Addiction and withdrawal--current views

Abstract

The final common pathway of addiction (the dopamine hypothesis of reward) has recently been evolving, with the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system now seen as key to natural rewards and drug-seeking behaviour, though perhaps having less of a role in the maintenance of such behaviour. The perception of a common pathway has meant that treatments for one drug of addiction have 'crossed-over' and become possible treatments for other addictive drugs.