Low-cost treatment for solvent addiction possible after recent study — UP Manila

A low-cost treatment for solvent addiction is possible after a study conducted by the University of the Philippines Manila.

The treatment of toluene-based solvent addiction is part of the objectives of the three-year research program “Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models,”  funded by the Department of Science and Technology, a statement from UP Manila said Sunday.

Toluene is a common solvent or a substance capable of dissolving paints, paint thinners, and glue. It is also found in nail polish, gasoline, and waterproof adhesives.

Through a series of experiments, UP Manila researchers discovered that male and female rats exposed to toluene made poor decisions and failed to socially interact with other rats.

The research focused on the effects of chronic exposure to inhalants, particularly toluene, on the brains of adolescents.

Now nearing completion, researchers are testing for new low-cost treatments for solvent addiction using this animal model.

The study, “Repeated toluene inhalation in male and female adolescent rats induces persistent drug preference and impairs cognitive and social behavior”, was published in Psychopharmacology, an international journal, on December 18, 2024. 

UP Manila said the study revealed that repeatedly solvent use can lead to societal withdrawal, cloud one’s judgment and deepen the cycle of addiction.

Through a series of experiments, researchers found that male and female rats exposed to toluene made poor decisions and failed to socially interact with other rats.

“This will allow us to develop treatments that are equally effective in both sexes. The use of rats allows us to examine the effects of abused drugs on the brain. Our goal is to reverse these effects so as to restore the brain to its normal state,” program leader Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro said.

“Because addiction has been established as a brain disorder, the clinician can tell the patient, ‘You are not weak. The chemical compound rewires the brain and impairs its decision-making process.’ Rehabilitating the adolescent brain can end the cycle of addictive behavior and relapse so that young people can restore their relationships and plan for the future,” she explained. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News