Articles tagged with Cocaine
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Researchers found that the nucleus accumbens recruited by cocaine use are largely distinct from those recruited by sucrose, offering a potential solution for treating substance use disorders without affecting biologically adaptive seeking of reward. The study identified specific neuronal ensembles and cell types involved in each response.
Research reveals two gene mutations in nicotinic receptors may confer 'protection' against cocaine addiction by modulating an early phase in the addiction cycle. The mutations reduce voluntary intake of cocaine and slow transition from first use to signs of addiction.
Research published in BMJ Military Health finds a strong association between heavy class A drug use and sight loss among US military personnel. Those with military experience are more likely to use illicit drugs and report partial or total blindness than civilians.
Research by Professor Ami Citri and PhD student Anna Terem at Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that the claustrum plays a significant role in creating associations between rewards and contexts. The study used conditioned-place preference tests on lab mice to demonstrate the claustrum's involvement in incentive salience.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have identified a complex gene program that regulates brain changes in response to cocaine. By using single-nucleus RNA sequencing approaches, they found that only a small fraction of neurons in the nucleus accumbens were transcriptionally responsive to cocaine administration.
A new study published in eNeuro found that motherhood takes over the brain's decision-making regions to prioritize caring for offspring. The infralimbic cortex directs mothers to choose their pups over drugs, promoting maternal behavior.
Researchers at Temple University Health System will explore whether clavulanic acid can help patients recover from cocaine use disorder. The study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the brain and observe changes in glutamate levels.
A study by Ohio State University found that job skills training significantly reduced the use of illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin in low-income youth. After 16 years, only 2.8% of those who received job skills training used these drugs, compared to 5.2% of those who received basic services.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered a key receptor for dopamine called D2R that intervenes in cocaine's modifying functions in the striatum. Disrupting D2R signaling may lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating cocaine addiction.
A rodent study found that prior cannabinoid exposure enhances adolescent rats' response to cocaine's stimulatory effects. The researchers observed increased histone acetylation and reduced levels of the enzyme histone deacetylase 6 in the prefrontal cortex.
A Columbia-led study found that early exposure to cannabis makes young brains more sensitive to cocaine, shedding light on the neurobiology of drug use in adolescence. The research revealed key molecular and epigenetic changes in adolescent rats' brains after synthetic psychoactive cannabinoids were followed by cocaine.
A public health education campaign targeting NYC nightlife venues aimed to increase awareness of the risk of opioid overdose due to fentanyl-laced cocaine. The pilot study found that 87% of bar owners had heard about fentanyl, but only 43% knew about naloxone.
Researchers at the University of Surrey developed an experimental fingerprint detection approach that can identify traces of cocaine on human skin even after washing hands. The test distinguishes between individuals who have consumed and those who have handled cocaine, utilizing a molecule produced in the body when cocaine is ingested.
Researchers found that smoked cannabis use impaired executive functions and increased the likelihood of relapse among cocaine addicts. The study suggests that harm reduction strategies using cannabis may not be effective in treating cocaine addiction.
Overdose emergency departments visits involving cocaine and psychostimulants with an opioid increased significantly since 2006. The study highlights the need for expanded opioid overdose prevention and reversal efforts.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have developed a single-dose gene therapy to treat cocaine addiction. The therapy uses a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector to deliver a gene that metabolizes cocaine into harmless byproducts.
The Erythroxylum genus has been stigmatized due to its association with cocaine, but a new review article reveals its potential use in traditional medicine and modern medicine. The genus encompasses over 230 species, including E. coca, which has been used for thousands of years.
A recent study mapping international drug use by analyzing wastewater from over 60 million people in 120 cities worldwide reveals significant regional variations. Methamphetamine dominated North American and Australasian cities, while cocaine use was high in southern and western Europe.
A seven-year project analyzing sewage samples from 60 million people worldwide shows a worrying trend of drug use globally, with cocaine levels increasing by nearly 13% over five years. Methamphetamine use was particularly high in Australia and North America, linked to health conditions such as mental disorders and domestic violence.
Research in mice reveals that chronic cocaine use changes gene expression in the hippocampus, leading to epigenetic modifications of the FosB gene. This modification enables the formation of drug associations and contributes to addiction.
Researchers used cognitive dysfunction tests and analysis of drug use patterns to identify patients at high risk of relapse after treatment. The study suggests that a revised classification system may be needed to better predict vulnerability to relapse.
A new study suggests that using performance-enhancing steroids may increase the risk of cocaine use and addiction in teens, as well as impair fertility. Researchers found that female rats exposed to anabolic steroids showed increased sensitivity to cocaine and reduced ovary weight.
A team of researchers developed a computer model called NarcoLogic to assess cocaine interception scenarios and predict how drug smugglers react. The model demonstrated that narcotics trafficking is widespread and difficult to eradicate due to law enforcement intervention.
A new computer model, NarcoLogic, reveals that cocaine interdiction strategies actually fuel the spread of trafficking networks. The study suggests that decades of war on drugs have had little effect on reducing cocaine supply or prices, and that increased interdiction will only push traffickers into new areas.
Researchers created an agent-based model called NarcoLogic to simulate cocaine trafficking networks and interdiction efforts in Central America. The model shows how traffickers adapt their strategies in response to interdiction, leading to the emergence of new trafficking nodes and expanding the network.
Researchers found cocaine trafficking expands its geographic area in response to interdiction strategies, with little success in stopping the drug from reaching the US. The model suggests that increased efforts to curb trafficking only intensify the problem, allowing traffickers to adapt and exploit new routes.
A new study reveals that the menstrual cycle phase may contribute to differences between men and women in cocaine seeking and vulnerability to relapse after quitting. Female rats exhibited stronger cravings for cocaine during estrus, a phase associated with ovulation, compared to non-estrus.
A Vanderbilt University study found that women's hormonal cycles play a critical role in drug addiction and relapse. When fertility-related hormone levels are high, females are more prone to seek rewards and make stronger associations with environmental cues, leading to higher relapse rates.
New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that disrupting memories associated with environmental cues and cocaine use significantly reduces drug-seeking behavior in rats. This breakthrough may lead to developing more effective therapies to prevent relapse, such as targeting specific memories strengthened b...
Researchers found that mutant mice lacking a dopamine transporter mutation showed no hyperactivity when given cocaine, but still experienced cravings. The study suggests serotonin may play a key role in the brain's response to cocaine.
UTSA researchers have discovered a disconnect between the brain's dopamine system and cocaine addiction. The study found that when working to obtain cocaine, rats experience a reduced dopamine surge compared to working for food, suggesting a different response to effort and reward.
A neuroimaging study reveals that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) shows increased activity when patients are shown drug cues, indicating a potential target for addiction treatment. The study aims to develop a novel non-invasive therapy using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to modulate neural networks.
Researchers at the University of Zurich found that people who take cocaine cut with levamisole show impaired cognitive performance and a thinned prefrontal cortex. The study suggests that drug-checking programs should be expanded to protect users from the toxic effects of levamisole.
Researchers have found associations between addiction-related phenotypes and variants in the PTPRD gene, a neuronal cell adhesion molecule. A chemical compound, 7-BIA, has been shown to selectively inhibit phosphatase activity of PTPRD in mice, reducing cocaine self-administration rates.
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center have developed a novel gene therapy approach that protects mice from lethal cocaine doses and reduces drug-seeking behavior. The therapy involves modifying skin grafts to quickly degrade cocaine and has shown promise in preventing addiction and overdose.
A study published in PLOS Biology suggests that bile acids from the gut can reduce the rewarding properties of cocaine use, potentially leading to new treatment strategies. The research found that surgery that increases bile acid levels in the brain reduces dopamine release and preference for cocaine.
A study by researchers at IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation and University of Rome found that childhood adversity alters the immune system, increasing sensitivity to cocaine in adulthood. Exposure to psychosocial stress early in life leads to permanent changes in immune function, sensitizing the body to cocaine's effects.
Researchers found that mice lacking the Maged1 gene are unresponsive to cocaine and show diminished dopamine release, highlighting its role in addictive behavior. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drug addiction.
A study published in EMBO Reports reveals that the Maged1 gene plays a key role in controlling addictive behavior. Researchers found that mice lacking the gene are unresponsive to cocaine and exhibit reduced dopamine release, indicating a promising new entry point for understanding drug addiction mechanisms.
A new chemical sensing chip can detect cocaine, opioids and marijuana in biological samples quickly and accurately. The low-cost chip uses surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to identify chemicals based on their unique light-scattering signatures.
Researchers discovered that GLP-1 receptor agonists can selectively reduce cocaine-seeking without causing nausea. The study used FDA-approved medications for diabetes and obesity treatment, such as Exendin-4, to treat cocaine addiction. Low doses of the medication reduced cocaine-seeking behaviors in rats.
Researchers from the University of Surrey tested 50 drug-free volunteers and 15 drug users, detecting cocaine and heroin residues in 13% and 1% of fingerprints respectively. A 'cut-off' level was established to distinguish between environmental contaminants and genuine drug use, even after washing hands.
A study published in Hypertension Journal found that targeting a specific miRNA-mRNA pathway may reduce cocaine-induced cardiovascular disease. The researchers discovered that activating this pathway leads to increased reactive oxygen species, causing damage and cell death.
Research at Case Western Reserve University explores how maternal cocaine use affects behavioral problems in children, with a focus on gender differences. The study aims to better understand and address behavioral issues in boys and girls exposed to cocaine in utero, potentially informing strategies for prevention and treatment.
Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a significant link between mitochondrial changes and cocaine addiction. By blocking these changes, researchers were able to reduce cocaine-induced behavior in mice.
Researchers found that fasudil, a drug that inhibits Rho kinase, promotes goal-directed behavior in mice by pruning dendritic spines, a process involved in learning new behaviors. The treatment showed promise in reducing cocaine self-administration and could be an effective adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy for treating drug abuse.
A new study found that prior alcohol exposure enhances cocaine-seeking behavior in rats, promoting degradation of HDAC4 and HDAC5 proteins. This breakdown creates a permissive environment for cocaine-induced gene expression, increasing vulnerability to compulsive use.
Researchers have developed a new method using synthetic DNA aptamers to measure cocaine's effect on the brain in real-time with high resolution. The study aims to answer whether age-related differences are due to neuron sensitivity or drug concentration in specific brain areas.
Researchers found that early-onset cocaine users exhibited pronounced differences in sustained attention, working memory, and declarative memory compared to late-onset users. The study also revealed higher frequencies of cannabis and alcohol use among early-onset individuals.
A GW School of Medicine researcher is leading a five-year study on how cocaine affects HIV replication and transcription. The goal is to identify biomarkers for cocaine use and develop therapeutics for cocaine-using HIV-infected individuals.
Scientists have developed a rapid and sensitive fingerprint test to detect cocaine use, showing 99% effectiveness. The test uses paper spray mass spectrometry and can be completed in minutes.
A Boston hospital is conducting a study on the use of lorcaserin to treat cocaine addiction, targeting serotonin receptors in the brain. The goal is to reduce cravings and rewards associated with cocaine use, with the potential to provide a real game-changer for treatment options.
Chronic cocaine users exhibit impaired learning and memory in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, making it hard for them to form new associations and quit using the drug. This finding highlights potential limitations of extinction-based therapy in treating addiction.
A University of Maryland study found that individuals who regularly consumed highly caffeinated energy drinks over five years were more likely to use cocaine and non-medically use prescription stimulants. The research suggests a potential link between energy drink consumption and increased risk for substance use among young adults.
Rats without a certain glutamate receptor are less likely to seek out cocaine when it's difficult to obtain, but more likely to consume it when it's freely available. This suggests that the receptor plays a role in modulating reward-seeking behavior associated with drug addiction.
Researchers have identified a key role for serotonin in cocaine's addictive effects, suggesting that the brain chemical may contribute to the development of tolerance and long-term changes in brain function. The study provides new avenues for understanding the complex actions of cocaine and developing effective treatment strategies.
University of Iowa researchers examine the infralimbic cortex, a brain region controlling addictive behavior, and find it can be reprogrammed to ease drug urges. The study suggests silencing this region's neurons during withdrawal periods may prevent relapse, offering potential for new treatments.
A study found that substance use, particularly binge drinking and cocaine, is associated with cognitive impairments such as attention deficits and executive functioning issues. Cognitive impairments were also linked to daily life difficulties, impeding treatment utilization, and decreased effectiveness of treatment.
Researchers at McGill University found that cues associated with cocaine consumption trigger dopamine release in the dorsal striatum, a structure involved in compulsive behavior, even among non-dependent users. This suggests that recreational users may be further along the road to addiction than they realize.
A new study links the loss of Central American tropical forests to cocaine trafficking, with an estimated 30-60% of forest losses occurring within protected areas. Researchers estimate that cocaine trafficking may account for up to 30% of total forest loss in Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua over the past decade.