Substance use is driven by the pharmacological effects of a drug, which are experienced as reinforcing/rewarding.1 Drugs mainly interact with neurotransmitters in the brain in one of two ways.
1. Interaction with ionotropic or metabotropic receptors (see image).1,2
2. Interaction with transporter proteins to increase the availability of neurotransmitters in the synapse.1,2
Read more about interaction of drugs of abuse with neurotransmitters and the brain
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