Are sweetened drinks a gateway to alcohol, opiate and stimulant addiction? Summary of evidence and therapeutic strategies

Abstract

1. Drinks sweetened with both sugar and artificial additives lead to dopamine release at the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in rat models; the basis of experiences of pleasure in humans, resulting in impulsive binging behaviour at times.2. Evidence from rat models show cross sensitisation between sweetened drinks, alcohol, opiates and stimulants. Therefore, it could be hypothesised that sweetened drinks could be a gateway to multiple substance abuse among humans via ‘alcopops’.3. Identification of an allelic variant of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element modulator gene (CREM), linking impulsivity and multiple substance abuse, opens up prospects of mass screening to advice on harm reduction.4. Furthermore, therapies involving cannabinoid receptor antagonists and transcranial brain stimulation are being currently investigated; of benefit to limit binge use of sweetened drinks.