Why Can't I Forget My Last Fix? New Research Reports on Key Biological Challenges to Treating Addiction

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WHY CAN’T I FORGET MY LAST FIX? NEW RESEARCH REPORTS
ON KEY BIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES TO TREATING ADDICTION

Addictive drugs prey on impulsivity, hijack emotional and cognitive centers
of the brain and brain processes like learning and memory

Washington, DC — A new study reported today finds that high levels of innate impulsiveness play a major role in triggering drug addiction relapse in rats, and suggests that current medications used to reduce impulsivity, such as those for hyperactivity disorders, may be useful in preventing drug addiction relapse. The study was released at Neuroscience 2008, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news on brain science and health. It was presented during a discussion of the biological underpinnings of addictive behaviors and the powerful effects of addictive drugs on brain systems involved in emotions, insight, and learning and memory. Advances in understanding the biology of addiction are helping to identify new, more effective treatment options. View full release.