Alcohol and tobacco use are the main risk factors for mortality and morbidity worldwide. While knowledge of individual factors that promote initiation and maintenance of substance use is increasing, there is still a lack of in-depth knowledge of modulating factors and mechanisms that contribute to loss and regain of drug use control. A better understanding of these factors and mechanisms will be crucial to improve treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs).
The goal of our research consortium is to identify the trajectories of loss and regaining of drug use control, to investigate the underlying neurobiological and learning mechanisms, and to develop mechanism-based therapies. These goals are to be achieved through 3 approaches: (I) The use of innovative mobile health tools to determine the influence of triggers, (II) in closely linked studies on humans and in animal models, the decisive mechanisms are to be identified and mathematically modeled and (III) Based on this, interventions are to be developed that specifically target these mechanisms in order to support regaining control over drug use.