Advances in the study of pharmacotherapy for addiction to naturally-derived psychoactive substances.
Kexin Xie, Deli Xiao, Peng Xu, Haowei Shen, Bin Di
Chinese journal of natural medicines August 2025 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(25)60831-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Natural drug Pharmacological effect Pharmacotherapy |
| Key findings | The review argues that current addiction treatments, chiefly substitution therapy and non-pharmacological approaches, have limitations in addressing the underlying causes of relapse, and it surveys drugs in clinical trials that show potential therapeutic effects for addiction to opioids, heroin, cocaine, and other substances. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 11
- A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential. Nature 2021
- Receptor interaction profiles of novel N-2-methoxybenzyl (NBOMe) derivatives of 2,5-dimethoxy-substituted phenethylamines (2C drugs). Neuropharmacology December 1, 2015
- Therapeutic effect of psilocybin in addiction: A systematic review Frontiers in Psychiatry February 9, 2023
- Considerations in assessing the abuse potential of psychedelics during drug development Neuropharmacology November 28, 2022
- Signaling-specific inhibition of the CB1 receptor for cannabis use disorder: phase 1 and phase 2a randomized trials. Nature Medicine June 2023
and 6 more in the library