A new study from Columbia University and the University of Sydney found that a chemical in the club drug ecstasy may help people addicted to methamphetamine, as well as those with post traumatic stress syndrome, autism, and schizophrenia.
Oxytocin is sometimes called the “cuddle chemical” because it makes people feel more loving and sociable toward one another. The effects of the party drug ecstasy are partly due to oxytocin.
The new study found that oxytocin could reduce the drive for methamphetamine in laboratory animals.
“Much to our surprise and delight,” said researcher Iain McGregor, “we were able to eliminate meth self-administration, which is extremely vigorous in rats. If you don’t limit them, they can overdose.”
The researchers theorize that oxytocin is associated with a strong orientation toward people, whereas methamphetamine abusers tend to be interested in objects and repetitive behavior, which is similar to traits of autism. Their hope is that oxytocin could someday have therapeutic value not only for addictions to methamphetamine but also for mental disorders.
This study appears in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
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