Virtual reality will be used in a UK trial to help people overcome cocaine addiction

Researchers create a virtual world to help people overcome cocaine addiction by repeatedly exposing them to challenging situations in a safe environment.

The project is based on the experiences of drug users to create a customized 3D experience, such as being alone in an apartment or at a party with friends, where people can immerse themselves in VR headsets in real situations that stimulate the desire to take drugs.

Studies have shown that “cue exposure therapy” can significantly reduce cravings and relapse in recovering alcoholics, but this approach has not been fully tested as a potential treatment for addiction. cocaine.

Paolo Deluca, lead researcher and professor of addiction research at King’s College London, says the real world must help users break the ties between tempting situations and their tobacco use, and give them time to practice drug resistance strategies.

“We’re trying to better understand the conditions — the factors and interactions — that trigger cravings in people who use cocaine,” he said.

The work is one of 11 projects announced on Friday as part of the government’s £12m investment to reduce drug abuse through virtual reality, artificial intelligence and wearable technology.

Across Britain, drug overdoses kill around 5,000 people every year. Many of the new projects will come from Scotland, which has the highest rate of drug addiction in Europe.

Another project supported by the program is to investigate whether a wearable device that communicates with a chest breathing machine can detect when a person has consumed alcohol. If the device is overly suspicious, it alerts emergency services with access to the antidote in hopes of providing life-saving treatment quickly.

One of the most effective antidotes for heroin or methadone overdose is naloxone, but the treatment is only available as an injection or nasal spray and cannot always be used on time. To make the drug more accessible, another team at King’s is looking into naloxone wafers that could deliver the antidote by dissolving in the mouth.

Patrick Vallance, science minister, said: “These new projects highlight the power of collaboration in delivering life-saving treatments. By investing in these partnerships, we are tackling addiction directly and ensuring that cutting-edge technology reaches those who need it most. ”

The plans were announced as research suggests that diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Wegovy could be a tool to prevent drug overdoses.

Scientists at Loyola University Chicago reviewed the health records of more than half a million adults with a history of opioid abuse. Those with prescriptions for weight-loss drugs were 40% less likely than those without, the study found.

Similar results emerged for alcohol abuse. Health records of more than 800,000 people with a history of alcohol problems revealed that cases of alcoholism were 50% lower in those with prescriptions than those without, according to a report in the journal Addiction .

The medicine affects the brain’s eye system, reduces appetite and makes a person feel satisfied after eating. But they can also affect reward pathways in the brain that play an important role in drug abuse.

Matt Field, a professor of psychology at the University of Sheffield, said they could reduce hospitalizations for heroin and alcohol abuse but it was unclear whether they helped people reduce how often they used those substances.

“We already have things like naloxone that are specifically designed for rapid treatment of heroin overdoses, and they work very well,” he said. “The best way to avoid ‘intoxication’ is to avoid drinking too much, and the big question is whether Ozempic helps people do this.”