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The role of neuroadaptations in relapse to drug seeking

One of the most difficult problems in treating addiction is not withdrawing addicts from drugs, but preventing relapse. Persistent neuroadaptations are thought to underlie aspects of addiction, including relapse. This commentary assesses the degree to which these neuroadaptations, primarily identified in preclinical studies on cocaine, induce relapse.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program. We thank E. Wentzell for editorial assistance and K. Preston for helpful comments. We also would like to acknowledge L. Lu for his contribution to the work described in the section on the role of neuroadaptation in incubation of cocaine craving.

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Shaham, Y., Hope, B. The role of neuroadaptations in relapse to drug seeking. Nat Neurosci 8, 1437–1439 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1105-1437

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