Addictions
The main aims of the Addictions IRG are to understand more about the social, psychological and neurobiological bases of addiction, the roles of genetic and environmental factors in its development, and to develop strategies for prevention and treatment of addictive disorders. The emphasis is on substance abuse and dependence, embracing both licit drugs (notably alcohol and tobacco) and illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
The IRG is chaired by Professor Gunter Schumann who heads the Section of Addiction Biology in the Division of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry.
The work of the IRG is guided by a steering committee, comprising, in addition to Professor Schumann, colleagues from other Sections within the Division of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry: Professor John Strang, head of the Addiction Research Unit ; Dr Michael Farrell, also in the Addiction Research Unit; Professor Ian Stolerman, head of the Section of Behavioural Pharmacology, Dr Christian Muller, also in the Section of Addiction Biology and Professor Colin Drummond, head of the Section of Alcohol Research.
The Steering Committee’s areas of expertise are: behavioural pharmacology (Professor Stolerman); treatment and harm reduction (Professor Strang and Professor Drummond); epidemiology (Dr Farrell); genetics (Professor Schumann).
The Group’s research priorities are:
• to develop treatment and harm reduction approaches for different groups of people at risk for addictive behaviours, based on genetic and environmental profiles.
Addictions IRG members are chief investigators or co-ordinators of several large trials which are testing the efficacy or new or improved medications, either by themselves or in combination with behavioural therapies.
Other projects are attempting to reduce the physical and psychosocial damaged caused by drug abuse, including deaths from overdose.
Basic laboratory psychopharmacology research and studies of clinical populations seek to identify risk factors for, and mechanisms of drug-induced harm so as to advance the prevention and treatment of addictive disorders and the neurological and psychiatric conditions that often accompany them. One current project seeks to develop and animal model of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as a consequence of prenatal exposure to alcohol or nicotine.
• to investigate the psychological, social, neuropharmacological and genetic mechanisms underlying the development of substance abuse and dependence, and environmental factors that contribute towards the development of drug taking disorders and the harm associated with them.
Substance abuse often begins in adolescence, so studies in young clinical samples, and of substance induced changes in the developing nervous system are a priority for the Addictions IRG.
The multi centre IMAGEN project, for example, sets out to identify the neurobiological and genetic basis of brain responses to reward, punishment and emotional cues in adolescents and will assess their relevance for mental disorders, including drug dependence. More than 2000 adolescents are participating in this European Commission funded project.
Other studies are focussing on small groups of adolescents who are at risk of developing addictive disorders as determined by criteria such as several close relatives suffering from addictions. These studies are based on molecular neuroimaging, using SPET and PET scans.
• to investigate the correlates and consequences of behavioural traits and personality features that put people at risk of drug-taking disorders.
Work in this field is interdisciplinary, involving behavioural and psychological assessments, genetics and neuroimaging. Projects include a follow on from a study about mortality rates during the first few weeks following release from prison, with a focus on how to prevent deaths.
For more information about the work of the Addictions IRG, contact: