Surgical treatments for drug addictions in humans

Abstract

Drug addiction is a difficult problem worldwide, causing severe social, medical, and criminal problems. Current therapies such as drug substitution are not satisfactory, especially in treating craving and psychological dependence. In recent years, surgical treatment for drug addiction has attracted worldwide attention, as the development of new techniques such as deep brain stimulation provided more possibilities to pursue new therapeutic strategies for this notorious disease. Stereotactic nucleus accumbens lesioning and deep brain stimulation are presently the main surgical procedures for treatment of drug addiction. These procedures are safe, minimally invasive, and effective with few side effects.