Oxytocin: Providing New Avenues for Treating and Understanding Problematic Drug Use

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800634-4.00008-1

Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse

Volume 3: General Processes and Mechanisms, Prescription Medications, Caffeine and Areca, Polydrug Misuse, Emerging Addictions and Non-Drug Addictions

2016, Pages 82-92

Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800634-4.00008-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide released during birth and lactation, but also in response to social interaction and stressors. Exogenously administered oxytocin in animals augments acute drug effects, drug reward, tolerance, and withdrawal for a range of drugs and alcohol. The effects of oxytocin administration can be directly caused by oxytocin or by its bilateral interactions with numerous systems, including the dopamine system, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and immune system. The status of the endogenous oxytocin system might also enhance or reduce susceptibility to addiction through its interaction with these systems. Individual differences in the endogenous oxytocin system may therefore affect susceptibility to addiction. Consistent with this notion, preclinical research has demonstrated that boosting the activity of the endogenous oxytocin system might “inoculate” against future vulnerability to drug abuse. The first human trials of intranasal oxytocin in the treatment of addiction are now under way and the results are eagerly awaited.

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FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ESCALATION OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
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Citation Excerpt :
It is important to note here that heavy alcohol consumption can alienate positive social supports and mounting evidence points to disruption of social motivation and capacity for normal social interactions with chronic heavy alcohol use (Moos et al., 2010; Trezza et al., 2014; Zou et al., 2009). In light of this observation, there is growing interest in how drugs that act to enhance social motivation and facilitate functional social interactions might play an important role in treating AUD (Baskerville and Douglas, 2010; Bowen et al., 2016; Bowen and Neumann, 2017, 2018; McGregor and Bowen, 2012; McGregor and Bowen, 2013). The brain oxytocin system has received considerable interest in this regard.
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2020, Neuropsychopharmacology
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Chapter 8 - Oxytocin: Providing New Avenues for Treating and Understanding Problematic Drug Use

Abstract