Addictive disorders are not only a burden to the families of individuals and their relatives but also to society. The cocaine epidemic is a complex condition affecting millions. It threatens the individual and fuels criminal activity, health problems and social unrest. Action is required to check the rampant use of drugs.

Furthermore, UNODC found that there was an increase in deaths due to overdose. The emergence of nitazenes- synthetic opioids is more dangerous than fentanyl.

Addiction is cognitive, behavioral, and physiological reactivity to the environment. Craving provokes drug-seeking behavior with other physiological responses. Triggers for cravings maybe being at a restaurant or party or an emotional state.

Therapeutic strategies to empower patients with cocaine addictions are to deal with their cravings. Cue exposure therapy tries to break the link between triggers and addictive behaviors. Traditional coping strategies failed to yield results as practiced in the clinic. The patient struggles to use them in the real world when surrounded by triggers.

Paolo Deluca of Kings College London is leading a virtual reality initiative that immerses users in realistic environments, such as being alone or at a party, which can simulate cravings. This approach is known as cue exposure therapy. It aims to disentangle drug use triggers from cocaine addiction. It has shown promise in reducing alcohol cravings and allows users to practice refusal techniques in a safe control setting.

Virtual reality is emerging as a tool because it is accessible and easy to use. It is a computer-generated simulation of images and sounds that represent a real place or situation in a real or physical world. The person uses special electronic equipment that transmits visual, auditory, and various sensations through a headset. This makes patients feel as if they are in a virtual or imagined environment.

VR simulations treat mental illnesses. Studying and treating cocaine addiction through the VR environment is relatively new. But it holds a considerable amount of promise.

References:

1. Mazza, Massimiliano, Kornelius Kammler-Sücker, Tagrid Leménager, Falk Kiefer, and Bernd Lenz. “Virtual Reality: A Powerful Technology to Provide Novel Insight into Treatment Mechanisms of Addiction.” Translational Psychiatry 11, no. 1 (December 6, 2021): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01739-3.

2. Segawa, Tomoyuki, Thomas Baudry, Alexis Bourla, Jean-Victor Blanc, Charles-Siegfried Peretti, Stephane Mouchabac, and Florian Ferreri. “Virtual Reality (VR) in Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders: A Systematic Review.” Frontiers in Neuroscience 13 (January 10, 2020): 1409. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01409.

Input from various sources

(Rehash/Dr. Swati Sharma/MSM)