October 15/New London, Conn./Guardian -- A new study out of Connecticut College says Oreo cookies and illicit drugs are the same in terms of addiction. The study found that Oreos are equal in addictive properties to both cocaine and morphine in a study done with lab rats. In fact, the cookies actually made more pleasure center neurons fire in the brain than did the drugs.

Researchers say the study sheds light on why some people are unable to resist so-called “bad” foods like Oreos and believe their findings may lead to a better understanding of obesity. Joseph Schroeder, a professor at Connecticut College, says, “Our research supports the theory that high-fat/ high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do. It may explain why some people can’t resist these foods despite the fact that they know they are bad for them.”

Furthermore, the researchers say, high-fat, high-sugar foods might actually be more dangerous for us than illegal drugs because Oreos are extremely inexpensive and can be purchased almost anywhere. “Even though we associate significant health hazards in taking drugs like cocaine and morphine, high-fat/ high-sugar foods may present even more of a danger because of their accessibility and affordability,” said scientist Jamie Honohun.