Challenging Assumptions: Study Debunks Dopamine’s Role in Cocaine Abuse

A team from UNIGE has demonstrated that the production of dopamine, often referred to as the “happiness hormone,” is not linked to a higher risk of drug susceptibility.
Why do some people who try drugs struggle with substance abuse while others don’t? This question has long puzzled scientists. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) explored the complex interplay between personality traits and brain chemistry.

The scientists studied the role of impulsivity and the production of dopamine – the so-called ‘‘happiness hormone’’ – in influencing the risk of cocaine abuse. These results, published in eNeuro, offer new keys to understanding vulnerability to drug abuse, which could lead to the development of more targeted interventions for people at risk.