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Updated: Feb 2, 2026
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A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
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Sleep regulates drug seeking and relapse - a perspective
Yu-Zhang Liu1,2, Hannah Rose Martin2,3, Brant P Hasler2
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.
Molecular Psychiatry
|January 31, 2026
Summary
Sleep disturbances are increasingly recognized in substance use disorders (SUD), potentially offering new treatment targets. Understanding sleep
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are a common comorbidity in substance use disorders (SUD).
- Sleep issues may play a causal role in SUD and present therapeutic targets.
- Individual differences in sleep offer potential for biomarkers and personalized medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of sleep disturbances in substance use disorders.
- To examine neurotransmitter systems affected by sleep loss in SUD.
- To summarize sleep changes related to drug exposure and withdrawal.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on sleep and SUD.
- Focus on neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems.
- Analysis of sleep alterations following drug exposure and withdrawal.
Main Results:
- Sleep loss can influence reward-seeking behaviors, increasing SUD risk.
- Acute and long-term drug exposure significantly alters sleep patterns.
- Sleep-mediated regulation of glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and peptidergic systems is crucial in SUD.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disturbances are integral to the pathophysiology of SUD.
- Targeting sleep mechanisms presents a promising avenue for SUD treatment.
- Further research into sleep's role can advance individualized SUD therapies.
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