The role of oxidative stress in toxicities due to drugs of abuse

Abuse of illicit drugs is a growing problem across the world, with rates of drug use and overdose increasing for most major classes of substances. In addition to the social and public health implications of drug abuse, these drugs have a multitude of toxicities affecting all major organ systems. Depending on the drug, dosage, and route of administration, different toxicity profiles are seen. Based on findings from both animal models and human studies, oxidative stress is increasingly recognized as a common underlying etiology for many of the adverse effects seen. In addition to toxicities, oxidative stress also is shown to play a role in addiction and withdrawal. A thorough understanding of the role of oxidative stress in these conditions is key for future research to design therapeutic agents to better prevent and treat toxicities.