Final answer:
Drugs of abuse work through the dopamine pathway, which involves increasing dopamine levels in the brain and leading to pleasurable effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pathway through which drugs of abuse work is the dopamine pathway. Drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and MDMA agonize dopamine neurotransmission, which increases dopamine levels in the brain and leads to pleasurable and rewarding effects. This dopamine pathway is involved in the brain's reward system and plays a crucial role in addiction.