New Developments in the Fight against Addiction: New Approaches and Challenges Ahead

Drug addiction is one of the global health and social challenges with widespread effects on individuals and communities. This chronic and relapsing disorder, characterized by compulsive drug use and tolerance, leads to functional changes in brain circuits associated with reward, stress, and self-control. These alterations may persist even after cessation of drug use for extended periods. Despite significant advances in understanding the biological and neurocognitive factors related to addiction, it remains a major public health issue. Drug addiction exacerbates social and economic problems and significantly impacts individuals' lives. However, the perspective that addiction is a brain disease faces criticisms such as inability to explain heterogeneity in recovery, overemphasis on the compulsive aspect of addiction, and failure to identify specific neural markers of addiction. These criticisms highlight the need for broader research and discussions in various fields to achieve a more comprehensive understanding and develop more effective strategies for prevention and treatment of addiction