Why does one person stop using a drug while another keeps going even when the consequences are obvious?
A University of Iowa neuroscientist is studying that question with help from a new National Institutes of Health grant. The research could add to what scientists know about addiction and how it is treated in Iowa and elsewhere.
The project looks at how the brain makes decisions about drug use. Some of those decisions happen very quickly and may take place before a person actually uses a substance.
What Iowa Researchers Are Studying
The University of Iowa announced the NIH-funded project in late September. Researchers are studying brain circuits involved in weighing the rewards and costs of drug use.
They want to see what happens when someone with a substance use disorder thinks about using a drug. That could mean choosing to use resisting the urge or eventually giving in. The researchers will compare those processes with decision-making in people who don’t have an addiction.
A lot of addiction research still depends on what patients and clinicians can observe or describe. A clinician can ask someone what they were thinking before they used. Measuring that decision as it happens is much harder.
The researchers hope that understanding the brain circuits involved could eventually help identify people who face a higher risk of relapse. It could also lead to better ways of matching people with treatment.
Addiction Changes the Brain
Addiction isn’t simply a question of willpower. It can change the way the brain handles reward stress and self-control.
People with addiction may experience strong cravings and have trouble controlling their drug use. They may keep using even after experiencing serious problems. Some also experience withdrawal when they stop.
The Iowa research could help explain what is happening during those moments when a person is deciding whether to use.
That doesn’t mean a brain scan will suddenly tell doctors which treatment someone needs. The research is much earlier than that. But learning more about the decision-making process could eventually add another piece to the way addiction is understood.
Treatment already includes options such as medication therapy and structured support. Research like this may help scientists understand why those approaches work for some people and how they might be improved.
What It Means for Iowans
The new grant won’t create a new addiction treatment next year. This is basic research and the results will take time.
People dealing with addiction in Iowa don’t have to wait for the research. Treatment options are available now.
Addiction treatment centers across the state offer medically supervised detox residential treatment and outpatient care. Medications are also available for opioid and alcohol use disorders.
Some drug rehabs in Iowa accept Medicaid. Others offer sliding-scale fees for people who don’t have insurance.
If you’re worried about someone you love you don’t necessarily have to wait until things reach a crisis point. Talking with a treatment provider early can help you understand what options are available and what to do next. Call
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