FSU researchers receive 3.7 million dollar federal grant to study how social interactions affect drug use in the brain
Tallahassee, Florida – Florida State University researchers have received a $3.7 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study how social interactions can influence drug use and addiction. The five-year project, led by Mohamed Kabbaj, professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Medicine, and Zuoxin Wang, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, aims to uncover the neural mechanisms that govern how social connections impact the brain’s response to drugs.
Drug abuse continues to be a serious public health challenge worldwide. In 2024, more than 46 million people in the United States experienced a substance use disorder, yet only 3.5 percent received treatment. Researchers emphasize that while medications and behavioral therapy are critical, social factors—such as family, friends, and peer support groups—also play a major role in preventing or reducing drug use.
“It’s well known that drug abuse is a serious worldwide public health problem for humans and that social affiliation and context can have profound effects on preventing and reducing drug use and dependence,” Wang said. “Unfortunately, the underlying neurochemical mechanism is still largely unknown.”
The study focuses on the brain’s reward pathway, specifically the mesolimbic system, which reinforces life-sustaining behaviors. Natural rewards like eating, listening to music, or exercising trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and positive feelings. When drugs such as amphetamine (AMPH) hijack this system, they create artificial reinforcement, making the brain crave the substance even more.
“Because oxytocin is so important for social connections, it makes us wonder: What’s really going on in the brain that makes social interactions feel rewarding — and how does that affect whether people use or steer clear of drugs?” Kabbaj said. Social interactions, he notes, can boost dopamine in some of the same brain regions that drugs target, potentially weakening the brain’s response to substance use.
The researchers will explore how amphetamine use impairs social bonding, how strong social connections can facilitate amphetamine extinction—the willingness to resist the drug even when it is present—and the role of oxytocin in mediating these interactions. Their work will center on the nucleus accumbens, a brain structure crucial for reward and motivation, where dopamine and oxytocin interact at the molecular level to influence behavior.
“We believe the nucleus accumbens is where oxytocin and dopamine work together to regulate this close interaction between social behaviors and drug of abuse,” Kabbaj said. “These neurotransmitters work within a brain circuit that includes the nucleus accumbens, and we plan to isolate the roles of these various brain circuits to understand the dampening effects of social behaviors on the development and extinction of drug addiction.”
By understanding how social affiliation affects drug-seeking behavior, researchers hope to develop novel therapies that combine pharmacological approaches with interventions based on social support and peer engagement. This could lead to innovative ways to reduce relapse rates, improve treatment outcomes, and provide patients with tools to leverage their social networks in recovery.
“On the other hand, positive social interaction, such as maintaining strong social bonds, is critical and beneficial as it can have profound effects on our brain and behaviors to prevent and reduce the negative impacts on drug use from a person’s social environment,” Wang said. The study will not only examine drug reward but also the broader influence of social rewards on brain function and behavior, providing insights into how humans balance social needs with addictive tendencies.
The collaborative project between the Kabbaj Lab and the Wang Lab represents a significant step in understanding the complex interplay between neurochemistry, social context, and addiction. By isolating the roles of dopamine and oxytocin in specific brain circuits, the team hopes to uncover the precise mechanisms by which social bonds can reduce the desire for drugs, opening doors to new therapeutic strategies that emphasize the power of human connection in addiction recovery.
The research aligns with a growing recognition in neuroscience that social context is a powerful modulator of brain function. Peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have long been known to aid recovery, but FSU’s study seeks to identify the biological underpinnings that make these interventions effective.
“Hanging out with a partner or friend boosts dopamine release in specific brain areas, hitting the same spots that light up when using drugs,” Kabbaj said. “AMPH tends to reduce social behaviors and bonding, but being around someone you’re close to can actually weaken the brain’s response to drugs.” By connecting behavioral outcomes to precise neural pathways, the research could inform both clinical practice and community-based interventions for substance use disorders.
The five-year grant represents a critical investment in public health research, aiming to shed light on the fundamental biological processes that govern addiction and recovery. Researchers will share their findings through academic publications, presentations, and public outreach, ultimately contributing to the development of evidence-based approaches that integrate social support with neurobiological insights.
For those interested in learning more about the ongoing research, details on the Wang Lab can be found at fla.st/BR4LINE1, and information on the Kabbaj Lab at the College of Medicine is available at fla.st/36IF0YPF.
Through this groundbreaking work, FSU researchers hope to provide a deeper understanding of how social connections can protect against drug use, offering new hope for millions affected by addiction and paving the way for interventions that combine the power of neuroscience with the strength of human relationships.
