According to the RDS model, a person with dysfunction in the brain reward cascade, especially in the dopaminergic system causing a hypodopaminergic trait, requires additional dopamine to feel good (Blum et al., 2000). This trait leads to multiple drug-seeking behaviors as the drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, nicotine, cause activation and neuronal release of dopamine, which could heal the abnormal cravings. The RDS model explains not just alcoholism but several common disorders such as pathological gambling, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourett’s syndrome, PTSD, conduct disorder, and antisocial behavior (Blum et al., 2000; Comings and Blum, 2000; Bowirrat and Oscar-Berman, 2005).
