In the late 1970s, psychologist Bruce K. Alexander conducted a groundbreaking experiment that redefined how addiction is understood. Known as the Rat Park study, the experiment demonstrated that addiction is not simply about chemical dependency, but about environment, connection, and mental health. Rats isolated in cramped cages consistently consumed morphine-laced water, while those housed in an enriched, social, and stimulating space—"Rat Park"—mostly avoided it. The implication was clear: addiction flourishes in environments of despair and isolation.

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