ARTICLE: "Going by the book: A group of Chinese scientists has discovered the main biochemical pathways in drug addiction—and without having to do a single experiment," The Economist, 12 January 2008, p. 71.
Done by meta-analysis of existing studies.
They found five central pathways.
What this says: Some people got it bad all right, and the pathways explain why addiction is so hard to quit (four positive feedback loops).
My sense? If you can find the loops, you can tap into that conversation.
How about rewire with carbon nanofibers attached to some implant that says, a la Amy Winehouse, "I saya noo, noo, nooo!" (not that she does much).
Not far from now, that could mean the complete medicalization of drug addiction, and a cease fire in the drug wars.
Interested?
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Comments (3)
Interesting that you go immediately to an end of the drug wars. What about the drug users that actually LIKE doing the drugs and wouldn't go for this treatment? Sure, eliminating the demand for the drugs from addicts would get rid of a large segment, but there are still plenty of college students (and others, I just pick a group I know well) that do the drugs and are NOT addicted.
Posted by Matt R.
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February 23, 2008 3:34 PM
I doubt the various entities supporting themselves via drug trafficking could afford to rely solely on the casual, less addictable user.
Posted by Joseph | February 24, 2008 11:49 AM
The Chinese had a very successful drug treatment program in the late 1940s through the early 1950s that almost entirely eliminated the widespread opium addiction that had plagued China since the early 19th century. The addiction treatment regime used had a 0% recidivism rate.
Posted by Mark in Texas | February 24, 2008 1:55 PM