Research Library / Article Summary
Exploring regulation and function of dopamine D3 receptors in alcohol use disorder. A PET [11C]-(+)-PHNO study
Plain-English AddictionTube research summary with source link, DOI, key finding, and recovery relevance.
Neuropsychopharmacology • 04 Aug 2021 • Research
alcoholdopaminecravingrelapsetreatment
Research focus
This article may help explain addiction science through research on alcohol, dopamine, craving, relapse. The source abstract begins by describing: “Preclinical studies support an important role of dopamine D3 receptors (DRD3s) in alcohol use disorder (AUD).”
Key finding: Furthermore, the finding that binding in the SN is associated with alcohol demand warrants further examination.
Why this may help: This may help explain why addiction can involve brain, behavior, mental health, craving, relapse, or treatment factors rather than simple willpower alone. It should be read as research information, not personal medical advice.
This article may help explain addiction science through research on opioid, alcohol, dopamine, brain science. The source abstract begins by describing: “Opioid-alcohol polysubstance use is prevalent and worsens treatment outcomes.”
Key finding: Thus, alcohol alters the motivation to seek oxycodone in a sex-dependent manner and the neural circuitry engaged by cue-primed reinstatement of sucrose and oxycodone-seeking.
Scientific Reports • 06 Nov 2023 • Research
opioidalcoholdopaminebrain sciencerelapsetreatment
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This article may help explain addiction science through research on alcohol, craving, relapse, treatment. The source abstract begins by describing: “Although alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent, only a few medications are approved for its treatment leaving much room for improvement.”
Key finding: Clinical Trials Registry: DRKS00029993.
Molecular Psychiatry • 12 Dec 2024 • Research
alcoholcravingrelapsetreatment
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This article may help explain addiction science through research on alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, dopamine. The source abstract begins by describing: “In this Opinion article, Nutt and colleagues examine the history of and current evidence for the dopamine theory of addiction.”
Key finding: These observations have implications for understanding reward and treatment responses in various addictions.
Nature Reviews Neuroscience • 15 Apr 2015 • Reviews
alcoholcannabisnicotinedopaminebrain sciencetreatment
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This article may help explain addiction science through research on cannabis, brain science, withdrawal, craving. The source abstract begins by describing: “Cannabis withdrawal in cannabis use disorder (CUD) increase the risk of relapse and lacks effective treatments.”
Key finding: Increases in FAAH (%ΔFAAH whole-brain) were significantly associated with longer cannabis abstinence, greater baseline depression severity, and tendency to act without thinking ( p
Neuropsychopharmacology • 09 May 2026 • Research
cannabisbrain sciencewithdrawalcravingrelapsemental health
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This article may help explain addiction science through research on alcohol, cannabis, brain science, withdrawal. The source abstract begins by describing: “Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a pervasive public health issue with limited effective treatments.”
Key finding: These findings indicate that chronic CBD administration attenuates both behavioral and neurobiological facets of alcohol dependence by modulating neuronal excitability and preventing neurodegeneration, supporting its therapeutic potential for AUD and providing mechanistic insights for future research.
Neuropsychopharmacology • 10 Jul 2025 • Research
alcoholcannabisbrain sciencewithdrawalrelapsegenetics
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