Possible Treatments

Certain treatments for drug abuse have been proposed based on its relationship with anxiety. For instance, treatments with CRFR1 antagonists have shown promising result in animal subjects by reducing stress induce relapse to drug taking. Specifically, CP-154, 526, a CRFR1 nonpeptide antagonist has significantly reduce stress related relapse in rats. CRFR1 is a receptor located in the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the periphery. This receptor, along with CRFR2, mediates the release of corticotropin- releasing factor, which coordinates homostasis in the body. Now, CRFR1 has been shown to have an important role in anxiety, since research has shown that CRFR1 knockout mice have impaired stress response and present decrease anxiety-like behavior. (Bale et al, 2002)(Boyson et al, 2011) Therefore, a CRFR1 antagonist will be expected reduce anxiety in drug addicts and decrease relapse do to anxiety. However, targeting this receptor to the treatment of addiction has been low in human population.  Nevertheless, high affinity CRFR1 antagonist NB1-34041 has demonstrated efficiency in reducing elevated stress in animal and humans, but further research in its role in drug addiction treatment is necessary. (Cleck et al, 2008)

Antidepressants such as Desipramine (DMI) have shown significant effects in treating cocaine addiction. Research in both animal subjects and human subjects have shown decrease anxiety related relapse. However, recent investigations have shown little positive effects of DMI to crack cocaine withdrawal symptoms, so research in other antidepressants such as modafinil have arisen. Modafinil, has shown to be more promising in clinical trials, but yet the exact mechanism of action is to be further studied. Still, it is known that it inhibit reuptake of dopamine in the brain and activates other neurotransmitters such as glutamate and norepinephrine. (Cleck et al, 2008)(Dackis et al, 2005).

In addition to medical treatments, rehabilitation programs that promote a new life in a positive environment can also decrease anxiety a reduce relapse in drug addicts. A study conducted in rats, showed how enriched environments significantly reduce drug seeking in rats compared to common environments. (Chauvet et al, 2009). Furthermore, many Drug addict programs focus, such as Hogar Crea, focus on identifying anxiety agents that increase craving in drug addicts, as a source of rehabilitation and perseverance in abstinence.