DOBBS LAB

Our laboratory is focused on elucidating the role of opioid peptides and receptors in basal ganglia circuit function and in the co-abuse of opiates and cocaine. Illicit drugs are rarely abused in isolation, a phenomenon known as polysubstance abuse. The co-abuse of opiates and cocaine is particularly common and is associated with increased relapse, dependence, exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, and lethality than either drug alone. However, it isn't clear why the majority of individuals abuse different combinations of drugs.Our laboratory is focused on elucidating the role of opioid peptides and receptors in basal ganglia circuit function and in the co-abuse of opiates and cocaine... Our lab takes a systems approach to answer the question, "what are the behavioral motivations, neural substrates, and synaptic mechanisms driving the co-abuse of opiates and cocaine?"

Primary location: Austin United States