DANIELLE Moore seemed like the “life of the party”, but beneath the drug-fuelled smiles was a young woman trapped in a downward spiral, barely sleeping and battling suicidal thoughts. The ...

Scientists identify the protein DeltaFosB as the "master switch" that rewires the brain's memory and reward circuits, driving chronic cocaine addiction and relapse.

For the first time, researchers are able to describe how the dopamine transporter involved in cocaine use operates at the molecular level, which could pave the way to future targeted treatments.

Adrian Rothenfluh, PhD (left) and Pearl Cummins-Beebee (right, also an author on the paper) inspect a bottle of fruit flies in the lab. For the first time, researchers have created genetically ...

Cocaine is a stimulant drug and highly addictive. Using cocaine can cause changes to the brain, such as in the reward system, resulting in a buildup of dopamine and making it difficult for someone to ...

When considering the drugs most likely to cause former addicts to repeatedly relapse, opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine ...

Why do so many people relapse after quitting cocaine? A new study from The Hebrew University reveals that a specific "anti-reward" brain circuit becomes hyperactive during withdrawal—driving ...

The effects of cocaine vary depending on the intake method and dose. A single dose of cocaine can cause hypersensitivity, alertness, or paranoia. It may be fatal if people overdose or mix the drug ...

An antioxidant found in rosemary extract regulates the brain’s reward response and reduces the volitional intake of cocaine in mice. The findings may pave the way for treatments for those at risk of ...