Addiction reshapes brain circuits that control reward, stress and decision-making. Our scientists study these changes to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent substance use disorders, reduce cravings and support recovery.
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder that can drive compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences. In 2024, an estimated 48.5 million people aged 12 or older in the U.S. had a substance use disorder, and about 80% of those who needed treatment didn’t receive it, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
At Scripps Research, scientists study addiction biology from molecules to behavior. This work helps reveal why relapse occurs, how withdrawal affects the brain and which molecular targets might lead to safer, more effective treatments—including novel vaccines and biologics that could block dangerous drugs before they reach the brain.
For more information on our addiction research programs, please contact us.
A repurposed anti-inflammatory drug may help treat alcohol use disorder and related pain
Scripps Research scientists find that apremilast, an FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drug, reduced both drinking and pain sensitivity in preclinical models of alcohol use disorder.
Vaccines provide many benefits over other forms of treatment for fentanyl addiction…[They] don’t require daily compliance with a medicine, are inexpensive to manufacture and can reduce the risk of overdose.
Scripps Research pursues multiple strategies to address addiction: mapping the brain circuits that drive compulsive substance use, understanding the biological factors that influence vulnerability, investigating how stress and pain contribute to relapse, and developing biologic therapies designed to reduce overdose risk.
Our scientists map the neural circuits that become altered during addiction. By studying how specific brain regions change during drug exposure, withdrawal and relapse, we uncover the circuitry that underlies compulsive substance use.
Scientists at Scripps Research are investigating why some individuals are more vulnerable to substance use disorders than others. By studying genetic variation and biological traits that influence risk, researchers aim to understand how susceptibility to addiction develops and why responses to substances can differ widely between individuals.
Addiction is closely intertwined with the body’s stress and pain systems. Our scientists study how stress hormones, inflammatory signals and chronic pain interact with reward pathways to increase vulnerability to substance use. Understanding these connections may guide new strategies to support recovery and prevent relapse.
We’re pursuing biologic strategies that block drugs before they reach the brain. Vaccines and antibody-based therapies can bind to substances such as opioids or synthetic drugs in the bloodstream, decreasing their ability to trigger dangerous effects. These approaches may help protect people at risk of overdose.
