Exploring Post‐Retrieval Strategies to Reduce Drug Craving in Methamphetamine Use Disorders

PMCID: PMC12178206

PMID: 40536786

DOI: 10.1111/adb.70049

Journal: Addiction biology

Publication Date: 2025-6-19

Authors: Li J, Dong Y, Chen W, Wang J, Zheng X

Key Points

• First human study demonstrating memory reconsolidation interventions can effectively reduce methamphetamine use disorder cravings
• R-E and R-CT groups showed significant craving suppression compared to retrieval-only group (p < 0.05)
• Cognitive interventions like playing Tetris post-memory retrieval offer a potentially more patient-friendly approach to disrupting addiction memories

Summary

This groundbreaking study explored innovative post-retrieval interventions for managing methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) by targeting addiction-related memory reconsolidation. Utilizing a single-blind randomized design with 46 participants from a compulsory drug rehabilitation center, researchers investigated two post-memory retrieval interventions: retrieval-extinction (R-E) and retrieval-cognitive task (R-CT), comparing them against a retrieval-only control group.

The study revealed that both R-E and R-CT interventions demonstrated significant potential in reducing drug cravings and preventing relapse. Notably, the R-E group showed substantially lower spontaneous recovery cravings one month post-intervention compared to the control group. The research also highlighted critical differences between physiological (skin conductance response) and psychological (visual analog scale) indicators of addiction memory, suggesting that multi-dimensional assessment is crucial in understanding addiction relapse mechanisms.