Addiction is a brain disease, and current diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders (SUDs) are qualitative. Nevertheless, scientific advances are beginning to characterize neurobiological domains. Combining multiple units of measure may provide an opportunity to deconstruct the heterogeneities of a SUD and define endophenotypes by using peripheral biospecimens. There are several recent examples of potential biomarker types that can be examined, together with their categorical applications for SUDs. We propose that, in conjunction with rapidly advancing statistical and mathematical modeling techniques, there is now a unique opportunity for the discovery of composite biomarkers within specific domains of addiction; these may lay the foundation for future biomarker qualification, with important implications for drug development and medical care.

成瘾是一种脑部疾病，目前关于药物滥用障碍（SUD）的诊断标准是定性的。然而，科学进步已开始表征神经生物学领域。组合多个度量单位可以提供机会，通过使用外围生物标本来解构SUD的异质性并定义内表型。最近可以检查一些潜在的生物标志物类型的例子，以及它们在SUD中的分类应用。我们建议，结合快速发展的统计和数学建模技术，现在有一个独特的机会可以在成瘾的特定领域内发现复合生物标志物。这些可能为未来生物标志物鉴定奠定基础，对药物开发和医疗保健具有重要意义。