How early drug cues may reveal who will develop cocaine addiction
Cocaine Addition and the Need-State Hypothesis
['FUNDING_R01'] · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · NIH-11324936
This project uses early reactions to drug-related cues to find people at higher risk for developing cocaine addiction.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HERSHEY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11324936 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are using a rat model where a sweet taste signals upcoming cocaine to study why some individuals become addicted. In this model, rats that avoid the sweet cue most strongly later show the most cocaine-seeking and taking. The team will examine brain changes linked to this "need-state" and test early interventions that might stop escalation. The goal is to identify signals or approaches that could be used early, before severe addiction develops.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who use cocaine occasionally, report increasing use, or are worried about developing addiction are the kinds of patients this research aims to help.
Not a fit: People with long-standing, severe cocaine dependence or complex polysubstance addiction may not directly benefit from findings focused on early detection and prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early risk markers and approaches that prevent occasional cocaine use from becoming full addiction.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown that cue-induced avoidance predicts later drug-seeking, but applying these findings to human early-detection and prevention is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
HERSHEY, UNITED STATES
- PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR — HERSHEY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GRIGSON, PATRICIA SUE — PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
- Study coordinator: GRIGSON, PATRICIA SUE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.