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Neurobiology of Addiction (StatPearls)
Open AccessOver the past 2 decades, addiction has been at the forefront of American society, media, and politics through coverage of the opioid epidemic. Historically, the stigma of addiction being driven by character flaws and ethical shortcomings has been a significant barrier to addiction treatment. Advancements in scientific research have proven this historical perspective to be categorically false and potentially harmful by fostering negative attitudes toward those seeking help for addictive disorders. Contemporary models of addiction utilize a neurobiological framework for the onset, development, and maintenance of an addiction. This approach defines addiction as a chronic and relapsing disorder marked by specific neuroadaptations predisposing an individual to pursue substances irrespective of potential consequences. Furthermore, these neuroadaptations occur in the 3 distinct neurobiological stages of intoxication/binge, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation/anticipation. The focal regions of the brain involved with these stages in respective order are the basal ganglia, the extended amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex.
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