There are many people who try out some drugs throughout their life but never have a problem with them or get addicted to them. Then there are others who try drugs like cocaine once and are hooked for life. But why is this? This is what scientists at the University of Texas at El Paso have uncovered. Keep on reading and discover how they did it.
Do rats get addicted to Cocaine?
The study from the University of Texas at El Paso has uncovered why some people are more prone to addiction than others. The study was done on rats, who received a bitter Quinine hit. This mimics the unpleasant cues that people face when they try out drugs like cocaine for the first time. Then the test group split into three different groups.
The first group never touched the drug and avoided it entirely, while the second group powered through despite the bitterness. However, there was also a third group. This group surprised the scientist and gave a remarkable result. The third group of rats initially binged on the substance but then quit abruptly! The third group was an unexpected find; however, it did give some extra insight into how humans can react to these drugs!
What does this mean for us?
The findings of the study suggest that individual responses to negative experiences with drugs vary. What these responses are, will determine if a person is able to walk away, while others spiral into addiction. Another study shows that if you have ADHD, you’re even more likely to get addicted as this condition triples the risk of addiction! The plan is to take this research a step further and go check on neurological differences that influence substance use. This could pave the way for targeted treatments, by identifying genetic and neurological differences that influence substance use. ! The next step involves the scientist exploring the brain regions involved in this process. Scientists now aim to explore the brain regions involved, potentially leading to more effective strategies for addiction prevention and intervention.
Credit to study
- University of Texas at El Paso: Study
