The NIH's 2015 Avant-Garde Awards highlight five groundbreaking projects tackling prevention, immune system dysfunction, and drug use disorders. Researchers aim to develop novel therapies and strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in substance users.
The 2014 Monitoring the Future survey shows declining rates of teen prescription opioid abuse, cigarette smoking, and certain illicit drug use. However, e-cigarette use among teens is high and concerns remain about its health effects.
Researchers have confirmed a critical brain reward pathway involving glutamate, linking it to the activation of the dopamine system. This discovery sheds light on the neurobiology of drug addiction and opens new avenues for research into motivation disorders.
The NIH has awarded over $11 million to support research on using social media to advance the scientific understanding, prevention, and treatment of substance use and addiction. The studies aim to better understand how social media affects behavior and attitudes towards alcohol, tobacco, and other addictive substances.
The National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) will generate critically needed information about new drug trends in specific locations around the country. NDEWS will utilize social media and other innovative technologies to identify emerging drugs and trends, providing real-time information to experts and interested citizens.
A recent review in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that marijuana use is associated with increased risks of addiction, impaired critical thinking and memory functions, and lower IQ in teens. The study also highlights the need for physicians to convey to families the potential health consequences of early marijuana use.
A recent NIH preclinical study suggests that even moderate doses of MDMA can be deadly in rats exposed to hot, crowded social settings. The study identifies the therapeutically-relevant cooling mechanism to counteract MDMA-induced hyperthermia.
A new online training module improved medical student clinical skills in evaluating chronic pain, with 93% of exposed students passing an exam compared to 60% of non-exposed students. The module is the first curriculum resource created through the NIH Pain Consortium's Centers of Excellence in Pain Education program.
The NIH has awarded $500,000 per year for five years to Drs. Stephen Waggoner, Heinrich Gottlinger, and Melanie Ott to research strengthening the immune system's ability to fight HIV infection and improving long-term immune health in HIV-infected drug users.
A high school student's project found significant increases in nicotine on surfaces after vaping, even if the user wasn't exposed to the e-cigarette. The study also explored cognitive control in multitaskers and identified potential medications for various diseases.
Vital medications for treating opioid addiction are underutilized in addiction treatment services, but HHS agencies are working to encourage their use. Medications can be used with behavior therapies to help drug users recover and remain drug-free.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has released new resources to help parents, healthcare providers, and treatment specialists address teen substance abuse. The guides cover treatment approaches, screening tools, and evidence-based practices, highlighting the unique challenges faced by adolescents in addressing drug use.
A new NIH study reveals that individuals with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are more likely to engage in substance use, especially cigarette smoking. Protective factors typically associated with lower substance use rates do not exist in those with severe mental illness.
A new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that smokers addicted to cocaine or methamphetamine can quit smoking while being treated for their stimulant addiction. The study showed that treating tobacco addiction may reduce negative health consequences and improve substance use disorder treatment outcomes.
Three NIH scientists, Drs. Warner Greene, Richard Sutton, and Timothy Cardozo, receive $500,000 each to support groundbreaking HIV/AIDS research. Their projects focus on modifying the immune response to prevent further CD4 T-cell loss, identifying protective genes against HIV infection, and developing a combined cocaine/HIV vaccine.
A high school student's project found that excessive screen time shapes sleep patterns, compromising academic success and emotional health. The study also linked fetal alcohol exposure to an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.
A NIH study found that stimulating the brain's prefrontal cortex can reduce compulsive cocaine-seeking behavior. The study, conducted in rats, suggests a promising treatment approach for addiction.
Community-based prevention programs implemented during middle school years significantly reduced prescription medication abuse among young adults. The study found reductions of 20-65% compared to control groups, with interventions also shown to reduce other substance use and problem behaviors.
The Monitoring the Future survey reveals that 6.5% of high school seniors smoke marijuana daily, while perception of marijuana's harmfulness is down among teens, signaling future increases in use. Long-term NIH-funded study shows a significant drop in IQ between ages 13-38 for those who used cannabis heavily in their teens.
A dual-vaccine model addressing heroin abuse and HIV could treat addiction while preventing infection, says NIDA. The proposal combines hapten-based vaccines for a potent adjuvant formulation, inducing high-titer antibodies to heroin.
Three scientists, Drs. David Smith, Samuel Friedman and Jeremy Luban, will study how to prevent transmission among the newly infected and identify genetic influences in disease progression. Their research aims to develop novel systems for mapping patterns of new HIV infections and preventing stigmatization.
Researchers found that genetic variations in nicotinic receptor genes affect an individual's likelihood of quitting smoking on their own or requiring medication. The study suggests personalized treatment plans can improve quit rates, particularly for those with high-risk gene variants.
The new resource, Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What to Ask, highlights critical questions people should ask when choosing a treatment program. It recommends five key questions to help individuals and families make an informed choice during a stressful time.
Teenage cigarette and alcohol use has declined to its lowest point since the survey began in 1975, with 18.7% of 12th-graders reporting current cigarette use. However, alternate tobacco products, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse continue to be concerns, with high rates of abuse reported among teens.
A large-scale study found that sustained buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) treatment reduced prescription painkiller abuse by 49% in patients with addiction. However, once the medication was discontinued, relapse rates were high, highlighting the need for sustained recovery strategies.
A landmark study in mice identifies a biological mechanism that could explain how tobacco products act as gateway drugs, increasing the risk of abusing cocaine. The study shows that nicotine primes the brain to enhance the behavioral effects of cocaine.
The Tobacco Control Act National Longitudinal Study of Tobacco Users will follow over 40,000 users of tobacco products and those at risk for tobacco use. The study aims to evaluate the impact of regulatory changes on risk perceptions and other tobacco-related attitudes.
The NIH will provide funding for eight innovative neuroscience education programs aimed at increasing science literacy and interest among K-12 students. These programs, led by investigators across the US, will use creative strategies such as touch tablet technology and interactive learning centers to engage students in neuroscience.
Two scientists, Dr. Thomas Kosten and Dr. Peter Burkhard, will receive funding to develop a vaccine against methamphetamine addiction and a peptide nanoparticle nicotine vaccine. The vaccines are expected to undergo initial clinical trials within the next five years.
A study using mice reveals how a specific gene variant could contribute to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers found that the D4.7 variant of the dopamine D4 receptor subtype was not able to interact with another brain region in a way that reduces glutamate release, leading to symptoms of ADHD.
A study funded by NIH has found a brain pathway that could be targeted to help people quit smoking without gaining weight. The research identifies a specific subclass of nicotinic receptor involved in nicotine's ability to reduce food intake.
A recent NIH-funded study demonstrates that moderate levels of secondhand smoke deliver nicotine to the brain, increasing vulnerability to nicotine addiction. The study's findings support policies banning smoking in public places, particularly around children.
A recent NIH analysis found that over half of patients receiving opioid prescriptions in 2009 had filled another opioid prescription within the previous 30 days. The study also identified potential opportunities for intervention to reduce prescription opioid abuse, particularly among younger patients.
A new mouse model closely resembles the human body's reaction to early HIV infection, showing inflammatory responses, changes in brain cells, and neuronal loss. The study is a breakthrough in understanding how HIV affects brain functioning in its initial stages.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique to visualize cellular changes in deep brain regions, providing insight into addiction and brain tumors. The study used time-lapse fluorescence microendoscopy to track structural changes in neurons over weeks.
The NIH will fund a five-year research initiative to identify and treat HIV-positive inmates in the US prison system. The goal is to reduce HIV transmission and improve public health by linking those in incarceration to antiretroviral therapy and medical care.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has awarded $2.5 million to researchers developing novel approaches to treat addiction. New gene therapies, immunotherapies, and compounds are being investigated to reduce the devastating effects of tobacco and cocaine abuse.
Dr. Verdin's research aims to develop a new single cell technology to examine HIV latency, with the goal of devising novel strategies to eliminate latent HIV infection or restrict its pool to a size that can be controlled by the immune system.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is awarding over $4 million in grant funding to examine substance abuse related to deployment and combat-related trauma. Researchers will explore treatment strategies, including cognitive behavioral therapy and Web-based approaches, to help veterans who have co-occurring disorders.
A recent NIH-funded study has uncovered a key step in brain events leading up to cocaine addiction, highlighting the potential for MeCP2 to regulate cocaine intake and determine vulnerability. By balancing with miRNA-212, this protein impacts an individual's motivation for self-administering cocaine.
A recent NIH-supported study found that increasing HAART coverage in British Columbia reduced viral load and new HIV diagnoses among individuals with a history of injection drug use. The study's findings support the importance of maximizing HAART coverage within current medical guidelines to curb the spread of HIV.
Researchers discovered a specific microRNA sequence, microRNA-212, that protects rats from cocaine addiction by regulating CREB signaling. This finding suggests microRNAs may play a crucial role in vulnerability to addiction, offering new promise for anti-addiction medications.
Ameya Deshmukh's project wins first place with computer modeling to identify new medications for nicotine addiction. Kevin Knight's study suggests that cognitive games could be useful as an adjunct to ADHD medication.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has unveiled a new treatment program for young adults struggling with opioid addiction. The Buprenorphine Treatment for Young Adults product shows that longer-term buprenorphine treatment reduces drug use and improves treatment adherence in this age group.
A new study by the Scripps Research Institute found that unrestricted access to high-fat foods can trigger addiction-like responses in the brain, leading to compulsive eating behaviors and obesity. The study suggests that type 2 dopamine receptors play a key role in this process.
Researchers found that individuals with high impulsive/antisocial traits had a hypersensitive dopamine response system, which may contribute to psychopathic behavior. The study suggests that this heightened response could make individuals less fearful of consequences and more prone to aggressive behaviors.
A key epigenetic process in the brain's pleasure circuits is altered by chronic cocaine exposure, contributing to an acquired preference for cocaine. By reversing this epigenetic change, researchers were able to block gene expression changes and inhibit cocaine preference.
A genetic variant in nearly half of Americans with European ancestry is linked to greater effectiveness of bupropion in quitting smoking. People with the variant were less likely to resume smoking six months after treatment.
A recent NIDA study has identified genes associated with an individual's ability to quit smoking. The research, published in BMC Genetics, found 221 genes that distinguish successful quitters from those who struggled to stop smoking.
Research has found that brain damage to a specific area called the insula may help smokers quit by eliminating their addiction to nicotine. Twelve out of thirteen participants who experienced this type of damage were able to quit smoking without any reported struggles.