Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that temporarily increases the neurotransmitter dopamine (the feel-good messenger) in the brain. The pleasure, euphoric high, and alertness caused by cocaine fade quickly (within 20 minutes or so), and users often experience exhaustion and intense cravings leading to using the drug again and again. Over time, cocaine changes the brain’s reward system, and users develop a tolerance to the drug, leading to needing more of it to satisfy the cravings. However, cocaine’s power doesn’t stop there. The addiction to this drug is also driven in part by memory association. 

Researchers have continually found cocaine addiction challenging to study because of the complex associations formed in the brain between the drug and the environment, the paraphernalia used to ingest the drug, and the reasons behind the abuse of the drug. Studies do reveal that this type of memory association is mainly dependent upon changes in gene expression in the region of the brain called the hippocampus (part of the brain that regulates memory). However, what has researchers puzzled is “how” cocaine alters the gene expression to drive the formation of these associations. However, new research is providing deep insight into cocaine addiction and the complex associations formed between the drug and the environment. But first, what new insights have we found in terms of cocaine addiction and treatment up to this point?

Past Cocaine Research – What Have We Learned?

According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Past cocaine research has primarily focused on dopamine, but scientists have also found that cocaine use induces changes in the brain related to other neurotransmitters, including serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, and glutamate. Researchers are currently testing medications that act at the dopamine D3 receptor, a subtype of the dopamine receptor that is abundant in the emotion and reward centers of the brain. Other research is testing compounds that restore the balance between excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmission, which is disrupted by long-term cocaine use.” 

In addition, researchers are also looking at several medications used to treat other diseases as a potential therapy in reducing cocaine use. Even a vaccine that stimulates the immune system to create cocaine-specific antibodies that bind to cocaine, preventing it from getting into the brain, has been studied as a potential tool to prevent relapse. Since most research and funding has been focused on the role of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in cocaine addiction, little has been done to understand cocaine addiction and the complex associations formed between the drug and the environment – until now. 

Promise in Understanding Cocaine Addiction

In a recent study from the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers at Michigan State University examined how cocaine use affected the expression of the FosB gene in the hippocampus. What they found could provide amazing insight into cocaine addiction, but more importantly, how to effectively treat it. During the study, the mice that were given cocaine daily showed increased expression of the FosB gene compared to mice that received saline. According to the study, “Chronic cocaine use caused epigenetic modification of the gene, leading it to become more active. Additionally, when the scientists blocked the changes made to FosB, the mice were unable to form associations between cocaine and the environment where they received it, implicating epigenetic regulation of the gene in drug memory formation.”

This work offers exciting new insights into the changes that take place in the hippocampus during chronic cocaine use, and more research in this area could lead to the development of more effective addiction therapies and interventions. 

Cocaine Addiction Treatment and Hope

Continual relapse from cocaine addiction can prove to be a huge obstacle to long-term recovery. Those who attempt to end cocaine use alone will have a significantly higher chance of relapsing than someone who chooses to enter a professional treatment center. Withdrawal from cocaine can include a crash that results in fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and sometimes agitation or paranoia. This “crash” can make it extremely difficult to stop using the drug on your own. And for those who have a long history of cocaine use, medically supervised detox is essential as withdrawal symptoms can include overwhelming suicidal urges, paranoia, and even temporary psychosis.

As of now, even though researchers are conducting drug trials, there is no approved medication to treat the physical effects of cocaine addiction. Current research shows that long-term treatment with evidence-based therapy, especially behavioral treatment modalities, is the most effective method of preventing a relapse. At The Kimberly Center, you will learn to replace substance use habits with healthy, productive ones and build a network of friends, family, and professional counselors to help you stay sober. When you choose treatment for cocaine addiction at The Kimberly Center, your options can include:

• Outpatient Treatment
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment
• Residential Recovery
• Continuing Care

Professional help is the key to overcoming addiction and turning lives around. If you or a loved one are ready to beat cocaine addiction and begin a better life, please contact us at 855-452- 3683.