Articles tagged with Drug Addiction
Researchers discovered widespread loss of grey matter in frontal lobe of cocaine users, associated with greater compulsivity and attention problems. The study also found enlarged basal ganglia reward system, suggesting potential inherited vulnerability to addiction.
The Scripps Research Institute has received a $2.2 million grant to develop novel therapeutics for treating substance abuse. The researchers aim to disrupt the addictive cycle by targeting the kappa opioid receptor, which plays a critical role in drug addiction.
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.
Researchers found that people's brains become distracted by previously associated rewarding objects, such as money, even when they're not important in the task. This effect persists for weeks and is linked to impulsivity levels.
A new study found that nicotine can induce long-lasting changes in the brain's reward system, similar to cocaine. The researchers discovered that a receptor called D5 dopamine plays a key role in this process.
A new study by neurobiologist Hitoshi Morikawa found that repeated ethanol exposure enhances synaptic plasticity in a key area of the brain. This increased capacity for learning, or 'conditionability,' may help explain why alcoholics become more receptive to forming habits and memories related to food, music, and social situations.
A two-year treatment regimen with Naltrexone and complementary treatments like group therapy can keep 80% of gamblers 'gamble-free' over a four-year period. Gambling addiction is a chronic disorder requiring careful monitoring and holistic treatments to avoid relapse.
A study by Brookhaven National Laboratory found that cocaine users initially respond more intensely to drug-related images than non-users, but this response diminishes with recent use. The researchers suggest that this may lead to compulsive drug use as a way to compensate for reduced motivation.
A new study from the University of Gothenburg found that people with certain genetic changes in the ghrelin gene consume more sugar than those without. Trials using rats also showed reduced sugar consumption when ghrelin was blocked, suggesting a strong link between ghrelin and addictive behaviors
Researchers at the Academy of Finland have developed a new targeted drug that slows down nicotine metabolism, aiming to aid in smoking reduction therapy. The drug inhibits the CYP2A6 enzyme, which metabolizes nicotine, and is being explored as a potential alternative to traditional anti-smoking treatments.
A new study found that naltrexone, a medication for alcohol dependence, is more effective in women and those with a specific genetic variation. This discovery could lead to personalized medicine and improved treatment outcomes for patients.
A collaborative care approach with nurse care managers significantly improves treatment outcomes for patients with opioid addiction. The study found that 51% of patients achieved successful treatment at 12 months and 93% were no longer using illicit opioids after three months.
A study at Brookhaven National Laboratory found that genetic factors and the length of time someone abuses drugs can impact brain structure, particularly in areas related to decision-making and learning. This research has implications for treatment strategies and suggests that curtailed drug use may be protective against brain changes.
A recent special issue of Neuron examines the complexities of addiction research, highlighting genetic vulnerability, neuronal transmission, and behavioral treatments. The study reveals profound changes in behavior and suggests that therapeutic strategies should focus on reversing cognitive deficits.
A study by UBC researchers found that US patients search for prescription drugs on government-run websites, while Canadians are directed to Wikipedia or industry-sponsored sites. The discrepancy highlights the importance of verifying online drug information.
Researchers found a discrete brain pathway that regulates vulnerability to nicotine addiction and identified the nicotinic receptor subunit α5 as a potential target for anti-smoking therapies. The study suggests boosting this subunit's expression may help individuals resist nicotine's addictive properties.
Research from Case Western Reserve University shows that helping others in the AA program can lead to improved sobriety and reduced depression. The 'helper therapy principle' helps individuals with a similar condition, reducing egocentrism and selfishness.
Researchers have found that cognitive training can improve working memory and reduce addiction by teaching individuals to think ahead. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, used an approach borrowed from rehabilitation of stroke or traumatic brain injury patients.
Research suggests that young people prioritize self-esteem over other enjoyable activities like sex, favorite foods, drinking alcohol, seeing a best friend or receiving a paycheck. This fixation on self-esteem may be problematic as it can lead to an unhealthy obsession with boosting one's self-worth.
Researchers found a link between family history of alcoholism and increased risk of obesity, with women being more affected. The association may be due to the environment, particularly the availability of high-calorie, hyper-palatable foods that stimulate the brain's reward centers.
Paul Kenny, a Scripps Research Institute associate professor, has been awarded the Jacob P. Waletzky Memorial Award for his groundbreaking research on drug addiction and compulsive eating. His work reveals new links between molecular mechanisms that drive both behaviors.
A new scale of drug harm assesses both individual and social harms, ranking alcohol as the most harmful, with heroin and crack in second and third place. The analysis suggests that a classification system based on overall harm scores could be more effective than current systems.
Researchers at UTHealth's Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction will use the five-year, $11 million grant to study the behavioral neurobiology of cocaine dependence. The project aims to translate this knowledge into effective pharmacotherapies for the disorder through novel medications and imaging methodologies.
A Phase 3 trial showed patients receiving Probuphine had significantly less illicit opioid use and fewer withdrawal symptoms compared to placebo. The innovative implant formulation provided a steady, round-the-clock low dose of buprenorphine over six months.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have successfully tested a semi-synthetic opioid called buprenorphine to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms in infants. The treatment reduced days of hospital stay by 40% and showed promise in reducing healthcare costs, which could save up to $1 billion annually.
A study by BC-CfE found that supervised injection facilities like Insite connect clients with addiction treatment, increasing the likelihood of stopping injection drug use for at least six months. The study also highlights the importance of engaging Aboriginal people who use drugs in addiction services.
Research found that older people who continue to use problematic drugs are emerging as a vulnerable group with impaired health, chronic conditions, and poorer quality of life. Despite this, services for older drug addicts are not widely available in the UK.
A study found that Ritalin improved impaired brain function and enhanced cognitive performance in people addicted to cocaine. The medication combined with cognitive interventions may have a role in facilitating recovery from drug addiction.
Two research teams discovered life-saving medications, JANUVIA for type 2 diabetes and CHANTIX for smoking cessation, enhancing people's ability to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce nicotine cravings. These treatments have helped millions worldwide, with CHANTIX being approved in 86 countries and over 7 million prescribed in the US.
A study of opioid detoxification patients found that 31 out of 75 patients first got hooked on prescribed painkillers. The majority continued using street drugs due to lower costs and greater effectiveness, with comments revealing the role of 'pill parties' in their initial use.
Researchers have discovered a protein called methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) that may control the addictive impact of cocaine in the brain. MeCP2 interacts with microRNA to regulate an individual's motivation to consume cocaine, and its influence can reduce vulnerability to addiction.
Positive family relationships and religious affiliation can counteract risk factors associated with drug use, including addicted family members, exposure to violence, and deviant peers. This study suggests that intervention programs should focus on creating supportive family environments.
Researchers at Neurocentre Magendie in Bordeaux found that addiction is caused by a persistent impairment of synaptic plasticity, leading to a permanent loss of the brain's ability to adapt and learn. This lack of plasticity results in compulsive consumption and loss of control over drug use.
Researchers discovered that recovering addicts who avoid coping with stress experience more cravings and are more likely to relapse. The study found that avoidance coping strategies can weaken a person's ability to deal with stress, leading to increased cravings.
Researchers discovered that methamphetamine enhances memory in pond snails, allowing them to recall learned behaviors despite being immersed in de-oxygenated water. This finding may provide insights into the mechanisms of human addiction and how memories are formed.
A new imaging protocol allows scientists to visualize the activity of dopamine receptors in the brain, revealing a 15-20% decrease in receptor density among individuals with addictions. This finding could lead to better understanding of drug addiction and development of more effective treatment strategies.
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.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute found that compulsive eating shares the same molecular mechanisms as cocaine and heroin addiction. In rat models, obesity coincides with a deteriorating chemical balance in reward brain circuitries, leading to compulsive overeating habits.
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.
A Canadian study found that collaborative care between family physicians and community pharmacists improved patient outcomes, including increased medication adjustments and lifestyle changes. However, the study showed no significant impact on cholesterol control.
Researchers identified dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS) in patients with Parkinson's disease who reduced their medication dosage. DAWS causes anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other symptoms that are not alleviated by other treatments.
A recent study by UB neurobiologist Jennifer L. Temple found that boys and girls have different levels of caffeine's appealing value, with males working harder to obtain caffeinated drinks. The research also explored the effects of acute and chronic caffeine consumption on blood pressure, heart rate, and hand tremor in teenagers.
Researchers suggest that compulsive eating may be a legitimate addiction, sparking a new perspective on weight management. The concept of food addiction shares similarities with other addictive behaviors, including tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
A study by Natividad et al. found that adolescent rats exhibit fewer physical and neurochemical withdrawal signs than adult rats after nicotine withdrawal, suggesting age alters neurological systems relevant to nicotine use. This increased sensitivity makes adolescents more prone to drug abuse.
Research highlights new techniques to assess PTSD, identify biomarkers for schizophrenia, and develop treatment for gambling addiction. These breakthroughs may lead to earlier diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.
A large-scale study of ketamine users found that heavy users experienced impaired verbal memory, forgetfulness, and difficulty recalling conversations. The study also revealed that occasional ketamine use does not lead to prolonged harms to cognitive function, but frequent use can have negative effects.
Research using animal models has identified key brain cells and circuits affected by addiction, shedding light on the cognitive problems associated with it. These findings may lead to more effective treatment options to weaken powerful cravings, ultimately guarding against relapse.
The study, involving over 14,656 patients, found that two-thirds of heroin users stopped or reduced their use, while a similar proportion of crack cocaine users did the same. Heroin use decreased by an average of 15 days per month, and crack cocaine use by eight days.
Joanna Fowler, a senior chemist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, will be awarded the National Medal of Science for her outstanding contributions to brain research and disease study. Her work using positron emission tomography (PET) has led to breakthroughs in understanding drug addiction and the human brain.
Researchers predict that changes in brain chemicals and synaptic connections are necessary for recovery from cocaine addiction. Excessive glutamate production in the pleasure center can cause permanent damage, making it challenging for the brain to regulate itself.
A new study by the American Psychological Association reveals that excessive exercise can lead to physical addiction, causing withdrawal symptoms. Rats given a drug that blocks the action of heroin showed severe withdrawal symptoms after running excessively, highlighting the potential for exercise to become compulsive and addictive.
Researchers discovered a set of genes that respond inappropriately to amphetamine in 'drug-proof' zebrafish mutants, which do not experience the drug's pleasurable effects. This finding suggests a link between adult neurogenesis and addiction, with potential implications for understanding susceptibility.
A group of addiction scientists argue that the death penalty for drug trafficking is ineffective and violates human rights. The editorial cites the UN statement on capital punishment's limited scope and emphasizes the need to abolish this practice. Addiction experts, including lead author Professor Griffith Edwards, call for scientists...
A new brain mechanism involving ghrelin has been discovered, which could lead to the development of new therapies for alcohol dependence. The study found that blocking ghrelin's actions in the brain reduces alcohol's effects on the reward system.
Researchers at UBC developed a new method to study gambling addictions by creating an animal laboratory experiment. The study found that rodents' ability to play the odds was impaired with drugs that reduce serotonin levels and improved with those that reduce dopamine levels, providing insights into human gambling behaviors.
The Einstein Proteomics Research Center aims to identify brain proteins responsible for neurological complications in people infected with HIV, particularly those who are also addicted to drugs. The center will investigate the mechanism of HIV infection and develop biomarkers to detect neurological disease.
Researchers have found that injecting BDNF into the brain's reward circuitry can induce drug dependency in rats. This study suggests that BDNF is crucial for inducing a drug dependent state, one important aspect of drug addiction.
A brain-imaging study found that cocaine users show reduced activity in areas involved in monitoring behavior and regulating emotions, suggesting these impairments may underlie addictive vulnerability. Improving these functions could help addicted individuals resist drugs.
A new study using mice found that genes affect impulsivity, which can contribute to the risk of developing alcoholism. The study suggests that individuals with high impulsivity may be more likely to experiment with drugs and develop a substance-use disorder like alcoholism.
A new study found that Naltrexone significantly reduced stealing behavior in individuals with kleptomania. The research suggests the drug may offer hope for those struggling with the condition, particularly when used in combination with individual therapy.