Neurobiology of tobacco smoking and other addictive disorders

Advances in research of the neurobiology of addictive disorders have provided clinicians with an evolving perspective on addiction. All drugs of abuse seem to share a common neurobiologic substrate involving the mesocorticolimbic system. Considerable evidence shows that these dopaminergic projections are involved in the positive brain reward, which drives addictive disorders; however, recent studies also implicate the neurotransmitters glutamate and serotonin in learning and sensitization to drug use. A review of the neurobiology of tobacco smoking provides further examples of the mechanisms for reinforcing tobacco use, including the enhancement of memory and treatment of depression with nicotine and MAO-inhibiting chemicals in tobacco smoke respectively. The relevance of these advances may be realized through the destigmatization of addictive disorders and the development of new and improved treatment strategies.