Anti-drug vaccines are being designed to help substance abusers overcome particular drug addiction
- Most addictive drugs activate the pleasure-reward pathways of the brain (i.e. promote dopamine secretion)
- A fragment of the addictive drug is made into a vaccine, such that the body produces specific antibodies to the drug
- The antibodies do not destroy the drug, but form a complex with it that is too large to cross the blood-brain barrier
- As a result, the drug cannot activate the pleasure-reward pathways of the brain, eliminating its addictive effects
- This therapy is currently being developed for a number of drugs – including nicotine, cocaine and heroin
Anti-Drug Vaccine Development
For more information, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)