Understanding how costs affect drug use and cravings
Official title: A2: Striosomal models of drug use and cost
Funded at University of Texas El Paso · NIH-11184256 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cravings for drugs and the costs of using them affect people's choices, especially when stress or aging comes into play, to help find better ways to treat addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas El Paso NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Paso, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $580,872 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058653-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184256 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals struggling with substance use disorders who are affected by cravings and decision-making related to drug use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have issues with substance use or cravings may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the complex relationship between drug consumption, craving, and the costs associated with drug use. By developing and validating a computational model focused on the striosomes in the brain, the study aims to explore how different neural states influence decision-making regarding drug-taking behavior. The research will utilize experimental methods to assess how factors like stress and aging impact the cost-benefit analysis that individuals undergo when considering drug use. Patients may benefit from insights into how cravings and costs interact, potentially leading to better treatment strategies for addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment of addiction by revealing how cost factors influence drug-seeking behavior.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on drug use and decision-making, this specific approach focusing on the cost aspect within the striosomal circuitry is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas El Paso
El Paso, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Friedman, Alexander — University of Texas El Paso
- Study coordinator: Friedman, Alexander
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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.