I wan't to thank you for this fantastic cartoon. Here's a list of references to work that accomplishes that: Those with the Reward Deficiency syndrome appear to need some type of ongoing involvement in other oriented service in faith-based or 12-step recovery groups to keep their Default Mode Networks activated or they seem to regress back into states of disconnection. These non addict addicts just need to detoxify and they'll feel at one again with those in Rat Park. These populations of addicts (about 1% of the US population) comprise the lions share of social problems and are extremely different from grandma who gets strung out on morphine from a hip replacement or from people who become addicted from excessive recreational use. The Viet Nam observations entirely match mine. I want to be clear that I I'm not at all saying that 50% percent of people abusing drugs end up chronically addicted. About another 50% (of those who chronically end up addicted) will permanently lose the ability to feel average after using for months or years. About 50% of addicts are born with without the ability to even feel average without substances. We used an EEG biofeedback protocol to activate the default mode network. The Scott / Kaiser Modification of the Peniston protocol had 2x more addicts in an experimental group engaging in 12-step work (Rat Park) 1-1.5 years post treatment compared to a treatment as usually control group. I would guess this type of addict would feel as isolated in rat park as they would in a cage and turn to dope for some relief. It has been identified that humans with addictions have under activated Default Mode Networks which significantly reduces their ability to connect with others because of excessive self-referential thoughts and negative projections of reality on to the external world. I would love to have seen a study of Wexler rats (genetically addicted ) or rats with attachment disorders would have fared in rat park? These two populations of rats would likely closely resemble what Ken Blum refers to as the reward deficiency syndrome in human genetic experiments. I'ts unfortunate that Alexander's team lost their funding. As an addiction researcher, this really helped me bring a few big gaps in my understanding of addiction together. Thanks so much for your time to break this brilliant and important work down and making it so accessible.

Rats by robert sullivan summary