It’s no surprise that substance addiction is a serious problem in the music industry. Indeed, just two years ago the music world was rocked by the news that Prince had suffered a fatal overdose as a result of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. But the age-old adage of “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” may have an even deeper meaning than you might think.
A new study by researchers at McGill University in Montreal found that the food, sex, drugs, and music produce feelings of pleasure by triggering the same chemical system in the brain. 17 college students volunteered to participate in the research project. The students were given the opioid antagonist Naltrexone which works by blocking the receptors that produce the euphoric feelings experienced after certain drug use. After taking the medication, the student volunteers reported that they were unable to feel pleasure when listening to their favorite song.
The findings are seen as evidence that music can affect the brain in profound and powerful ways, perhaps lending further support to the treatment technique of music therapy.
The supervised detoxification and residential treatment program at the Asana Recovery Center offers a variety of different therapy methods to help those struggling with a substance addiction. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our facilities and find out whether our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program is right for you.
