Articles tagged with Cocaine
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.
Children exposed to cocaine in the womb are more susceptible to addiction due to trouble controlling behaviors and emotions. Many teens in the study showed poor coping strategies, leading to acting out behaviors like substance use, tobacco, and alcohol abuse.
A new study in Biological Psychiatry suggests that blocking hypocretin signaling may provide a new avenue for treating cocaine addiction. The study found that blocking hypocretin signaling reduced cocaine intake in rats allowed long access to cocaine, and restored the normal GABAergic system.
A new human monoclonal antibody has been developed to prevent cocaine from entering the brain, reducing its behavioral effects. The antibody is designed for individuals highly motivated to overcome addiction and can be given in doses that remain effective for at least 30 days.
Research reveals that sons of cocaine-using fathers are at risk for learning deficits and memory loss. Epigenetic mechanisms alter gene expression in the brain, depleting essential molecules like D-serine, leading to impaired synaptic plasticity.
A new study found that cocaine addiction disrupts iron regulation in the body, leading to a build-up of iron in the brain. This accumulation is directly linked to the duration of cocaine use and may be accompanied by mild iron deficiency elsewhere in the body.
Researchers discovered how a protein called WAVE1 regulates brain response to cocaine, providing fundamental insights into the brain's inner workings. The study suggests new potential treatments for cocaine addiction and highlights the importance of understanding dopamine signaling.
Researchers found that cocaine users are more likely to engage in risky sex when under the influence, citing 'sexual impatience' as a key factor. The study suggests providing condoms to drug users is crucial in preventing the spread of STIs.
A study published in Journal of Addiction Medicine found that decreasing cocaine use leads to regression of unstable coronary plaques, a type of plaque most likely to cause a heart attack. Reducing cocaine use also decreases inflammation markers and improves cardiovascular health.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have created a new diagnostic test for cocaine in urine and oral fluid, enabling sensitive and accurate detection. The compact mass spectrometer-based test offers quantitative data on cocaine levels, potentially revolutionizing scenarios requiring rapid drug testing.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that mothers who participated in family therapy with their children recovered faster from substance use issues. Family therapy was more effective than individual therapy in reducing alcohol and marijuana use among mothers, while opioids use showed similar decreases in both groups.
A Purdue University study found that mixing highly caffeinated energy drinks with alcohol can trigger changes in the adolescent brain similar to those seen with cocaine. The consequences last into adulthood, with exposed mice showing altered ability to deal with rewarding substances and increased risk of substance abuse.
In a preclinical model, researchers successfully suppressed cued cocaine seeking by activating brain receptors involved in suppressing addiction relapse. The technology, called DREADDs, allows for targeted treatment of addiction with minimal side effects.
A TSRI study found that a compound blocking the activity of brain-cell receptors can reverse signs of cocaine dependency in rodents, supporting a new therapeutic strategy against addiction. The treatment reduced behavioral measures of cocaine use and dependency, accompanied by normal TrkB signaling activity.
A US study found significant reductions in cocaine and methamphetamine use following government restrictions on sodium permanganate and pseudoephedrine. The disruptions, implemented in 2006 and 2007, were associated with a 32% decrease in cocaine users and a 45% decrease in methamphetamine users.
A study found that regulating sodium permanganate and closing a chemical company in Mexico led to large reductions in cocaine users and methamphetamine users in the USA. These impacts have lasted for approximately eight years, with little recovery in numbers.
A study using animal model reveals that cocaine leaves a long-lasting imprint on dopamine system, contributing to relapse episodes in addicts. Re-exposure to the drug after a short abstinence period fully reinstates tolerance and binge-like behavior.
Research suggests that prolonged drug use can damage the brains of cocaine and methamphetamine users, leading to difficulty with moral decision making. The study found abnormal neural activity in the frontal lobes and limbic regions of their brains during moral processing.
A recent study by McGill University Health Centre researchers found that microglia can reduce the adverse changes to neural circuitry caused by chronic cocaine use. Microglia may be enticed to keep going by stimulating their production of TNF, which suppresses synaptic changes caused by cocaine.
A new rat study reveals genetic differences in the brain's pleasure receptor and epigenetic tags that affect cocaine addiction and relapse. The findings suggest inherited traits and epigenetics play a role in addiction vulnerability, with some rats more likely to seek out cocaine repeatedly due to genetic markers.
A recent study led by UC Riverside professor Ann Cheney found that low-income African American communities in the Arkansas Mississippi Delta have successfully reduced cocaine use through lifestyle changes and leveraging 'recovery capital.' Social networks and culturally appropriate interventions play a critical role in reducing substan...
A new study found that simultaneous cocaine and alcohol use is a red flag for suicide risk, with the risk being 2.4 times higher among those using both substances. The study also showed that substance misuse was less likely an indicator of suicide risk among whites and women, but more likely among older adults.
A study by Eva Cuypers and colleagues found that washing away external contaminants from hair samples can cause cocaine to migrate into the hair shaft, leading to false positives in hair analysis. This new insight could have implications for future hair analyses.
Researchers at Nagoya University have uncovered a dopamine signaling pathway that controls cocaine reward in mice. The study found that activation of the Rap1 pathway increases neuronal excitability and sensitivity to cocaine reward.
Researchers have discovered a unique application for an FDA-approved drug in treating cocaine dependence. The drug, Byetta, regulates feeding behavior and reduces cocaine self-administration when activated in the brain's reward region. Further studies aim to understand the brain's pathways involved in addiction.
Researchers studied 23 active cocaine users and found they exhibited an impaired ability to adjust their behavior and were less fulfilled once they achieved their desired reward. This disconnect between craving for a drug and regulating behavior may be key to breaking the cycle of addiction.
Cocaine users exhibit hyperactivation in the ventral striatum, a region critical for reward processing, and display anomalous activation profiles in the prefrontal cortex. Structural differences, including hypertrophy of key brain regions, contribute to the development of compulsive behaviors and difficulties in controlling impulses.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that cocaine triggers autophagy, a process that causes brain cells to digest themselves. A compound called CGP3466B has been shown to prevent this damage in mouse nerve cells.
A new study by the University of Cambridge reveals a previously unknown pathway in the brain that links impulse with habits, making it harder to control cocaine addiction. A second study suggests that a drug used to treat paracetamol overdose may help individuals overcome their addiction if they want to quit.
A pilot study suggests that targeted magnetic pulses to the brain can significantly reduce craving and substance use in cocaine-addicted patients. The treatment, known as rTMS, showed promising results in helping patients maintain abstinence from cocaine.
Researchers mapped brain circuits that cause hyperactive dopamine release in response to cocaine. The study found a key relay between the extended amygdala and ventral subiculum drives persistent dopamine hyperactivity.
The University of Kentucky has received $6 million in funding to further develop a potential treatment for cocaine abuse. The project, led by Professor Chang-Guo Zhan, aims to create a novel enzyme that can neutralize cocaine in the bloodstream using molecular modeling technology.
Researchers have discovered a long-acting enzyme that rapidly and safely metabolizes cocaine, potentially providing a treatment option for cocaine overdose. The enzyme, E12-7Fc-M3, has been shown to eliminate cocaine from the bloodstream for extended periods of time.
Researchers found that a single dose of cocaine interferes with recognizing negative emotions, such as sadness and anger. The study's lead author suggests this may explain why cocaine users report higher levels of sociability when intoxicated.
A UC Berkeley study found that mice who received cognitive training showed reduced preference for cocaine chambers, implying a protective effect on the brain's reward system. The results suggest that brief cognitive interventions may promote long-term resilience against drug-seeking behaviors.
A study by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found that stopping or reducing cocaine use is associated with lower levels of endothelin-1, a protein linked to coronary artery disease. Patients who stopped using cocaine had significantly reduced ET-1 levels and a lower likelihood of coronary plaque progression.
Researchers found that prenatally exposed adolescents were 2.2 times more likely to engage in sexual intercourse before age 15 than non-exposed peers. Girls who reported behavior problems during their preteen years were also at higher risk, with 42% of those living with birth mothers or relatives reporting early sex.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered a previously unknown neural pathway that can regulate changes made in the brain due to cocaine use. By manipulating Activin receptors, they found that it is possible to increase or decrease cocaine-taking and relapse behavior in animal models.
Researchers used humanized mice to study the effects of cocaine on immune systems, finding that cocaine makes people more susceptible to HIV infection. The study suggests that cocaine blunts the body's defense against the virus and increases the pool of cells that can become infected.
A new study finds that people with cocaine addiction display altered patterns of brain activity and communication between regions, particularly in the left caudate. This impairment may lead to increased impulsivity and relapse rates, making it a key target for medication development.
A new study found disruptions in brain connectivity among infants exposed to prenatal cocaine, potentially leading to arousal dysregulation. The research used MRI scans to investigate the impact of maternal drug use during pregnancy on newborn brain function.
A study of rats exposed to lead found detrimental effects on brain cells and neurotransmitters associated with schizophrenia, including a decline in Parvalbumin-Positive GABAergic interneurons and increased levels of the dopamine receptor D2R. The findings support a link between early lead exposure and the onset of schizophrenia.
A recent NYU study found that socioeconomically disadvantaged adults are more likely to use crack cocaine over powder cocaine, leading to higher arrest risks. The study highlights the need for fairer sentencing laws and acknowledges racial minorities' disproportionate incarceration rates.
Researchers at CWRU's Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences are studying how prenatal cocaine exposure affects young adults, with a focus on substance abuse and behavior issues. The four-year study will examine the effects of early cocaine exposure on cognitive development and adaptive functioning.
Research at The Mount Sinai Hospital found that cocaine users have impaired brain circuits for predicting emotional loss, making it difficult to learn from unfavorable outcomes. This impairment may underlie disadvantageous decision-making in individuals with substance use disorder.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have gained new insight into the dopamine transporter mechanism, which could lead to the development of a cocaine antidote. The discovery highlights an interaction between amino acids that controls access for dopamine to its binding site in the protein.
A University of Alberta economics professor has discovered a link between contraband cigarette use and illicit drug use among Canadian teens. Contraband smokers are more than double as likely to use illicit drugs compared to non-contraband smokers, according to the study.
Research by UPV/EHU and Basque Institute of Forensic Medicine finds cocaine use linked to higher risk of sudden cardiovascular death. The study, published in Addiction journal, analyzed 437 cases of sudden death and found a significant association between recent cocaine consumption and increased risk of heart attack.
Researchers discovered that cocaine users experience abnormal blood flow in the smallest blood vessels, putting them at risk for heart complications. This microvascular dysfunction may not be detected by regular testing, highlighting the need for more research on this understudied population.
A study has identified a potential treatment target for cocaine addiction by revealing that altering a specific receptor protein can reduce cocaine seeking in animal models. Increasing the expression of an enzyme within the GluA2 subunits of AMPA receptors decreased cocaine seeking in animals allowed to self-administer the drug.
A new study found that babies whose mothers used cocaine during pregnancy have increased amounts of hyperphonation in their cries, indicating nervous system damage. The researchers also identified a similar spectral characteristic in rat pups treated with prenatal cocaine exposure, paving the way for translational analyses to detect is...
A study published in Neuron found that the brain has an intrinsic anti-addiction response that can be boosted to prevent relapse. This 'anti-relapse' circuitry remodeling is induced by cocaine exposure and decreases craving, offering new neurobiological targets for interventions.
Researchers have created a compact, backpack-sized device that can analyze cocaine and its metabolite in urine samples in under 15 minutes. The device uses microfluidic technology and small mass spectrometer to provide highly accurate and sensitive results comparable to laboratory tests.
A new methodology tracks wholesale powdered cocaine prices in 112 cities to identify city-to-city links for the transit of the drug. Cities in the southern U.S. and along the west coast are source cities, while those in the north and northeast are destination cities.
A major public health problem is emerging due to an increase in deaths from prescribed painkillers, with over 16,000 US deaths in 2010 alone. The review identifies factors such as increased opioid prescriptions, combined use of opioids and other substances, and social demographic factors as contributing causes.
A novel compound, RO5263397, has been found to severely blunt a range of cocaine addiction behaviors, including relapse behavior, in animal studies. The compound targets TAAR1 receptor and shows promise as a potential lead compound for treating cocaine addiction.
The study found cocaine use dropped sharply across the US from 2006 to 2010, while marijuana consumption increased significantly during the same period. Researchers also estimated that Americans spent over $100 billion annually on illicit drugs between 2000 and 2010.
Researchers found that cocaine use is strongly associated with increased stroke risk in young adults, particularly when used acutely. The study found that participants were six to seven times more likely to suffer an ischemic stroke within 24 hours of cocaine use.