One of the most striking features of NPS pharmacology in relation to addiction is its ability to promote relapse to drug seeking. For instance, it was shown that NPS, given ICV or into the lateral hypothalamus, potentiated cue-induced relapse to alcohol seeking (Cannella et al., 2009a). The permissive role of NPS, given into the lateral hypothalamus, for alcohol seeking, was mediated by the hypocretin/orexin system, because peripheral administration an orexin-1 receptor antagonist completely blocked it (Cannella et al., 2009a).
