Phyto, Synthetic, and Endogenous Cannabinoids as Theoretical Possibilities of Therapeutic Molecules for the Treatment of Addictions

Addictive diseases represent chronic and recurring pathologies whose hallmark is the sick search for permanent reward or satisfaction through actions or substances of abuse. This behavior results in the loss of the ability to adequately manage behavior, continuous abstinence, desire for consumption, loss of self-knowledge in the face of everyday situations, alteration in relationships with others, as well as emotional dysfunction. All these complex component conditions are poor quality of life, loss of employment, cognitive deficit, lack of contact with others, and family and couple alterations. In this sense, despite the constant development and study of new drugs, adequate therapeutic solutions for the specific treatment of addictive diseases are not available. This situation is due to its complexity and the intricacies of its poorly understood signaling pathways. Therefore, searching for new usable drugs for this purpose is extremely important. In this sense, certain phytocannabinoids—some synthetic and others of endogenous nature—can act as therapeutic molecules in this type of pathology through their specific action linked to multiple receptors. In addition, particular type 1 and 2 cannabinoid receptors may be favorably involved due to their anti-addictive properties. Therefore, this chapter aims to summarize the most relevant findings on the possible therapeutic effects of different cannabinoids in treating various addictions, including alcohol, opioid, methamphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine disorders.