Dopamine Reward Pathway in Cocaine Addiction

Jessica Underwood*

C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505

Presentation Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering (Poster Presentation #156)

Student’s Major: Chemistry

Substance abuse uproots and claims the lives of thousands of people every day. Many individuals suffer from substance abuse in West Virginia and the greater Appalachia region, in particular, therefore, finding out more information for the members of our own neighborhoods will aid public health and rebuild communities that have been destroyed by drugs. Using a literature review methodology, multiple sources are used to synthesize the idea that dopamine, a common neurotransmitter, has been implicated as the root of addiction. Increased amounts of dopamine causes a feeling of pleasure or high. Cocaine, in particular, is a drug that interacts with the dopamine reward pathway to create a reward that is very addictive in a short period of time. The similar structures of cocaine and dopamine allow for the drug to bind with the dopamine transporters disrupting the brain’s natural reward center. With a rush of dopamine and nowhere for the dopamine to go, it floods the brain and pleasure centers creating intense happiness. A reward this powerful can lead to sadness once the dopamine concentration decreases, and the individual will strive to receive the reward again. In order to lessen the dependency associated with cocaine, blocking the dopamine transporter would result in a decrease in overall concentration, which would lead to a less dependent, healthier individual. A possible method of lowering dopamine concentration would be supplementing tryptophan and 5-HTP. Similar to tyrosine beginning dopamine synthesis, tryptophan acts as the precursor to serotonin and 5-HTP, both of which delete excess dopamine.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: capstone course within my department