Progressing from Simple to Multidimensional Models Towards a Biopsychosocial Framework of Addiction
Current Addiction Reports June 11, 2026 Paul S. Regier
Neuroscientific models of addiction have progressed from simple dopamine-based explanations to more complex frameworks involving multiple brain circuits and systems. Recent evidence shows that addiction alters large-scale brain networks and that social, psychological, and developmental factors play a more central role than previously recognized. New treatments, such as psychedelic-assisted therapies, highlight the need for changes across biological, cognitive, and emotional levels. The authors argue that viewing addiction as a multilevel, interactive biopsychosocial process better accounts for differences in how addiction develops and resolves, and can guide more precise and effective interventions.