Environmental enrichment-inspired pharmacological tools for the treatment of addiction

Abstract

Environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown to produce powerful beneficial effects in animal models of addiction. In particular, the ability of EE to promote abstinence and prevent relapse may allow for the identification of brain mechanisms responsible for the recovery from addiction. Indeed, the effects of EE on specific brain mechanisms could be mimicked by old or new molecules, which may become novel medications, called enviromimetics. Here, we review the best known enviromimetics for the treatment of addiction and suggest that, whereas these compounds may be relatively ineffective by themselves, they may be useful complements for existing therapeutic approaches to manage addiction which includes behavioural, environmental and pharmacological interventions.