According to recent research, drug-seeking habits fuel the addictive power of substance use disorders. Published respectively in Addiction Neuroscience (2022) and The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (2023), the two studies show how repetitive behaviors of drug-seeking lead to relapse and obsessive-compulsive reactions. Both studies focus on drug-seeking in male rats: The neural examinations of study subjects post-mortem show changes in the brain brought on by drug-seeking behaviors and extended drug use, specifically cocaine.

In the 2022 Study, the researchers conclude that the maladaptive nature of such behaviors contributes to the perpetuation of substance use disorders (SUD). They believe there is a direct correlation between the strength of drug-seeking habits and the potential for relapse in a patient. Indeed, the researchers point out that “repeated drug use… heightens susceptibility to stressor-induced drug-seeking in rodents.”

Drug-Seeking Habits and the Brain

When drug-seeking habits become part of a person’s daily routine, pathways are carved into the brain’s neural networks. Rather than an exception to the rule, drug-seeking becomes an everyday occurrence. As a direct result, the neural pathways in the brain that promote drug-seeking transform from country roads to super highways. In other words, they are the first choice of a drug user when it is time to consider life’s options. Therefore, in the morning, drug-seeking takes over upon waking. Drug-seeking is the last call at night as the drug dealer becomes essential.

At Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC), the clinical team provides SUD Treatment Services that address drug-seeking in patients. Through a combination of individual therapy and process groups, patients gain a greater awareness of their drug-seeking habits and behaviors. As a direct result, the reality of drug-seeking behaviors enters into a patient’s consciousness. Hence, the ability to recognize such behaviors is a big step towards preventing them from taking the proverbial reins.

Stressors, Relapse Prevention, and Drug-Seeking

At TTC, relapse prevention is the primary goal of SUD treatment services. Reducing stressors and connecting them to drug-seeking habits opens the door to long-term recovery. According to an in-depth look at the research, “The study bolsters support for the idea that drug addiction is a psychiatric disorder, and it identifies the development of ingrained habits as a key psychological process that contributes to the perpetuation of drug-seeking behavior and relapse.”

If relapse prevention proves challenging, there is a good chance that a patient needs more SUD treatment services. At TTC, we help patients find the path to long-term recovery. Please contact us today to access the help you or a loved one needs.