The lack of validated pharmacological agents for treating cocaine addiction has prompted researchers to explore alternative behavioural and social interventions. Recent studies have shown that such interventions can effectively help cocaine users regain control over their drug consumption, emphasising the impact of environmental factors on drug use and cessation.
While social factors have been found to play a crucial role in drug use and cessation, only a few preclinical studies have taken into account the influence of environmental or contextual factors. The immediate social context in which drugs are consumed has been found to be a critical factor in modulating their effects, but the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this influence have not been extensively documented.
A recent study has investigated the impact of social context on drug consumption in rats that had lost their control over cocaine intake. The study focused on the subthalamic nucleus (STN), a brain region known to play a critical role in cocaine motivation, escalation, and de-escalation, as well as compulsive drug seeking.
The study found that the presence of a drug-naïve stranger peer significantly reduced cocaine intake in rats who had previously escalated their drug use. This effect was also observed in rats whose STN was optogenetically inhibited or stimulated at high frequency, even in the absence of a peer. The findings suggest that the beneficial influence of social presence on drug consumption is mediated via the STN.
These results have significant implications, suggesting that social interventions may provide a promising approach to treating cocaine addiction. The study also provides valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the influence of social context on drug consumption. However, further research is necessary to fully understand the role of the STN and the cellular mechanisms involved.
Previous studies in mice have shown that social reward induces the release of oxytocin in the brain’s reward system, highlighting the overlap between the neural circuitry of social and drug rewards. Oxytocin also acts within the STN to locally regulate dopaminergic neurotransmission in rats. The findings suggest that oxytocin transmission within the STN may play a critical role in the results obtained in the present study.
Further research into the potential role of oxytocin and other neuropeptides in the STN and their influence on social context and drug use could provide valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction and potential treatments. These findings have the potential to lead to the development of new therapies for cocaine addiction, addressing the significant need for validated pharmacological agents for treating substance abuse.
