Addictive substances can powerfully manipulate the dopaminergic reward system by releasing unnaturally high amounts of dopamine, leading to a constant search for reward and a continual manipulation of the brain's natural responses.
Current treatments for drug dependency involve the administration of other addictive substances such as methadone and naltrexone, which have a slower metabolism than opioid-based drugs, causing lower levels of substances to be released over a longer period of time.
Our current clinical trials focus on the modulation of dopamine and reversing plasticity in regions of the brain caused by drug abuse.
