Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine's addictive properties stem partially from its Dopamine Transporter (DAT) blocking effects. In particular, by increasing the dopaminergic transmission from ventral tegmental area neurons. However, a study has shown that mice with no dopamine transporters still exhibit the rewarding effects of cocaine administration. Later work demonstrated that a combined DAT/Serotonin Transporter (SERT) knockout eliminated the rewarding effects. Glutamate also plays a role in cocaine addiction, specifically the 5th subtype of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor (MGluR5).

The rewarding effects of cocaine are influenced by circadian rhythms, possibly by involving a set of genes termed "clock genes". Beyond this, there is a correlation between a variant of the CAMK4 gene and cocaine addiction; a German study found that addicts were 25% more likely to have a variant of the gene than people who did not use cocaine.

It is important to note that chronic cocaine addiction is not solely due to cocaine reward. Chronic repeated use is needed to produce cocaine-induced changes in brain reward centers and consequent chronic dysphoria. Dysphoria magnifies craving for cocaine because cocaine reward rapidly, albeit transiently, improves mood. This contributes to continued use and a self-perpetuating, worsening condition, since those addicted usually cannot appreciate that long-term effects are opposite those occurring immediately after use.

Cocaine addiction can be treated with a cocaine drug rehab which is important to counter the cocaine effects and lead addicts to recover from addiction to coke.

Source : drug-addiction.com