FAAH and MAGL inhibition: Evolving approaches to treating substance use disorders

Abstract Substance use disorder (SUD) remains a critical public health issue characterized by high rates of relapse and limited effective pharmacotherapies, particularly for non-opioid substances. A key challenge in addressing SUD lies in the persistent neuroadaptations within the brain’s reward circuitry. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays a crucial role in modulating reward and reinforcement processes and is disrupted by chronic drug exposure. Recent work highlights the therapeutic potential of indirectly modulating cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor signaling by targeting eCB-metabolizing enzymes,