Methods of attenuating cocaine seeking behavior employing glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and pharmaceutical compositions and articles of manufacture suited for use in practice of the method

A method of attenuating cocaine-seeking behavior in a subject. The method includes administering a physiologically effective amount of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) into a selected region of the brain. Preferaby a controlled release mechanism is employed. GDNF as a pharmaceutical composition, preferably supplied as an article of manufacture including instructions for use in attenuating cocaine-seeking behavior, is also disclosed. The claimed invention includes, but is not limited to, a physiologically effective dose in the range of one to twenty micrograms/day.