Targeting the Reconsolidation of Licit Drug Memories to Prevent Relapse: Focus on Alcohol and Nicotine

Alcohol and nicotine are widely abused legal substances worldwide. Relapse to alcohol or tobacco seeking consumption after abstinence is a major clinical challenge, often evoked by cue-induced craving. Therefore, disruption of the memory for cue–drug association expected suppress relapse. Memories have been postulated become labile shortly their retrieval, during “memory reconsolidation” process. Interference with reconsolidation drug-associated memories has suggested as possible strategy reduce even prevent craving Here, we surveyed growing body studies in animal models humans assessing effectiveness pharmacological behavioral manipulations reducing relapse interfering nicotine/tobacco memories. Our review points potential targeting these drinking smoking. However, discuss several critical limitations boundary conditions, which should be considered improve consistency replicability field, development an efficient reconsolidation-based relapse-prevention therapy.