Giving preferred foods blocks drug self- administration. In humans, cigarette abstinence results in weight gain, and ethanol abstinence is associated with eating more sweets. Dr. Carroll reported that according to her research, monkeys on food- restrictive diets use more cocaine than monkeys given ample food. Giving monkeys glucose solution instead of plain water also reduces their cocaine use. Relapse after withdrawal is greater in food- restricted animals.
Some medications work a little, but none work very well.
Medicine combined with other rewards works best in humans. Dr. Phillippe DeWitte of the University of Lourain in Belgium studied the effect of exercise on alcohol use. Taurine, which regulates calcium efflux and influx, increased after study subjects ran. Runners had higher plasma taurine levels after a marathon or a 100-km run. We can use aerobic exercise to increase taurine and reduce alcohol use.