A Systems Biological Approach Coupling Reward Gene Polymorphisms and aNutraceutical (KB220Z) Pro-Dopamine Regulator (PDR) as Putative“Standard of Care” to Treat Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS): EmergingEvidence - Based Scientific Induction of “Dopamine Homeostasis”

The purpose of this editorial is to inform the entire scientific community, but more importantly the clinicians and professional on the front-line of caring for the victims of individuals with Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) and a remarkable array of addictive, impulsive and compulsive behaviors. Over the last two decades, changes in the nomenclature of addictions suggest a significant shift in the conceptualization of addictions, where non-substance related behaviors can also be classified as addictions. A large amount of data provides empirical evidence that there are overlaps of different types of addictive behaviors in etiology, phenomenology, and in the underlying psychological and biological mechanisms. Recent results suggest a large overlap between the existence of these addictions and behaviors and underlies the importance of analyzing the possible common psychological, genetic and neural pathways. Most importantly, exhaustive data to date, further support concepts such as the Reward Deficiency Syndrome and the component model of addictions that propose a common phenomenological and etiological background of different addictive and related behaviors. With this information and known mechanisms of various neurotransmitter interactions in the brain reward circuitry, we should be “thinking out of the box” in face of a serious devastating opioid and other drugs crisis. We question the wisdom of the continued utilization of only reducing harm and not epigenetically attempting to repair either the trait (genetic) or state (epigenetic) neurochemistry of the brain reward circuit, especially during the known unwanted fatalities of modern day. The Opioid Crisis as eloquently discussed in Oesterle., et al. echoes these remarks. Finally, we are proposing that, in order, to successfully combat the widespread abuse of drugs and even non-drug behaviors (e.g. gambling etc.), one option, is to consider induction of “dopamine homeostasis” WC 285.