Drug Use in Philadelphia - Neurobiological Mechanisms of Drug Seeking Behaviors

Drug addiction is a complex and daunting issue that impacts millions of individuals in the United States every year. Philadelphia, home to one of the largest open-air drug markets in the United States, reports over 1,400 fentanyl-related overdose deaths per year. Understanding the complex neurobiological mechanisms behind addiction, long-term drug use, and continued drug-seeking behaviors–as well as the long-term neurological changes that result from drug use– is key to effectively treating substance abuse disorders. A key factor to consider when aiming to understand the impact of drug use on the brain is neuroadaptations.