Neuroscientific Basis of Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorder is a chronic and relapsing disease that burdens both the individual and the society. In addition to psychosocial treatment approaches, currently there are approved pharmacological treatment options for opioid, alcohol and tobacco use disorders, but only symptomatic treatment can be offered to patients with other substance use disorders. Advances in neuroscience and a better understanding of the addiction process offer an opportunity to create new treatment options. There is a wide range of studies, ranging from the use of drugs with different indications to the development of new pharmacological treatments, and from vaccine studies to neuromodulation techniques. Establishing novel treatment goals in addition to complete abstinence and individualizing treatment by focusing on endophenotypes may increase the treatment alternatives and the efficacy of these treatments for SUD.