Dr. Nora Volkow shares insights on addiction science and harm reduction in Genomic Press interview

NIDA Director discusses how brain science research has reshaped our understanding of addiction

2024-11-07

(Press-News.org) Bethesda, Maryland, USA, 7 November 2024 – Dr. Nora Volkow's mission to revolutionize addiction treatment began with a deeply personal observation: watching how excessive substance use could profoundly alter a person’s behavior while simultaneously triggering social rejection by others. As the first woman and Hispanic Director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Volkow has dedicated her career to investigating how drugs affect the human brain and how these disruptions contribute to the behavioral/emotional changes in addiction; knowledge that has cemented the recognition of addiction as a chronic medical condition that can be treated and from which people can recover.

In a Genomic Press Interview, published in Brain Medicine on November 7, 2024, Dr. Volkow discusses the urgent challenges facing addiction medicine today. With U.S. drug overdose fatalities reaching 107,543 deaths in 2023, NIDA’s research focuses on critical interventions and novel prevention and treatment approaches.

"I was struck early on by how we, as humans, can be so vulnerable to the effects of addictive drugs, how they can change us in such profound ways," Dr. Volkow shares, reflecting on her early experiences that shaped her career trajectory.

Her current research explores promising new directions in addiction treatment, including the potential that glucagon like peptide receptor agonist (GLP1R) GLP1-medications hold for the treatment of various substance use disorders. If randomized clinical trials of GLP1 medications -some of which are ongoing and others being planned-, document efficacy, it could represent a significant breakthrough in addressing the treatment gap in addiction.

In parallel, she also emphasized the importance of research to advance harm reduction strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality while pursuing long-term solutions for individuals with a substance use disorder who are not ready to enter treatment.

Dr. Volkow emphasizes the importance of prevention strategies "effective prevention is one of the most impactful priorities because it allows for early interventions that reduce the likelihood that individuals will develop substance use disorders, thus avoiding all of their associated harms" she explains.

The interview reveals Dr. Volkow's commitment to evidence-based approaches, combining rigorous scientific methodology with compassionate care. Her work bridges laboratory research and clinical application, investigating how changes in the dopamine system affect brain regions involved with reward and self-control in addiction.

Looking ahead, Dr. Volkow identifies several critical areas for future research, including the role of stress and trauma in substance use disorders, the impact of social determinants on addiction risk, and the development of more effective prevention strategies. Her vision encompasses both immediate lifesaving interventions and long-term systemic changes to improve addiction treatment access and outcomes. Dr. Nora Volkow’s Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series that highlights the people behind today’s most influential scientific ideas. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of scientists shaping the future.

By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that delve into the scientist’s impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes. More information on the research leaders and research rising stars featured by Genomic Press can be found in our website: https://genomicpress.com.

The full Genomic Press Interview, titled “Nora Volkow: Insights into the function of our brains through the science of drugs and addiction” is available on 7 November 2024 in Brain Medicine, providing detailed insights into Dr. Volkow's research methodology and vision for the future of addiction neuroscience. The interview is freely available online at [[url to come]].

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