Aggression upon adolescent cocaine exposure linked to serotonin anomalies: theoretical comment on Ricci et al. (2004)

Aggressive tendencies may be linked to the psychopharmacology of cocaine, yet few experimental approaches have been brought to bear on understanding the neurobiological implications of cocaine exposure during the developmentally sensitive period of adolescence. In this issue, Melloni and coauthors (L. A. Ricci, J. M. Grimes, & R. H. Melloni, 2004) present convincing evidence that the development of serotonin signal cascades in key brain regions can be disrupted by cocaine administration, resulting in an aggressive response in adolescents. These findings may allow the development of new therapeutic approaches to tailor pharmacotherapy for adolescents experiencing problems with aggressive behavior and/or impulse control associated with illicit drug use.