study found that TikTok addicts entered a state of ego depletion due to impaired self-regulation.This depletion then caused their subsequent self-control efforts during learning to fail.Our results also support the ego depletion theory,which posits that engaging in self-regulatory behaviors consumes limited self-control resources and can trigger a range of complex cognitive,emotional,and behavioral problems.This result also draws attention to the negative consequences of excessive use of short videos for social awareness and emotional performance.展开更多
BACKGROUND The prevalence of addiction makes it a significant public health issue.Recently,transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)has garnered significant attention as a promising treatment for addiction.AIM To analyze...BACKGROUND The prevalence of addiction makes it a significant public health issue.Recently,transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)has garnered significant attention as a promising treatment for addiction.AIM To analyze development trends and research hotspots in TMS-based addiction treatment using a bibliometric approach.METHODS Articles on TMS-based addiction treatment from 2001 to 2023 were sourced from the Science Citation Index Expanded in the Web of Science Core Collection.CiteSpace software,VOSviewer,the"bibliometrix"R software package,and the bibliometric online analysis platform were used to analyze the current publication trends and hotspots.RESULTS Total 190 articles on TMS-based addiction treatment were identified,with clinical studies being the most prevalent.The United States led in both publication volume and international collaborations.Medical University of South Carolina and Zangen A were the most productive institution and author,respectively.Neurobiology,alcohol use disorder,and repetitive TMS were the most recent research hotspots.CONCLUSION Future research should focus on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying TMS-based addiction treatment.This study offers comprehensive insights and recommendations for advancing research on TMS-based addiction treatment.展开更多
Overeating is a risk factor and a management challenge in adiposity-based chronic disease(ABCD).Acupuncture has shown high safety and reliable clinical evidence in addressing overeating,and it is the promising potenti...Overeating is a risk factor and a management challenge in adiposity-based chronic disease(ABCD).Acupuncture has shown high safety and reliable clinical evidence in addressing overeating,and it is the promising potential non-pharmacological intervention.However,the mechanism underlying its effects has not been sufficiently summarized.The addiction model offers a framework to elucidate the mechanism of this aberrant eating behavior and provides novel perspectives and breakthrough points for optimizing clinical acupuncture strategies in ABCD management.In the paper,through analyzing domestic and in-ternational relevant findings,the characteristics of overeating based on food addiction,the relationship between overeating and ABCD,and the potential effect mechanisms of acupuncture for FA have been re-viewed and summarized.Including adaptive balance of transmitters and hormones,functional networks,periphery-central connection,and cross-system interaction.In future studies,the maturely-developed ad-diction research methods should be adopted to deepen the exploration on the mechanism of acupuncture effect,addiction medicine should be leveraged to shatter the cognitive barriers surrounding acupuncture’s role in mind-body regulation for ABCD treatment,and the prevention and treatment of overeating via acupuncture should be organically integrated into multidisciplinary management strategies.展开更多
Understanding the cellular mechanisms of drug addiction remains a key task in current brain research.While neuron-based mechanisms have been extensively explored over the past three decades,recent evidence indicates a...Understanding the cellular mechanisms of drug addiction remains a key task in current brain research.While neuron-based mechanisms have been extensively explored over the past three decades,recent evidence indicates a critical involvement of astrocytes,the main type of non-neuronal cells in the brain.In response to extracellular stimuli,astrocytes modulate the activity of neurons,synaptic transmission,and neural network properties,collectively influencing brain function.G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs)expressed on astrocyte surfaces respond to neuron-and environment-derived ligands by activating or inhibiting astrocytic signaling,which in turn regulates adjacent neurons and their circuitry.In this review,we focus on the dopamine D1 receptors(D1R)and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5(mGLUR5 or GRM5)—two GPCRs that have been critically implicated in the acquisition and maintenance of addiction-related behaviors.Positioned as an introductory-level review,this article briefly discusses astrocyte biology,outlines earlier discoveries about the role of astrocytes in substance-use disorders(SUDs),and provides detailed discussion about astrocytic D1Rs and mGLUR5s in regulating synapse and network functions in the nucleus accumbens(NAc)—a brain region that mediates addictionrelated emotional and motivational responses.This review serves as a stepping stone for readers of Engineering to explore links between astrocytic GPCRs and drug addiction and other psychiatric disorders.展开更多
Objectives:Short video addiction has emerged as a significant public health issue in recent years,with a growing trend toward severity.However,research on the causes and impacts of short video addiction remains limite...Objectives:Short video addiction has emerged as a significant public health issue in recent years,with a growing trend toward severity.However,research on the causes and impacts of short video addiction remains limited,and understanding of the variable“TikTok brain”is still in its infancy.Therefore,based on the Stimulus-Organism-Behavior-Consequence(SOBC)framework,we proposed six research hypotheses and constructed a model to explore the relationships between short video usage intensity,TikTok brain,short video addiction,and decreased attention control.Methods:Given that students are considered a high-risk group for excessive short video use,we collected 1086 valid participants from Chinese student users,including 609 males(56.1%)and 477 females(43.9%),with an average participant age of 19.84 years,to test the hypotheses.Results:(1)Short video usage intensity was positively related to short video addiction,TikTok brain,and decreased attention control;(2)TikTok brain was positively related to short video addiction and decreased attention control;and(3)Short video addiction was positively related to decreased attention control.Conclusions:These findings suggest that although excessive use of short video applications brings negative consequences,users still spend significant amounts of time on these platforms,indicating a need for strict self-regulation of usage time.展开更多
Persistent and maladaptive drug-related memories represent a key component in drug addiction.Converging evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies has demonstrated the potential efficacy of the memory reconso...Persistent and maladaptive drug-related memories represent a key component in drug addiction.Converging evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies has demonstrated the potential efficacy of the memory reconsolidation updating procedure(MRUP),a non-pharmacological strategy intertwining two distinct memory processes:reconsolidation and extinction—alternatively termed“the memory retrieval-extinction procedure”.This procedure presents a promising approach to attenuate,if not erase,entrenched drug memories and prevent relapse.The present review delineates the applications,molecular underpinnings,and operational boundaries of MRUP in the context of various forms of substance dependence.Furthermore,we critically examine the methodological limitations of MRUP,postulating potential refinement to optimize its therapeutic efficacy.In addition,we also look at the potential integration of MRUP and neurostimulation treatments in the domain of substance addiction.Overall,existing studies underscore the significant potential of MRUP,suggesting that interventions predicated on it could herald a promising avenue to enhance clinical outcomes in substance addiction therapy.展开更多
Drug addiction, a disorder characterized by chronic relapse and compulsive drug use, poses a significant threat to public safety and human health. Addictive substances can be categorized as natural, semi-synthetic, or...Drug addiction, a disorder characterized by chronic relapse and compulsive drug use, poses a significant threat to public safety and human health. Addictive substances can be categorized as natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic based on their origin. Additionally, they can be classified into three groups according to their pharmacological targets: opioids, hallucinogens, and cannabinoids that act on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs);alcohols, nicotine, ketamine, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines (BDZs) that affect ligand-gated ion channel-type receptors;and psychostimulants that interact with monoamine transporters. Current treatments for drug addiction primarily include substitution therapy and non-pharmacological approaches. However, these methods have limitations, particularly in addressing the underlying causes of relapse. Several drugs in clinical trials have demonstrated potential therapeutic effects for addiction to opioids, heroin, cocaine, and other substances. This review examines the origins and pharmacological mechanisms of addiction to naturally-derived psychoactive substances (NPS) and provides an overview of recent advancements in pharmacotherapy for drug addiction.展开更多
基金Supported by The Medical and Health Science and Technology Foundation of Zhejiang,No.2020363968.
文摘BACKGROUND Addiction to online games is not uncommon.The patients usually refuse to take medications and present with affective symptoms such as anxiety,depression and negative coping styles.Psychological intervention based on positive psychology is a promising treatment for such patients.AIM To evaluate the effect of positive psychological intervention on anxiety,depression and coping in people addicted to online games.METHODS This self-controlled study included 89 people addicted to online games,who received treatment at Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital,Hangzhou,China in 2019.The Hamilton Anxiety Scale,Hamilton Depression Scale and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire were administered to evaluate the anxiety,depression and coping style among these people.Psychological intervention based on positive psychology was provided for 6 wk followed by another evaluation.The results were compared against those from the previous evaluation.RESULTS After 6 wk of psychological intervention,89 people achieved a significant improvement in the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale-24 scales.The score for positive coping style in Trait Coping Style Questionnaire was significantly improved,while that of the negative coping style decreased significantly(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Psychological intervention based on positive psychology alleviated affective symptoms,such as anxiety and depression,in subjects addicted to online games.Psychological intervention corrected negative coping style,thereby improving mental health.
文摘Aim: The effectiveness of nutritional supplementation on drug-seeking behavior of amphetamine-addicted rats during withdrawal was investigated using a biased conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Method: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats exhibiting baseline preference for the black chamber during a 20-minute pre-conditioning exploration of the CPP box completed the study. On alternate days of an 8-day schedule, twelve rats (Group AMP) were randomly selected, given either amphetamine sulfate (5 mg/ml, i.p.) and confined to the white chamber;or vehicle (1 ml saline, i.p.) and confined to the black chamber. A significant increased percentage time spent and number of entries made by Group AMP to the drug-paired, white chamber on the test day confirmed amphetamine addiction. Group AMP subsequently received increasing doses of amphetamine over 6 days. Following acute drug withdrawal, their CPP performance was compared with that of vehicle treated rats (Group SAL). Groups AMP and SAL were equally divided and randomly assigned to animals fed chow reconstituted with the nutritional supplement (AMP-S and SAL-S) over 8 weeks or standard rat chow (AMP-N and SAL-N). CPP performances for all rats were determined blindly from video recordings following this period. Results: Nutritionally supplemented, amphetamine withdrawn rats (AMP-S) exhibited significantly decreased percentage entries and time spent in the white chamber (p ?ve, control animals. Conclusion: Drug-seeking behavior by amphetamine-addicted animals was eliminated after treatment with a nutritionally supplemented diet.
基金Supported by NIDA,No.K23DA045928-01(to Bachi K) and No.R01DA041528(to Goldstein RZ)NIH/NHLBI,No.R01HL071021+1 种基金Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute internal funding(to Fayad ZAF)American Heart Association Grant in Aid,No.17GRNT33420119(to Mani VM)
文摘BACKGROUND Chronic cocaine use is associated with stroke, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, resulting in severe impairments or sudden mortality. In the absence of clear cardiovascular symptoms, individuals with cocaine use disorder (iCUD) seeking addiction treatment receive mostly psychotherapy and psychiatric pharmacotherapy, with no attention to vascular disease (i.e., atherosclerosis). Little is known about the pre-clinical signs of cardiovascular risk in iCUD and early signs of vascular disease are undetected in this underserved population. AIM To assess inflammation, plaque burden and plaque composition in iCUD aiming to detect markers of atherosclerosis and vascular disease. METHODS The bilateral carotid arteries were imaged with positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) in iCUD asymptomatic for cardiovascular disease, healthy controls, and individuals with cardiovascular risk. PET with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) evaluated vascular inflammation and 3-D dark-blood MRI assessed plaque burden including wall area and thickness. Drug use and severity of addiction were assessed with standardized instruments. RESULTS The majority of iCUD and controls had carotid FDG-PET signal greater than 1.6 but lower than 3, indicating the presence of mild to moderate inflammation. However, the MRI measure of wall structure was thicker in iCUD as compared to the controls and cardiovascular risk group, indicating greater carotid plaque burden. iCUD had larger wall area as compared to the healthy controls but not as compared to the cardiovascular risk group, indicating structural wall similarities between the non-control study groups. In iCUD, wall area correlated with greater cocaine withdrawal and craving. CONCLUSION These preliminary results show markers of carotid artery disease burden in cardiovascular disease-asymptomatic iCUD. Broader trials are warranted to develop protocols for early detection of cardiovascular risk and preventive intervention in iCUD.
基金sponsored by a grant from the Sichuan Provincial Education Department(Influence of AGS3 on"reversible protein phosphorylation"in cortical neu-rons of morphine-addicted rats),No.2005B016
文摘The prefrontal cortex is involved in the regulation and control of substance addiction-related cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes. The present study identified prefrontal cortex protein profiles in morphine-addicted rats; these were subsequently compared with normal rats. Results showed 87 protein spots with differentially expressed levels in the morphine addiction group, with the majority located in meta acid zones at pH 4.2-6.8 and having a molecular weight of 30-110 kDa In addition, 2 protein spots were identified as being associated with neurotoxicity （Snap25 isoform β-Snap25 of synaptosomal-associated protein 25 and βactin）.
文摘Nowadays, using the Internet, for academic and non-academic activities, is an integral part of students’ daily life. Studies showed that excessive use of the Internet has negative effects on physical and mental health. The present research was conducted in order to compare the psychological disorders of Internet addicted students and ordinary Internet users in Zabol University of medical sciences. It applied a causal-comparative method. Through applying purposive sampling method, 252 undergraduate and postgraduate students of Zabol University of Medical Sciences were selected in May 2015. Data collection was performed using standard questionnaires of Young’s Internet Addiction Test and the Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Data analysis was carried out using independent t-test with SPSS21. Results indicated that the Internet addicted students, compared with ordinary Internet users had more psychological disorders. Considering the high prevalence of psychological disorders in the Internet addicted students, teaching appropriate use of the Internet to students is an important factor in controlling the Internet addiction.
基金supported by grants from The National Natural Science Foundation of China(82472611)The“14th Five Year Plan”Scientific Research and Innovation Team of Chengdu Sport University(23CXTD02)Sports Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province/Key Laboratory of Sports Medicine,General Administration of Sport of China(2025-A028)。
文摘Methamphetamine(METH)addiction is a severe and increasingly prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder for which current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches remain limited and predominantly symptom-oriented.Exercise,as a safe,accessible and cost-effective non-pharmacological intervention,has emerged as a promising strategy to ameliorate METH-induced neurotoxicity and addiction-related behaviors.Growing evidence indicates that these benefits are closely linked to the regulation of exercise-induced biomarkers,defined as molecular indicators whose expression or activity is dynamically altered during or after physical activity.This review focuses on the core regulatory role of exercise-induced biomarkers in METH addiction and systematically summarizes their involvement in key neurobiological pathways,outlining molecular pathological mechanisms such as dysregulation of dopamine,glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter systems,neuroinflammation and oxidative stress,and epigenetic remodeling,and emphasizing how these processes converge on changes in candidate biomarkers in the brain and periphery.On this basis,the review describes how exercise modulates neural plasticity,neurotransmitter systems,inflammation and oxidative stress through biomarkers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),exerkines,inflammatory cytokines,metabolites and noncoding RNAs,with particular attention to neurotrophic and immune-related markers,microRNAs and other epigenetic regulators that can reverse METH-induced synaptic and structural abnormalities and promote recovery of cognitive and emotional functions.Advances in high-throughput omics technologies,including transcriptomics,metabolomics and multi-omics integration,are summarized to illustrate the screening and identification of key exercise-responsive biomarkers.Studies in METH-addicted animal models have revealed differentially expressed genes,signaling pathways(e.g.,PI3K-Akt,mTOR,Wnt)and core nodes such as NFKBIA and CXCL12 that may mediate the protective effects of exercise.The review further discusses the potential of exercisemediated biomarkers as objective indicators for diagnosis,dynamic monitoring of therapeutic efficacy and patient stratification.Multi-gene diagnostic models based on peripheral samples(e.g.,hair follicles,blood)demonstrate how biomarker panels can distinguish non-recovered,almost-recovered and healthy individuals,providing a molecular basis for staging METH use disorder and evaluating the impact of exercise interventions.The temporal dynamics of biomarker changes before and after exercise are highlighted,underscoring the value of longitudinal monitoring of factors such as BDNF,immune-related genes and circulating microRNAs to capture treatment-relevant windows of plasticity.In addition,the underlying molecular basis of exercise as an adjunct therapy and gene-targeted exercise strategies that leverage individual biomarker and gene expression profiles to optimize exercise prescriptions are summarized.Current conceptual and technical challenges are outlined,including heterogeneity of biomarker responses,individual variability,assay sensitivity and specificity,and gaps between preclinical findings and clinical application,together with future directions for integrating exercise with multi-omics,artificial intelligence-assisted biomarker discovery and,prospectively,gene-editing-based interventions.Particular emphasis is placed on the need to standardize exercise protocols,incorporate stage-specific and sex-sensitive designs,and combine exercise with pharmacotherapy and psychosocial rehabilitation in real-world clinical settings across diverse healthcare systems.Overall,this review aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated mechanistic framework and updated theoretical support for the application of exercise-mediated biomarkers in the diagnosis,therapeutic effect monitoring and personalized intervention of METH addiction,and to offer new and clinically relevant insights into the development of precision medicine strategies for substance use disorders.
文摘In December 2025,Australia became the first country to ban social media for people under 16,sparking a worldwide debate on how to protect teens online without undue interference.While the goal of keeping young people away from harmful content and addictive algorithms is wise,a total ban may be counterproductive.A better approach is to combine regulation,education and parental guidance.
基金supported by The Xingdian Talent Support Program Project(41112080006/015)Yunnan University Graduate Research Innovation Fund Project(KC-252512463).
文摘This study examined the relationship between loneliness and mobile phone addiction(MPA),and the mediating roles of social anxiety and self presentation in that relationship.The sample comprised 559 students(male=250,female=309,mean age=20.78 years,SD=1.13 years).Based on bias-corrected bootstrap method,our indicate loneliness to be associated with MPA of college students.Additionally,social anxiety and self-presentation,respectively,partially mediated the association between loneliness and college students’MPA.Specifically,as loneliness increased,both social anxiety and self-presentation rose,thereby increasing MPA.Social anxiety and self-presentation also sequentially mediated the relationship between loneliness and MPA among college students,such that greater loneliness heightened social anxiety,which subsequently enhanced self-presentation,ultimately resulting in increased MPA.These findings are consistent with Compensatory Internet Use Theory(CIUT).This study findings suggest for college students counselling and development services should alleviate loneliness and social anxiety through group activities,Cognitive-behavioral Therapy(CBT),and social skills training to foster belonging and reduce students’reliance on mobile phones.
基金supported by the 2025 Fujian Provincial Social Science Foundation Project(FJ2025C074).
文摘This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on external risk factors for adolescent smartphone addiction.Scopus and Web of Science were searched for English peer-reviewed empirical articles from 2008 onward;28 met inclusion criteria(excluding non-adolescents,generic internet addiction,non-empirical work,or non-English).Thematic synthesis organized findings into three external risk domains—family,school,and peers—considering cultural/contextual mechanisms.Family dynamics(parental phubbing,harsh parenting,dysfunction),school stressors,and adverse peer relationships were identified as accumulating,direct and indirect contributors to smartphone addiction.These operate within a techno-ecological framework,where digital technologies amplify vulnerabilities and create new pathways for maladaptive use.Evidence favors an ecological,multi-level perspective.Future research should use longitudinal designs,standardize measures across cultures,and examine understudied regions—especially Africa—to guide culturally sensitive interventions.
基金funded by the Guangxi Philosophy and Social Science Research Project,grant number 24XWC002.
文摘Background:In the Chinese context,the impact of short video applications on the psychological well-being of older adults is contested.While often examined through a pathological lens of addiction,this perspective may overlook paradoxical,context-dependent positive outcomes.Therefore,the main objective of this study is to challenge the traditional Compensatory Internet Use Theory by proposing and testing a chained mediation model that explores a paradoxical pathway from social support to life satisfaction via problematic social media use.Methods:Data were collected between July and August 2025 via the Credamo online survey platform,yielding 384 valid responses from Chinese older adults aged 60 and above.Key constructs were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS),Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale(BSMAS),Simplified UCLA Loneliness Scale,and Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS).A chained mediation model was tested using stepwise regression and non-parametric bootstrapping(5000 resamples),controlling for age,gender,household income,and health status.Results:The analysis revealed a paradoxical pathway,which was clarified by a key statistical suppression effect.Social support significantly and positively predicted problematic usage(β=0.157,p=0.002).After controlling for the suppressor effect of social support,problematic usage in turn negatively predicted social connectedness(β=−0.177,p<0.001).Finally,reduced social connectedness—reflecting a state of solitude—positively predicted life satisfaction(β=−0.227,p<0.001).Conclusion:The findings suggest that for older adults with sufficient offline social support,these resources may serve a“social empowerment”function.This empowerment allows behaviors measured as“problematic usage”to be theoretically reframed as a form of“deep immersive entertainment”.This immersion appears to occur alongside a state of“high-quality solitude”,which ultimately is associated with higher life satisfaction.This study provides a novel,non-pathological theoretical perspective on the consequences of high engagement with emerging social media,offering empirical grounds for non-abstinence-based intervention strategies.
文摘On the first day of class of fresh- men oral English at a university in Changzhou,Jiangsu Province,I usually let the students ask me any question they want because for many of them,
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.72364006).
文摘Objectives:SocialNetworkAddiction(SNA)is becoming increasingly prevalent among college students;however,there remains a lack of consensus regarding the measurement tools and their optimal cutoff score.This study aims to validate the 21-item SocialNetwork Addiction Scale-Chinese(SNAS-C)in its Chinese version and to determine its optimal cutoff score for identifying potential SNA cases within the college student population.Methods:A crosssectional survey was conducted,recruiting 3387 college students.Latent profile analysis(LPA)and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis were employed to establish the optimal cutoff score for the validated 21-item SNAS-C.Results:Three profile models were selected based on multiple statistical criteria,classifying participants into low-risk,moderate-risk,and high-risk groups.The highest-risk group was defined as“positive”for SNA,while the remaining groups were considered“negative”,serving as the reference standard for ROC analysis.The optimal cutoff score was determined to be 72(sensitivity:98.2%,specificity:96.86%),with an overall classification accuracy of 97.0%.The“positive”group reported significantly higher frequency of social network usage,greater digitalmedia dependence scores,and a higher incidence of network addiction.Conclusion:This study identified the optimal cutoff score for the SNAS-C as≥72,demonstrating high sensitivity,specificity,and diagnostic accuracy.This threshold effectively distinguishes between high-risk and low-risk SNA.
基金supported by the First-Class Education Discipline Development of Beijing Normal University(Grant Numbers:YLXKPY-XSDW202408,YLXKPY-ZYSB202201).
文摘Objectives:The addiction of the student population to short-form video platforms such as TikTok(Douyin)is becoming increasingly apparent and is rapidly expanding.This emerging addiction is also believed to have negative impacts on students’academic,social,and emotional well-being.Consequently,video addiction has become an important public health issue on campuses around the world.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the relationship between two types of TikTok addiction(video and live streaming)and social and emotional learning(SEL),including self-awareness,self-management,social awareness,relationship skills,and responsible decision-making.Methods:Previous research has indicated that some students at vocational colleges become addicted to short-form videos.Accordingly,this study employed a snowball sampling method to survey students at vocational institutions across China.A total of 563 valid responses were obtained,yielding an effective response rate of 84.66%.The mean age of participants was 20.20 years old(SD=1.36).Data were validated with structural equation modeling.Results:Results showed that both video content addiction and live-streaming content addiction negatively correlatedwith all five dimensions of SEL.This also represents that all 10 hypotheses are valid and significant at p<0.001.Theeffect sizes ranged from 0.48 to 0.54,which represents larger effect sizes.Notably,TikTok addiction showed the strongest explanatory power for self-awareness.This indicates that higher levels of addiction to either video or live-streaming content are associatedwith poorer performance across all facets of social and emotional learning,including self-awareness,emotion regulation,interpersonal relationships,sense of responsibility,and empathy.Conclusion:This study found that TikTok addicts entered a state of ego depletion due to impaired self-regulation.This depletion then caused their subsequent self-control efforts during learning to fail.Our results also support the ego depletion theory,which posits that engaging in self-regulatory behaviors consumes limited self-control resources and can trigger a range of complex cognitive,emotional,and behavioral problems.This result also draws attention to the negative consequences of excessive use of short videos for social awareness and emotional performance.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81973620Wenzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau,No.Y20220091.
文摘BACKGROUND The prevalence of addiction makes it a significant public health issue.Recently,transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)has garnered significant attention as a promising treatment for addiction.AIM To analyze development trends and research hotspots in TMS-based addiction treatment using a bibliometric approach.METHODS Articles on TMS-based addiction treatment from 2001 to 2023 were sourced from the Science Citation Index Expanded in the Web of Science Core Collection.CiteSpace software,VOSviewer,the"bibliometrix"R software package,and the bibliometric online analysis platform were used to analyze the current publication trends and hotspots.RESULTS Total 190 articles on TMS-based addiction treatment were identified,with clinical studies being the most prevalent.The United States led in both publication volume and international collaborations.Medical University of South Carolina and Zangen A were the most productive institution and author,respectively.Neurobiology,alcohol use disorder,and repetitive TMS were the most recent research hotspots.CONCLUSION Future research should focus on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying TMS-based addiction treatment.This study offers comprehensive insights and recommendations for advancing research on TMS-based addiction treatment.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China:82405556,82174527the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Advantage Specialized Department Construction Project:Yue TCM[2024]No.2+4 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation General Project:2024M750464Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation:2023A1515110682Jin-Xiong Lao Guangdong Provincial Famous Chinese Medicine Practitioner Heritage Studio:Yue TCM Office Document[2023]No.108Jin-Xiong Lao Foshan City Famous Chinese Medicine Practitioner Heritage Studio:Foshan Health Office Document[2022]No.106Foshan City's 14th 5-Year Plan Chinese Medicine Key Specialized Construction Projects:Foshan Health Office Document[2020]No.15。
文摘Overeating is a risk factor and a management challenge in adiposity-based chronic disease(ABCD).Acupuncture has shown high safety and reliable clinical evidence in addressing overeating,and it is the promising potential non-pharmacological intervention.However,the mechanism underlying its effects has not been sufficiently summarized.The addiction model offers a framework to elucidate the mechanism of this aberrant eating behavior and provides novel perspectives and breakthrough points for optimizing clinical acupuncture strategies in ABCD management.In the paper,through analyzing domestic and in-ternational relevant findings,the characteristics of overeating based on food addiction,the relationship between overeating and ABCD,and the potential effect mechanisms of acupuncture for FA have been re-viewed and summarized.Including adaptive balance of transmitters and hormones,functional networks,periphery-central connection,and cross-system interaction.In future studies,the maturely-developed ad-diction research methods should be adopted to deepen the exploration on the mechanism of acupuncture effect,addiction medicine should be leveraged to shatter the cognitive barriers surrounding acupuncture’s role in mind-body regulation for ABCD treatment,and the prevention and treatment of overeating via acupuncture should be organically integrated into multidisciplinary management strategies.
基金partially supported by the National Institutes of Health(NIH)grants DA056213(to Alexander K.Zinsmaier),DA053388(to Eric J.Nestler),DA023206(to Yan Dong),DA060868(to Yan Dong),and DA040620(to Eric J.Nestler and Yan Dong)。
文摘Understanding the cellular mechanisms of drug addiction remains a key task in current brain research.While neuron-based mechanisms have been extensively explored over the past three decades,recent evidence indicates a critical involvement of astrocytes,the main type of non-neuronal cells in the brain.In response to extracellular stimuli,astrocytes modulate the activity of neurons,synaptic transmission,and neural network properties,collectively influencing brain function.G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs)expressed on astrocyte surfaces respond to neuron-and environment-derived ligands by activating or inhibiting astrocytic signaling,which in turn regulates adjacent neurons and their circuitry.In this review,we focus on the dopamine D1 receptors(D1R)and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5(mGLUR5 or GRM5)—two GPCRs that have been critically implicated in the acquisition and maintenance of addiction-related behaviors.Positioned as an introductory-level review,this article briefly discusses astrocyte biology,outlines earlier discoveries about the role of astrocytes in substance-use disorders(SUDs),and provides detailed discussion about astrocytic D1Rs and mGLUR5s in regulating synapse and network functions in the nucleus accumbens(NAc)—a brain region that mediates addictionrelated emotional and motivational responses.This review serves as a stepping stone for readers of Engineering to explore links between astrocytic GPCRs and drug addiction and other psychiatric disorders.
基金supported by the International Joint Research Project of Huiyan International College,Faculty of Education,Beijing Normal University(Grant Number:ICER202102).
文摘Objectives:Short video addiction has emerged as a significant public health issue in recent years,with a growing trend toward severity.However,research on the causes and impacts of short video addiction remains limited,and understanding of the variable“TikTok brain”is still in its infancy.Therefore,based on the Stimulus-Organism-Behavior-Consequence(SOBC)framework,we proposed six research hypotheses and constructed a model to explore the relationships between short video usage intensity,TikTok brain,short video addiction,and decreased attention control.Methods:Given that students are considered a high-risk group for excessive short video use,we collected 1086 valid participants from Chinese student users,including 609 males(56.1%)and 477 females(43.9%),with an average participant age of 19.84 years,to test the hypotheses.Results:(1)Short video usage intensity was positively related to short video addiction,TikTok brain,and decreased attention control;(2)TikTok brain was positively related to short video addiction and decreased attention control;and(3)Short video addiction was positively related to decreased attention control.Conclusions:These findings suggest that although excessive use of short video applications brings negative consequences,users still spend significant amounts of time on these platforms,indicating a need for strict self-regulation of usage time.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82071498,81871046,and 32161143022)STI2030-Major Projects(2022ZD0214500).
文摘Persistent and maladaptive drug-related memories represent a key component in drug addiction.Converging evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies has demonstrated the potential efficacy of the memory reconsolidation updating procedure(MRUP),a non-pharmacological strategy intertwining two distinct memory processes:reconsolidation and extinction—alternatively termed“the memory retrieval-extinction procedure”.This procedure presents a promising approach to attenuate,if not erase,entrenched drug memories and prevent relapse.The present review delineates the applications,molecular underpinnings,and operational boundaries of MRUP in the context of various forms of substance dependence.Furthermore,we critically examine the methodological limitations of MRUP,postulating potential refinement to optimize its therapeutic efficacy.In addition,we also look at the potential integration of MRUP and neurostimulation treatments in the domain of substance addiction.Overall,existing studies underscore the significant potential of MRUP,suggesting that interventions predicated on it could herald a promising avenue to enhance clinical outcomes in substance addiction therapy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82373836).
文摘Drug addiction, a disorder characterized by chronic relapse and compulsive drug use, poses a significant threat to public safety and human health. Addictive substances can be categorized as natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic based on their origin. Additionally, they can be classified into three groups according to their pharmacological targets: opioids, hallucinogens, and cannabinoids that act on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs);alcohols, nicotine, ketamine, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines (BDZs) that affect ligand-gated ion channel-type receptors;and psychostimulants that interact with monoamine transporters. Current treatments for drug addiction primarily include substitution therapy and non-pharmacological approaches. However, these methods have limitations, particularly in addressing the underlying causes of relapse. Several drugs in clinical trials have demonstrated potential therapeutic effects for addiction to opioids, heroin, cocaine, and other substances. This review examines the origins and pharmacological mechanisms of addiction to naturally-derived psychoactive substances (NPS) and provides an overview of recent advancements in pharmacotherapy for drug addiction.
