Cairo: Zizi Abdel Ghaffar
American scientists from the University of Arizona have discovered a drug that reduces the craving for narcotics in laboratory mice. This drug, however, does not affect the brain’s reward pathways. The findings were published in the scientific journal Addiction Biology.
For over 20 years, addiction researchers have been trying to find a treatment that could reduce the tendency of people to consume narcotics. The problem lies in the fact that the same brain areas activated by addictive drugs are also activated by many everyday things that make people happy, such as pizza, chocolate cookies, or even a phone call from a friend, explained Dr. Arthur Rigel, the lead author of the study.
The New Drug: Retigabine
In a new experiment, scientists tested a drug called “retigabine,” which is typically used to treat epilepsy. Despite its use in other conditions, the trials showed that it could help reduce the craving for cocaine in rats. However, it did not affect the rats’ preference for sweets, which activate the same brain pathways as cocaine.
Details of the Experiment
The researchers initially allowed rats to consume cocaine and divided them into two groups: one group chose higher doses of cocaine and became active users, while the other group consumed lower doses, referred to as “recreational users.” Both groups were then given retigabine. The results showed that the craving for drugs decreased in all rats, with the most significant reduction observed in the recreational users, those who had consumed lower doses of cocaine.
Subsequently, the rats were allowed to consume sucrose or sugar, which activates the same brain reward pathways as cocaine. When the researchers gave these rats retigabine, they expected to see a reduction in behavior related to seeking sugar, as had happened with cocaine. Surprisingly, the rats continued to consume sugar in the same quantities.
A New Opportunity in Preventing Addiction
According to the researchers, their discovery provides a potential opportunity to prevent the development of drug addiction at an early stage. This opens up new possibilities for combating the epidemic of addiction that threatens the health of many around the world. The drug is expected to have broader applications in the future in treating various types of addiction by targeting mechanisms different from current drugs, which typically affect brain regions related to emotional rewards.
The study promises significant advances in addiction treatment, offering a solution to control cravings without disrupting other natural desires. Scientists are expected to continue their research to evaluate the broader impact of retigabine on various types of addiction.
