Introduction: A bold step in addiction research
A five-year, $3.7 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will propel a landmark study at Florida State University. Led by Mohamed Kabbaj and Zuoxin Wang, the project investigates how peer relationships and social context influence the brain’s response to drugs, with a focus on amphetamine (AMPH) and the neurochemical systems that govern reward and social bonding.
Public health data underscores the scale of substance use disorders in the United States: millions affected, yet a small fraction receiving treatment. This research aims to fill a critical gap by examining the neural interactions that determine whether social support can mitigate drug-seeking behavior.
Understanding the biological players
The study centers on two neurotransmitters that guide our social and reward-driven behaviors: oxytocin and dopamine. Dopamine is a key player in the brain’s mesolimbic reward pathway, reinforcing behaviors that bring pleasure. Oxytocin, often dubbed the “social bonding” hormone, modulates social interactions and affiliation. Researchers will explore how these chemicals interact within the nucleus accumbens, a brain region strongly implicated in reward, motivation, and learning.
“We believe the nucleus accumbens is where oxytocin and dopamine work together to regulate this close interaction between social behaviors and drug of abuse,” says Kabbaj. The team will dissect the neural circuits to determine how social engagement dampens or enhances drug-related learning and craving.
What the project will investigate
The researchers will test how AMPH use impairs social bonding and, conversely, how social affiliation can facilitate AMPH extinction — a process where an individual’s willingness to resist the drug increases in the presence of social support. By modeling strong social preferences, the team hopes to reveal the neurochemical dialogue that shifts an individual away from drug pursuit.
“Hanging out with a partner or friend boosts dopamine release in specific brain areas, hitting the same spots that light up when using drugs,” notes Kabbaj. “AMPH tends to reduce social behaviors and bonding, but being around someone you’re close to can weaken the brain’s response to drugs.” This paradox highlights why social context may be a powerful ally in treating addiction.
Implications for treatment and policy
The project’s findings could spark new therapeutic avenues, blending pharmacological approaches with interventions that strengthen social networks. If oxytocin-dopamine interactions can be modulated to favor social rewards over drug rewards, clinicians might develop strategies that complement existing behavioral therapies and medications.
Beyond medication, the research emphasizes the role of social environments and peer support in reducing relapse risk. As addiction science evolves to treat a chronic brain disorder, this work underscores the brain’s plasticity and the potential for social relationships to reshape neural circuits involved in craving and reinforcement.
About the researchers and next steps
Mohamed Kabbaj, a professor of biomedical sciences in FSU’s College of Medicine, and Zuoxin Wang, a psychology professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, will guide the five-year investigation. Their collaboration bridges neuroscience and behavioral science to translate complex neural mechanisms into practical insights for prevention and treatment.
For more information about ongoing work in the Wang Lab, visit fla.st/BR4LINE1. Details on the Kabbaj Lab’s research are available at fla.st/36IF0YPF.
Why this matters in a public health context
Substance use disorders remain a global challenge. By illuminating how social ties can dampen drug-seeking behavior at the neural level, this study has the potential to inform more effective, holistic approaches to addiction care—combining biologically targeted therapies with social support systems to reduce the burden of drug abuse in society.
