Addiction May 2019 PMID 30367729

Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction.

Suzanne H Gage, Harry R Sumnall

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Mentions

48
Peak: 16 in Sep 2020
across 5 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

223,743
potential audience

Total likes

599

Video views

15,483

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter39 posts
  • News3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions frequently emphasize the social and environmental factors influencing addiction, with phrases like 'improvement of living environments' and 'sociality being the best way to reduce addiction' reflecting agreement with the article’s core argument. The tone varies from analytical to supportive, with many commenters encouraging a broader understanding beyond chemical dependency, which indicates a deep engagement with the research's implications.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the significance of the Rat Park experiment in broadening understanding of addiction, indicating general agreement with the core message, as seen in references to social factors being crucial and the study challenging traditio

InterestHigh interest

The topics spark curiosity, with many discussions pointing readers to explore the original study, related articles, or broader implications, demonstrating active engagement and interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts exhibit moderate engagement through summarizing findings, referencing scientific insights, and discussing limitations of the research, suggesting thoughtful consideration rather than superficial mentions.

ImpactModerate impact

While some users highlight the importance of the research in shaping social and health policies, others note that interpretations are complex and limited, indicating a perception of moderate but meaningful impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The article explains how traditional studies on addiction, which used isolated rats and offered them only addictive substances, might have skewed our understanding of addiction as solely a chemical dependence.
  • It describes the "Rat Park" experiment, where rats were placed in a large, enriching environment with social interactions and choices, showing they preferred water over drugs when a better life was available, suggesting addiction is influenced by environment and social factors.
  • The findings challenge the idea that addiction is just about chemical hooks, highlighting the importance of social and psychological aspects in treatment and prevention efforts.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Stuart Ritchie
@StuartJRitchie · X

This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less conclusive than Hari makes out, as explained here by @soozaphone: https://t.co/74d6cKHVg0). If I'd misinformed 70 million people I wouldn't be proud of it. https://t.co/74yVq6BILV

Sep 17, 2020 · 110 likes · 18 shares · 36,426 followers View post →
Stephen Timoney
@SteveTimoney · X

For those interested in reading the study: https://t.co/UPmWXjSTks Fantastic insight into addiction.

Jul 28, 2022 · 9 likes · 1 share · 68,700 followers View post →
Love & Mayhem
@MsMaggieMayhem · X

Humans are not rats but the “rat park” study demonstrates relevant truths: https://t.co/0qiAIzKo3O The rats in standard, small, isolated laboratory cages were more prone to addiction. “Rat park” was communal, spacious, & engaging—the rats avoided the opioids on offer there.

May 23, 2023 · 4 likes · 9,612 followers View post →
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
@CogNPsychiatry · X

Excellent article on the famous 'rat park' study and what it can actually tell us about addiction https://t.co/l6cYHXQnGF "Independent attempts to replicate the findings of Rat Park, and expand them to other substances, have produced mixed results" - by @soozaphone @profhrs

Feb 25, 2019 · 2 likes · 2,691 followers View post →
Fred
@uncleFredsTweet · X

Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction - Gage - 2019 - Addiction - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/twGBfuYfVm

Jun 14, 2022 · 1 like · 4,119 followers View post →
James Hudspeth, MD, FACP
@JamesCHudspeth · X

...perhaps unsurprisingly, the research itself is more complicated, & this article details some of that complexity. But the power of the story to undercut the notion that addiction=power of drugs (or innate tendency) remains. https://t.co/wSvRC5qoOO

Nov 5, 2022 · 1 like · 1,360 followers View post →

All mentions

Imiël Visser
@Imiel_Visser · X

@eNCA It's not a substance problem, or a crime problem. It's a social and development opportunity problem. The Rat Park: https://t.co/KfLRScQXiK

Mar 6, 2025 · 1,240 followers View post →
Dylan Hallegraeff
@DHallegraeff · X

RT @Pear78tv: je kind kan dit soort pillen op straat kopen. zonder bijsluiter uiteraard, vorige pillen waren 50mg.. ook daarom; legaliseer…

Nov 7, 2024 · 2 shares · 434 followers View post →
Matthijs Pontier, PhD
@Matthijs85 · X

RT @Pear78tv: je kind kan dit soort pillen op straat kopen. zonder bijsluiter uiteraard, vorige pillen waren 50mg.. ook daarom; legaliseer…

Nov 7, 2024 · 2 shares · 28,421 followers View post →
Pear
@Pear78tv · X

je kind kan dit soort pillen op straat kopen. zonder bijsluiter uiteraard, vorige pillen waren 50mg.. ook daarom; legaliseer; vraag zal altijd bestaan en rat park experiment leerde ons dat vooral verbetering van leefomgeving vraag naar drugs doet dalen.. https://t.co/7a3aqDgnZB https://t.co/puQdkLFm1H

Nov 7, 2024 · 1 like · 2 shares · 563 followers View post →
Chris
@DadTheFUp · X

@PonderingMoore https://t.co/BqN5EsQh30

Sep 28, 2024 · 1 like · 1,080 followers View post →
Garnett Robinson
@GarnettRRob · X

@guyfelicella Dr Bruce Alexander from SFU wrote about sociality being the best way to reduce addiction. Search for "Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction". There are many good articles.

May 9, 2024 · 211 followers View post →
Waffa .:.Tikkun Olam: MaailmaParandaja
@Waffa · X

Dr Devra Davis materials #DevraDavis https://t.co/1ZvvnOneEj "#Electromagnetic fields and #waves #radiation" #Infrasound (#frequency of 20 Hz, #20hz) #Ultraasound #acoustic #supersonic #subsonic wave #optronics #RFMeter Safe and Sound Pro II RF Meter https://t.co/aTIfa0jULj https://t.co/0PdAaypKDE

Oct 6, 2023 · 731 followers View post →
Jenny Simon
@JenniferLSimon1 · X

@TheDozensMemes @alextopol Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction https://t.co/rPoqFGQb1S

Jul 9, 2023 · 1 like · 1,331 followers View post →
Jenny Simon
@JenniferLSimon1 · X

@alextopol Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction. rats living in a social environment were less likely to self-administer oral morphine than those housed in isolation. https://t.co/rPoqFGQb1S

Jul 9, 2023 · 1 like · 1,331 followers View post →
Love & Mayhem
@MsMaggieMayhem · X

Humans are not rats but the “rat park” study demonstrates relevant truths: https://t.co/0qiAIzKo3O The rats in standard, small, isolated laboratory cages were more prone to addiction. “Rat park” was communal, spacious, & engaging—the rats avoided the opioids on offer there.

May 23, 2023 · 4 likes · 9,612 followers View post →
SUZIE SPEAKS.
@SuzanneElmore1 · X

How Your Cellphone May Be Linked To CANCER - Protect Your Health TODAY! ... https://t.co/rKJDjhTgsg via @YouTube EVERY PERSON NEEDS TO HEAR THIS. BIG TECH DOESN'T CARE IF U GET BRAIN CANCER OR IMF ILLNESS. WE DON'T EVEN NEED 5 G! TAKE TIME *CALIFORNIA WANTS TO PUT CELL TOWERS EW

Jan 27, 2023 · 635 followers View post →
James Hudspeth, MD, FACP
@JamesCHudspeth · X

...perhaps unsurprisingly, the research itself is more complicated, & this article details some of that complexity. But the power of the story to undercut the notion that addiction=power of drugs (or innate tendency) remains. https://t.co/wSvRC5qoOO

Nov 5, 2022 · 1 like · 1,360 followers View post →
CoffeeJoe
@morecoffee70 · X

How Your Cellphone May Be Linked To CANCER - 2021 w/Dr Devra Davis https://t.co/VhTUeHFQ8I via @YouTube

Oct 24, 2022 · 257 followers View post →
Stephen Timoney
@SteveTimoney · X

For those interested in reading the study: https://t.co/UPmWXjSTks Fantastic insight into addiction.

Jul 28, 2022 · 9 likes · 1 share · 68,700 followers View post →
Fred
@uncleFredsTweet · X

Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction - Gage - 2019 - Addiction - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/twGBfuYfVm

Jun 14, 2022 · 1 like · 4,119 followers View post →
Cheshire
@el_gato_pan · X

@ManuGarciaOrteg https://t.co/gG9dINzfW9 Las adicciones van mas alla de la substancia

Apr 24, 2022 · 285 followers View post →
Chris Bingham
@binghach · X

@steamhammered @AMcCarthyNY This is a very valid & too often ignored point. I don't have the full text but this study is brilliant - Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction.

Jan 5, 2022 · 154 followers View post →
James Yeow
@james_yeow · X

How Your Cellphone May Be Linked To CANCER https://t.co/XqoMQv21NN via @YouTube

Sep 5, 2021 · 1 like · 40 followers View post →
void
@ghosts_hmu · X

You can read more about the findings and flaws of Rat Park here, but it's important to know the study was extremely limited, and that it found that an enriching environment was a major factor only for rats *pre-addicted* to morphine, & only sometimes https://t.co/aQZmZKtPFM

Oct 21, 2020 · 1 like · 846 followers View post →
Steve Johnson
@CBRNEsteve · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 25, 2020 · 18 shares · 2,723 followers View post →
Professor Cathy Fernandes
@CathyFernandes1 · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 893 followers View post →
Sylvain Chabé-Ferret
@SylvainCF · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 4,101 followers View post →
JoodiG
@JoodiG · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 3,615 followers View post →
Marcus Munafò
@MarcusMunafo · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 6,181 followers View post →
Gene Starwind
@Shaneem_C · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 213 followers View post →
tristramwyatt.bsky.social
@TristramWyatt · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 3,824 followers View post →
Lorna Lopez
@lornahoulihan · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 1,159 followers View post →
Jotto
@Jotto999 · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 18, 2020 · 18 shares · 881 followers View post →
Yzar Wehbe إزار وهبي
@YzarWehbe · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 17, 2020 · 18 shares · 836 followers View post →
Yavor Dragostinov
@YDragostinov · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 17, 2020 · 18 shares · 206 followers View post →
Randy Ellis
@randalljellis · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 17, 2020 · 18 shares · 1,083 followers View post →
Sam Dumitriu
@Sam_Dumitriu · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 17, 2020 · 18 shares · 18,609 followers View post →
nope
@sintaygaleska · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 17, 2020 · 18 shares · 471 followers View post →
Peter Stoyko
@Prugelmeister · X

RT @StuartJRitchie: This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less…

Sep 17, 2020 · 18 shares · 1,137 followers View post →
Stuart Ritchie
@StuartJRitchie · X

This is really unfortunate, since the talk grossly over-interprets the "rat park" addiction studies (which are far less conclusive than Hari makes out, as explained here by @soozaphone: https://t.co/74d6cKHVg0). If I'd misinformed 70 million people I wouldn't be proud of it. https://t.co/74yVq6BILV

Sep 17, 2020 · 110 likes · 18 shares · 36,426 followers View post →
James Kerwin
@JamesKerwin9 · X

Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction #Biopsychosocialmodel #drugselfadministration #morphine #preclinicalmodel #popularculture #RatPark https://t.co/oMSxyF9dR5

Oct 26, 2019 · 142 followers View post →
A N D Y
@andyinhaler · X

@AlcoholDrugServ @johannhari101 An excellent revisiting here by @profhrs & @soozaphone acknowledges that while there merits to the original there were also limitations and caveats to be observed. The simplified TED should be watched with this in mind. https://t.co/pQi5eFFx6H https://t.co/Wrb3BfFkUg

Sep 8, 2019 · 1,014 followers View post →
Cat G
@omicronpersei7 · X

Rat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction - Gage - - Addiction - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/uG55Ec1cwz

Mar 10, 2019 · 116 followers View post →
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
@CogNPsychiatry · X

Excellent article on the famous 'rat park' study and what it can actually tell us about addiction https://t.co/l6cYHXQnGF "Independent attempts to replicate the findings of Rat Park, and expand them to other substances, have produced mixed results" - by @soozaphone @profhrs

Feb 25, 2019 · 2 likes · 2,691 followers View post →