A study of Mexican American women who report physical or sexual assault finds a strong relationship between alcohol abuse disorders and past victimization. This association remains even after controlling for other factors, suggesting that trauma may be part of the clinical picture in the present.
A study finds that alcohol consumption is associated with unsafe sex among injection drug users, leading to increased HIV transmission risk. The research suggests that addressing alcohol use and disorders in this population is crucial for preventing the spread of HIV.
Research found that knocking out delta opioid receptor increased anxiety and led to increased drinking behavior in mice. The study suggests a potential link between the endogenous opioid system, stress, and alcohol consumption.
Researchers found that divalproex sodium reduced the need for oxazepam and slowed worsening symptoms in a seven-day study. The anticonvulsant's anti-kindling properties may prevent nervous system hyperexcitability during alcohol withdrawal, making it a viable treatment option.
A study found that negative emotionality is highly correlated with self-reported health problems in adolescents with alcohol use disorders. The study suggests that these health problems are predominantly of psychological origin, despite relatively normal laboratory and physical exam results.
A study found that moderate alcohol exposure during early pregnancy can cause noticeable reductions in infant attention and motor maturity, similar to continuous or late exposure. This contradicts previous research suggesting growth and behavioral problems only occur with later exposure.
Researchers found that an early AFD is associated with increased rates of substance abuse, mental health problems, and educational underachievement. Early drinking is also linked to genetic risk for disinhibitory behaviors, suggesting it may be a symptom rather than a cause of alcoholism.
A study of 170 pregnant women in treatment for drug dependency found that those with co-occurring alcohol problems have more severe psychological issues, including depression and anxiety. The findings highlight the need for universal screening and tailored treatment approaches to address these women's unique needs.
Research confirms that nicotine reduces peak blood alcohol concentrations, leading to increased consumption of alcohol to achieve intoxication. This interaction can result in adverse effects on the liver, heart, and brain.
Research finds a link between family history of alcoholism, serotonin variation, and behavioral problems in children. Children with a genetic variant associated with increased serotonin reuptake are more likely to exhibit impulsivity, depression, and anxiety.
Children prenatally exposed to alcohol demonstrate significant social and adaptive behavior deficits, but similar deficits are found in clinically referred children with no prenatal exposure. As prenatally exposed children age, their social difficulties become more pronounced, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues.
A recent study found that individuals clinically identified as substance abusers have an elevated risk of injury. Alcohol-and-drug abusers had the highest risk of injury, followed by those who abused only one type of substance.
Research suggests that specific cognitive processes, individual characteristics, and environmental conditions influence alcohol's effects on behavioral control. Alcohol can impair cognitive control of response inhibition, but this effect varies among individuals.
A California-based study found significant ethnic differences in DUI arrest rates and healthcare service utilization among Hispanic populations, particularly Mexican Americans. Despite higher rates of heavy drinking, this group tends to underutilize health services, with lower utilization among those born in Mexico.
A study found that heavy drinkers were twice as likely to report work-related injuries, but most of this association was explained by working in dangerous occupations or holding jobs requiring a high school education or less. Further analysis revealed no significant association once these factors were considered.
A study of over 700 HMO patients found that those with an alcohol-and-other-drug dependency were more likely to be younger, male, and have greater psychiatric and family/social problems. In contrast, those with an alcohol-only dependency were more likely to be older, female, and college educated.
Researchers used gene array technology to analyze brain gene expression in human alcoholism, identifying extensive reprogramming of the frontal cortex. This study provides insight into the molecular neurocircuitry altered by chronic alcohol abuse, shedding light on tolerance, dependence, and neurotoxicity.
Researchers found that individuals with alcoholism exhibited prolonged reaction times and distraction in response to unexpected stimuli. Early onset of heavy drinking during adolescence was also linked to increased distractibility. The study suggests a determinable neurophysiological basis for distractibility in alcoholics.
A recent study found that adolescents with both alcohol and antisocial problems exhibit an increase in serotonin function, contradicting previous research on Type II alcoholism. This suggests that serotonin dysregulation may be key to high-risk behaviors, rather than low or high levels of the neurotransmitter.
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research examines the influence of peer and partner drinking on adults during the year before marriage. The research reveals that individual characteristics and friends' drinking behaviors are both significant factors in shaping adult drinking habits, with the spouse's fri...
Researchers found that smokers with a past history of alcoholism have increased nicotine self-administration and rewarding effects, suggesting a link between the two addictive behaviors. The study suggests that medications to block nicotine dependence and counseling may be effective in helping these individuals quit smoking.
Researchers found that individuals with high anxiety sensitivity exhibit increased fear of anxiety and experience reduced anxiety symptoms when drinking. This study suggests that high AS individuals may drink excessively to cope with anxiety, leading to a higher risk of alcohol abuse.
Researchers found that 6-beta naltrexol, a metabolite of naltrexone, can reduce alcohol drinking in rats. The study suggests that 6-beta naltrexol is a potential new medication for treating alcohol dependence.
A study in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research examines gender-specific reasons for treatment retention in private substance abuse treatment programs. Women's staying power is linked to being unemployed, married, and having higher incomes, while men's staying power is related to receiving employer pressure and having a goal to...
A study in mice found that genetic background influences blood-pressure response to acute alcohol exposure, with some strains experiencing increased blood pressure and others not. The findings suggest a predisposition to greater increases in blood pressure with alcohol consumption, potentially leading to hypertension.
A recent study suggests that naltrexone's effectiveness in treating alcoholism may be influenced by individual metabolism. Measuring blood levels of the medication's major metabolite, 6-beta-naltrexol, may help determine the optimal dosage for each patient. This approach could lead to better treatment outcomes and reduced relapse rates.
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that moderate alcohol consumption may inhibit the development of atherosclerotic lesions and halt their progression. This suggests that alcohol may have protective properties against heart disease, contradicting the traditional view known as the French paradox.
Repeat DWI offenders pose a significant public health threat. Victim impact panels aim to influence offenders' attitudes about drunk driving through emotional influence and raising empathy for victims. However, research suggests a minimal impact on repeat DWI offenders, with some studies indicating a decrease in re-arrest rates.
Research found that prenatal brains metabolize alcohol differently than adult brains, leading to a rapid accumulation of toxic acetaldehyde. The study suggests that drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can be particularly damaging to the fetus, especially the fetal brain.
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that binge-pattern exposure to alcohol during adolescence can disrupt working memory and make the brain more vulnerable to cell death. The study suggests that teenagers who drink heavily and often may be especially susceptible to the neurobehavioral effects ...
Researchers have developed a new method to measure alcohol concentrations directly in the human brain using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). This technique allows scientists to study the physical interactions between alcohol and brain membranes, providing insights into the biological basis of alcohol abuse.
A study examines the drinking habits of American Indians and African Americans during pregnancy, revealing misconceptions and misunderstandings about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome risk. The research aims to improve health warnings and social norms to reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Researchers used Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to track water molecules in the brain, revealing damage to white matter that affects message transmission within neurons. The study links this damage to neurocognitive deficits in detoxified chronic alcoholics.
A study examining the link between fathers' alcoholism and male, elementary-school-aged children's intellectual, cognitive, and academic performance reveals children of antisocial alcoholics display lower intellectual performance, poorest academic achievement, and poorer abstract planning and attention abilities. Parental cognitive abi...
Research from the Buffalo Newlywed Study suggests that excessive alcohol use can lead to marital aggression, but only within a specific context. The study found that different drinking patterns by husband and wife can be an additional source of conflict. Verbal aggression in the first year of marriage often develops into physically agg...
Research suggests that bus drivers' high levels of stress and strain may lead to increased alcohol consumption, particularly during non-work hours. The study found no direct link between work-related stress and alcohol dependency or abuse, but highlighted the potential for occupational stress to contribute to excessive drinking behavior.
A Swedish study found that nearly 29 percent of all unnatural deaths were associated with alcohol consumption. The most common causes included suicides, falls, traffic injuries, and intoxication. Experts emphasize the importance of responsible drinking and stricter policies to mitigate these risks.
A study discovered a link between lower platelet adenylyl cyclase activity and increased risk of alcoholism. Recent alcohol consumption was found to be a confounding variable, and other factors such as major depression and hyperlipidemia were also associated with low AC activity.
This study compares the effects of moderate alcohol consumption (equivalent to three glasses of wine) with that of the benzodiazepine drug Ativan, using PET scans. Researchers found that alcohol induces larger decrements in the basal ganglia and is perceived as more stimulating and reinforcing than Ativan.
Research suggests that salivary acetaldehyde produced by heavy drinking is carcinogenic in humans. ALDH2-deficient Asians have higher rates of digestive tract cancers due to inability to eliminate acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde accumulation increases risk of cancer, especially among heavy drinkers and those with poor oral hygiene.
Researchers discovered a sub-group of alcoholics who self-medicate low serotonin levels with carbohydrates when not drinking. Carbohydrates increase serotonin levels, similar to alcohol, and this study provides insight into treating alcoholics with disturbed serotonergic function.
A study found that infant monkeys raised without adult supervision experienced higher cortisol levels, indicating increased stress, which later led to heavy drinking as adults. This suggests a link between early life experiences, sensitivity to stress, and subsequent alcohol consumption.
Chronic alcohol consumption combined with thiamine deficiency may have a synergistic effect on the brain, causing impaired learning, reference memory, and cognitive functions. Thiamine supplementation can exacerbate this effect, and some experts suggest that food supplementation or beer enrichment may be more beneficial.
A study found that recently detoxified male alcoholics experience significant cognitive and motor deficits, particularly in gait and balance. These impairments can lead to an increased risk of falls and may be linked to the 'premature aging hypothesis,' where the brains of older alcoholics resemble those of non-drinkers.
A study found that moderate alcohol consumption can inhibit internal platelet aggregation, reducing the risk of heart attacks and coronary artery disease. However, the study's lead author emphasized that individual drinking habits should not be directly linked to the findings.
Research confirms association between African-American ethnicity, long-term alcohol dependence, and increased risk for infectious diseases. African-American alcoholics show greatest decline in natural-killer cell activity, indicating compromised immune system.
A study found that infant rats nursed by intoxicated mothers exhibit greater distress and aversion to alcohol, suggesting the mother's altered behavior is what causes their reaction. The researchers also suggest that early learning about alcohol is based on sensory experiences and context.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that beta-endorphin levels are heritable and can predict an individual's risk of developing alcoholism. The research suggests that the hormone may be used as a biomarker to identify specific individuals at high genetic risk.
Researchers found that MK-801 blocks the sensitizing effects of alcohol, making it a potential treatment for addiction. Behavioral sensitization is a phenomenon where repeated exposure to alcohol increases its rewarding effects, leading to overconsumption and addiction.
A study found that metallothionein levels increase in the brain in response to alcohol consumption, suggesting a potential protective role. Higher MT levels may explain different levels of alcohol-related toxicity in individuals.