Articles tagged with Cocaine
A Spanish study reveals that hard drug users have a mortality rate significantly higher than the general population. The fatality rate among heroin and cocaine consumers is 14.3 times higher, while among those only using cocaine, it is 5.1 times higher.
Researchers at Mount Sinai have identified a promising new molecular mechanism for cocaine addiction, implicating the PARP-1 enzyme and Sidekick-1 gene. Chronic cocaine administration increases levels of PARP-1, leading to epigenetic changes that contribute to long-term addiction.
Chronic cocaine users exhibit poor emotional empathy, recognize less emotion from voices, and engage in less prosocial behavior, impacting their social networks. Social interaction is perceived as less rewarding compared to non-users.
Researchers found that silencing synapses in the nucleus accumbens can prevent intensification of cocaine craving. They discovered a chemical receptor known as CP-AMPAR essential for maturation of silent synapses, which revert to silence when removed.
Researchers at Umeå University detected measurable concentrations of illicit drugs in Swedish wastewater from 33 treatment plants. The study found 13 different narcotic substances, with oxazepam, codeine, and morphine being the most common prescription drug residues.
Researchers found that rates of powder and crack cocaine use vary among high school seniors, with different risk profiles associated with each form of the substance. Factors such as socioeconomic status, education level, and geographic location also play a role in determining likelihood of use.
A new study on cocaine has found a way the drug breaks down proteins in the body, which could be used to detect it in biofluids for weeks or months. The research contributes to a more comprehensive picture of cocaine's toxic effects and may lead to improved tests for its detection.
A Penn Medicine study finds that sons of cocaine-using fathers are less likely to want the drug and resistant to its effects. The research suggests that epigenetic changes caused by cocaine use can be passed down to the next generation, potentially making them less susceptible to addiction.
Research reveals that regular cannabis users exhibit increased impulsive behavior, impaired critical thinking skills, and reduced executive function, while cocaine users show heightened impulsivity and decreased impulse control. Long-term use of both substances may trigger addictive behaviors due to altered brain function.
A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry reveals that topiramate, an anti-epileptic drug, shows promise in treating cocaine dependence by reducing cravings and improving global functioning. The study enrolled 142 participants and found that topiramate was more efficacious than placebo.
A new UCLA study reveals that cocaine makes quiescent CD4 T cells susceptible to HIV infection. Chronic cocaine exposure can increase the pool of infected cells with a higher viral reservoir, posing significant implications for HIV-positive individuals who abuse stimulants.
The global supply of illicit drugs has likely not been reduced in the past two decades, with street prices falling and purity/potency increasing. This study analyzed data from seven international surveillance systems to conclude that law enforcement efforts are failing to curb supply and contribute to violence and public health issues.
New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that cocaine makes quiescent CD4 T cells more susceptible to HIV infection. The study found significant infection and new virus production in treated cells compared to untreated ones.
A new study found that prenatal cocaine exposure is associated with lower gray matter volume in key brain regions involved in emotion, reward, memory, and executive function. This can increase the likelihood of initiating substance use by up to 83.6%, highlighting the need for a long-term perspective on the risks.
A new study found that even long-term abstinence from cocaine does not result in a complete normalization of brain circuitry. Former cocaine users showed differences in reward processing and impulsivity compared to healthy controls, indicating pre-existing risk factors for addiction.
Research suggests cocaine use may lead to continued drug seeking by stimulating growth of new brain structures associated with learning and memory. The study used live brain imaging to observe mice given cocaine or saline, finding significant increases in dendritic spines after two hours.
Researchers found that cocaine exposure leads to rapid growth of new dendritic spines in the frontal cortex, enabling mice to strongly prefer drug cues over other stimuli. This study sheds light on the brain's role in drug-seeking behavior and may inform strategies for tackling addiction.
Research from the University of Cambridge reveals that chronic cocaine use causes profound metabolic changes, reducing the body's ability to store fat. This leads to significant weight gain during recovery, which can contribute to relapse and has profound implications for health and well-being.
A new study found that topiramate reduced alcohol cravings but did not decrease drinking in individuals with cocaine and alcohol dependence. However, those on topiramate were more likely to stay in treatment and abstain from cocaine during the last three weeks of the trial.
A team of Indiana University neuroscientists has identified GLT1, a protein clearing glutamate from the brain, as critical to cocaine craving. The researchers found ceftriaxone, an antibiotic, increases GLT1 production and decreases craving in rats withdrawing from cocaine. This combination may lead to new treatments for addiction.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered a molecular mechanism underlying cocaine addiction and identified a promising new anti-addiction drug. The compound, CGP3466B, blocks cravings for cocaine in addicted mice by preventing GAPDH from entering the nucleus to trigger cell death.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have developed an anti-cocaine vaccine that prevents the drug from reaching the brain and producing a high. The vaccine works by generating antibodies against cocaine, rendering it ineffective, and has shown promising results in non-human primates.
A pilot study shows that qigong therapy significantly reduced cocaine cravings and depression symptoms in individuals undergoing residential substance abuse treatment. This promising treatment approach may have profound consequences in drug rehabilitation programs.
Researchers have found a nearly eight-fold increased risk of death from cocaine abuse due to interactions between specific gene variants and cocaine exposure. The variants affect dopamine modulation in the brain, which is also targeted by medications for psychiatric disorders.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that male rats exposed to cocaine showed resistance to its rewarding effects when given the drug as adults, while their female offspring did not. The researchers believe that this may be due to changes in gene expression triggered by paternal exposure to cocaine.
New study reveals differences in how cocaine affects mother rats' brains compared to non-mother rats, with implications for human addiction treatment
Researchers found that a protein called BDNF is inhibited in opioid addiction, unlike cocaine where it's enhanced. The study identified two genes, sox11 and gadd45g, which mediated the brain's response to morphine, preventing reward and addiction.
A combination of naltrexone and buprenorphine has shown promise in reducing cocaine craving and blunting withdrawal symptoms in laboratory rats. This potential therapy, if proven safe and effective, would be a significant advance in treating cocaine addiction, which currently lacks FDA-approved medications.
Researchers have designed efficient enzymes that can metabolize cocaine, potentially preventing its physiological effects and aiding in treatment of drug dependency. The development of these enzymes is crucial for the creation of anti-cocaine medication.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that neurons controlling hunger are also linked to cocaine addiction, contradicting the common assumption that food is a type of drug of abuse. The researchers discovered that mice with decreased interest in food showed increased interest in novelty-seeking and cocaine.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have discovered a new enzyme in the coca plant that catalyzes a key step in cocaine biosynthesis. The discovery sheds new light on the evolution of tropane alkaloids and reveals that the pathways in coca and belladonna evolved independently.
Researchers found that chronic cocaine users lost about 3.08 ml brain volume per year, almost twice the rate of healthy volunteers. The accelerated age-related decline was most prominent in the prefrontal and temporal cortex, important regions associated with attention, decision-making, and self-regulation as well as memory.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have developed an injectable solution that protects mice from cocaine overdose, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of a human antibody against cocaine. The treatment shows promise in reducing mortality rates and signs of overdose in both preliminary tests.
Scientists developed a passive vaccine that reversed cocaine overdose symptoms in laboratory mice, showing promise as a potential antidote. The vaccine uses pre-formed human antibodies against cocaine, binding to circulating molecules and preventing brain damage.
New studies by a Yale team reveal that interfering with the adolescent brain's defensive reaction to cocaine increases sensitivity to the drug. This finding may help explain why risk of drug abuse and addiction peaks during teenage years.
A new brain imaging study found that stress robustly activates areas of the brain associated with craving in cocaine-dependent women, while drug cues activate similar regions in men. This suggests that men and women with cocaine dependence may benefit from different treatment approaches.
A newly discovered brain mechanism reveals that cocaine triggers a signaling pathway that activates HDAC5 to limit its rewarding effects and reduce the development of addiction-related behaviors. This finding may lead to new strategies for treating addiction by modulating this protective process.
Around 200 million people worldwide use illicit drugs each year, with the highest rates in developed countries. The global burden of disease due to drug use is similar to that caused by alcohol consumption in these nations.
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.
Researchers found that nicotine alters the response to cocaine in terms of addiction-related behavior and synaptic plasticity. Nicotine also primes the response to cocaine by inhibiting histone deacetylase, enhancing cocaine's ability to activate the FosB gene.
A recent study found that cocaine use is predictive of open-angle glaucoma, with current and former users having a 45% increased risk. Patients with open-angle glaucoma and history of exposure to illegal drugs were nearly 20 years younger than those without drug exposure history.
Repeated cocaine use increases depressive-like responses in a mouse model of depression, linking substance abuse with increased stress-related illnesses. Histone modifications play a key role in this process, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for mood disorders associated with substance abuse.
Researchers found that cocaine addicts prioritize immediate rewards over delayed ones, regardless of the commodity involved. This study has implications for developing drug treatment programs based on incentives for delaying drug use.
A systematic review of 32 trials involving 3128 patients found that cocaine-free topical anaesthetics substantially reduce pain without triggering serious side effects. These agents offer an attractive alternative to injecting pain killers into damaged tissue, making them easier and less painful for patients.
Physicians have identified six new cases of purpura, a debilitating skin condition caused by cocaine contaminated with the de-worming drug levamisole. Treatment involves stopping cocaine use and administering steroids to prevent inflammation.
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.
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 recent study published in Biology of Sex Differences found that female rats are more likely to develop cocaine addiction due to their heightened motivation and impulsivity. Researchers also discovered that the likelihood of drug abuse increases with an individual's sex, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
A study published in The Lancet found that air pollution increases the risk of triggering a heart attack by 5%, while cocaine use increases the risk by 23 times. Air pollution poses a significant public health risk, with substantial decreases needed to meet WHO standards.
A study by University of Granada researchers found that drug-abusers have difficulty recognizing negative emotions, such as wrath, fear, and sadness. Regular substance abuse is also linked to cognitive impairments, including fluency, decision-making, work memory, and reasoning.
Researchers have developed a long-lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice using a unique vaccine that combines bits of the common cold virus with a particle that mimics cocaine. The approach may offer a simple way to break and reverse cocaine addiction, potentially useful for treating other addictions as well.
Researchers have developed a lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice using a safe vaccine combining bits of the common cold virus with a particle mimicking cocaine. The vaccine elicits an immune response that prevents cocaine molecules from reaching the brain, reducing hyperactivity.
Researchers found a genetic variant associated with a threefold increase in susceptibility to severe cocaine abuse among white individuals. The variant affects dopamine modulation in the brain and sets up a vicious circle leading to craving and heavy abuse.
A study by Radiological Society of North America found CT scans to be the most accurate imaging modality in detecting cocaine containers in drug mules, with a sensitivity rate of 100 percent. X-rays had a lower detection rate, while low-dose linear slit digital radiography had an 85 percent sensitivity rate.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine will examine the long-term effects of intrauterine cocaine and substance exposure on young adults' resilience. The study, which monitors participants since birth, aims to identify factors that foster resilience in the face of adversity.
Researchers found that activation of D1 and D2 neurons in the nucleus accumbens region of the brain exert opposite effects on cocaine reward. Activation of D1 neurons increases cocaine reward, while activation of D2 neurons decreases it. This imbalance may lead to chronic exposure to cocaine resulting in decreased activity in D2 neurons.
Researchers developed two non-invasive testing methods to identify dissolved cocaine in wine or rum bottles using Raman spectroscopy and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These techniques allow customs officials to quickly detect cocaine without opening the bottle, potentially tracking the recipient without arousing suspicion.
Researchers found cocaine, ecstasy, and six other drugs in the canals of L'Albufera Natural Park. High levels were detected in north and areas with high population density, warning of potential consequences for humans and environment.
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.
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.