Drugs of Abuse 1 & 2 1. Describe the ‘reward’ pathways in the brain activated by drugs of abuse. Which are the main abused substances and how do they specifically activate reward pathways? 2. Describe the pharmacokinetics for the major drugs of abuse (e.g. routes of administration, metabolism). 3. Describe the basic pharmacology for the main abused substances.
Drugs of Abuse act on –
Mesolimbic dopamine system – Central ‘reward’ pathway Medial forebrain bundle → Ventral tegmental area → Nucleus Accumbens (myelinated fibres) (VTA) (NAcc)
Dopamine release from NAcc vital for ‘rewarding’ effect (End point for drugs of abuse)