Can ‘love hormone’ oxytocin work against addiction?

A research conducted at the University of Adelaide brought forward that the addictive behavior due to a drug or alcohol can be related to the lack of development of ‘love hormone’ system in human bodies during early childhood days. The idea was generated while reviewing a worldwide research based on oxytocin that is ‘love hormone’ as it plays an important role in developing social connections, maternal behavior and also strong partnerships. According to the experts oxytocin can even work in positive manner to control various addictions. Dr Femke Buisman-Pijlman, the University of Adelaide's School of Medical Sciences explains, “We know that newborn babies already have levels of oxytocin in their bodies, and this helps to create the all-important bond between a mother and her child. But our oxytocin systems aren't fully developed when we're born – they don't finish developing until the age of three, which means our systems are potentially subject to a range of influences both external and internal.”