Advances in the study of pharmacotherapy for addiction to naturally-derived psychoactive substances.
10.1016/S1875-5364(25)60831-4
- Author:
Kexin XIE
1
;
Deli XIAO
1
;
Peng XU
2
;
Haowei SHEN
3
;
Bin DI
4
Author Information
1. Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China.
2. Key Laboratory of Drug Monitoring and Control, Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100193, China.
3. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China. Electronic address: shenhaowei@nbu.edu.cn.
4. Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: dibin@cpu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Addiction;
Natural drug;
Pharmacological effect;
Pharmacotherapy
- MeSH:
Humans;
Substance-Related Disorders/drug therapy*;
Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use*;
Animals
- From:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.)
2025;23(8):897-908
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
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.
