For people addicted to amphetamines, a drug-free approach to moving toward recovery could include positive, long-term relationships, says a recent news article. Researchers hope a recent study will reveal more about how family or childhood relationships could help with lessening the interest and rewards associated with drugs like amphetamines.

Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, experts said that a study involving animals showed that intimate bonds may create brain modifications that could help prevent people from abusing drugs. Conducted at Florida State University, the study showed that the cravings or interest for amphetamine were lessened in male voles who were involved in companionship long-term with a partner, as compared to voles who were single.

The changes that are capturing researchers' attention occurred at the brain level, within the nucleus accumbens, where the brain processes rewards. Both groups of voles produced dopamine, a pleasure-related chemical, when they were given amphetamines. The voles who were paired, however, showed lower levels of D1 receptor binding than did their single counterparts during the amphetamine intake process. In fact, the single voles showed increases in D1 receptor binding.

The paired voles had a lessened reward reaction to the amphetamine than did the single voles, said researchers. Furthermore, the single voles went after the amphetamine more often and had a lesser interest in forming relationships. Further research will look more closely at the connections between social relationships and the willingness or drive to access drugs in hopes of pointing to new treatment concepts for people struggling with substance addiction.