The story of rat park provides a fascinating dive into the addictive behaviors and tendencies of rats who are either addicted to, have previously been addicted to, or are given the option of not being addicted to the effects of physically addicting narcotics.
The Rat Park experiment, which was conducted in the late 1970’s by the Canadian psychologist Bruce K. Alexander and associates at Simon Fraser University provided new introspection into the consensus understanding of drug addiction, informing a new basis for years of further expansion and study on this research.
The focus of the study itself was to research the effects of environmental factors with relation to drug use by, creating comparisons between rats in enriched social environments [Rat Park] versus isolated cages [Skinner Boxes].
In the study, several groups of rats were given access to both plain and morphine-laced water. The resulting information demonstrated that the rats residing in the comfort of the decadent Rat Park environment, (featuring social interaction, play, and significantly more space) actually chose to avoid the narcotic laced sweetened water. The rats which were housed in the alternative “skinner box” residences, alone, often became addicted to the narcotics, neglecting basic needs like food and sleep.
This experiment suggested that addiction may not solely be a result of the actual properties of the drug itself, but are also influenced by the environment and social conditions.
It is interesting to consider that many drug addicts often isolate, similar to rats in the skinner box scenarios. They stay home, often avoiding or skipping meals, either not getting enough sleep, or sleeping all the time, and for the most part avoid regular routine human behavior and self care practices.
When thinking about this experiment with relation to rehabilitation and the overall recovery process, it is easy to draw informed conclusions about how and why rehab and recovery works, and why it is so important to keep up with the healthy routines developed through the rehabilitation process.
We can consider that the “Rat Park” scenario and environment could be attuned to that of balanced human life. A place, or life, where community, play, space, and a certain degree of comfort, routine, and overall stability largely contribute to the overall conscious feelings and choices not to engage in drug taking activities. The idea here being, if we interact with our fellow humans, have a regular structured routine involving sleep, regulated meals, work or intentional activity, and dedicated time for play – the addict discovers that it makes logical sense, not, to engage in taking a physically addicting drug; one that would have debilitating effects negatively affecting the overall enjoyment of life, and the health and longevity of the body.
That being said, it is much easier to think and act this way when we are housed in ‘human park’, aka – rehab. In rehabilitation, meals and sleep are regulated, hours of the day structured by meetings and therapy sessions – where the sole purpose of the programming is to probe self reflection and introspection into mental wellbeing and the psychology behind each individual’s addiction issues.
The real challenge for addicts lies in the reintegration process. Once the structure is removed and the world becomes your oyster, is the addict able to maintain self regulation and self structured routine behavior? Or, does the freedom of choice become so overwhelming that out of habit and discomfort, the addict returns to the routine behavior that is the learned addiction, in and of itself?
This is where outside meetings such as NA and AA and any addiction support systems become invaluable. These meetings and activities provide those who suffer from addiction with a positive reinforcement trigger response, which reminds the individual that they are indeed in recovery, and recovery – feels good.
It is this mechanism which could be applied to the discovery of activities and hobbies which reinforce healthy habits and behaviors for those who struggle with addiction. Meetings may not be for everyone, there are also sports and exercise, art therapy, outdoor exploration, and various social meetup options, which can also provide sober stimulation to reinforce one’s recovery.
All in all, Rat Park provides us with useful data that certainly informs the rehabilitation and recovery process, and has been monumental in the overall research and study of addiction and addiction behaviors and tendencies.