Conclusion
A growing number of studies have investigated the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms leading to psychostimulants dependence. A key feature of drug dependence is the relapse to drug use even after long period of abstinence. While greatly improved in recent years, treatment strategies for psychostimulants have yet to address effectively drug-seeking behaviors linked to high rates of relapse, persistent drug use as well as subsequent health, mental, and social problems. There is consequently an urgent need for researchers to identify compounds that might help patients (1) initiate abstinence and (2) avoid relapse. The ECBS appears to play a critical role in dependence to psychostimulants and experimental studies are now providing evidence that while it does not participate in the primary reinforcing properties of psychostimulants, it reliably modulates relapse to drugs. Interestingly, emerging human data supports a role for ECBS modulation in vulnerability to psychostimulant addiction, and more significantly in addictive behaviors among dependent individuals. Accumulating evidence thus points to the ECBS as a critical target for the development of pharmacotherapies for the treatment of addiction to psychostimulants. Given the various neuropharmacological actions of exogenous cannabinoids, and their ability to modulate the acute reinforcing effects of drugs, data on Δ9-THC and CBD is particularly promising as to the potential use of cannabinoids in relapse prevention strategies for psychostimulant-dependent individuals. The effects of these compounds on stimulant use outcomes in humans remains to be clearly established and could be assessed with well-designed controlled trials. The neurobiological correlates of cannabinoids’ impact on stimulant-seeking behaviors could also be examined with neuroimaging studies in stimulants dependent individuals. Among potential barriers, social and scientific acceptability of cannabinoid-based therapy, side effects profiles, as well as addictive potential of certain cannabinoid such as Δ9-THC, have to be taken into consideration.