Articles tagged with Drug Abuse
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Methamphetamine abuse accelerates aging by causing abnormalities in cellular fat metabolism and triggering inflammation. Researchers have identified methods to limit this process using inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa beta signaling.
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.
Researchers will investigate gut leakage in HIV patients, leading to systemic inflammation and organ damage. They aim to determine if gut repair improves overall health.
A study by the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that cocaine's addictive potential is linked to a second brain mechanism involving glial cells and Toll Like Receptor 4. Blocking this mechanism could lead to a new drug treatment for cocaine addiction.
A new study reveals that participants in overdose education programs are predominantly mothers who financially support their addicted children and witness overdose events. These findings suggest that community-based initiatives targeting these groups could be effective in preventing drug overdose deaths.
Scientists develop a new approach to combat cocaine addiction by using a modified bacterial protein to trigger an immune system response. The strategy has shown promise in animal studies, offering hope for the creation of effective vaccines against drug abuse.
A National Institutes of Health white paper found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of opioid drugs in treating long-term chronic pain, despite their widespread use. The study's findings suggest that many studies used to justify prescription were poorly conducted or of insufficient duration.
A new report by an independent panel found that evidence-based approaches to treating chronic pain are lacking, with no existing algorithm for determining the best treatment approach. The panel recommends multidisciplinary care incorporating patients' perspectives and emphasizes the need for more research on opioids and other treatments.
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.
Research suggests that occasional heroin use among HIV-positive patients can lead to lower CD4 cell counts, indicating a weakened immune system. This preliminary study found that intermittent heroin users had lower CD4 counts compared to those who consistently abused the drug.
A study published in Liver Transplantation found that liver transplant recipients with limited literacy struggle to understand and adhere to their medication regimens, resulting in higher rates of organ rejection and graft loss. The study suggests that improving treatment knowledge and regimen use can reduce post-transplant re-hospital...
New research finds nearly half of all children in the US are exposed to at least one traumatic experience, increasing risk of negative long-term health consequences. Training parents and communities to help children cope with trauma may soften the blows and lead to later success.
Researchers found that tramadol use was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for hypoglycemia, especially in the first 30 days. The study analyzed data from over 334,000 patients and found that tramadol was linked to a higher risk of severe hypoglycemia compared to codeine.
A survey of primary care physicians suggests a decrease in opioid prescriptions, with 58% reporting reduced prescribing habits. The study highlights the growing concern among doctors about the risks of prescription opioid use, including addiction and death by overdose.
Most primary care physicians believe prescription drug abuse is a significant problem in their communities and that opioids are often overused to treat pain. As a result, many have decreased their prescribing of these products over the past year.
A new study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) increases brain activation to natural healthy pleasures, reducing opioid cravings. Participants who received eight weeks of MORE instruction exhibited increased brain activity in response to enjoyable experiences.
The study will enroll 200 Rhode Island Family Court-involved girls between 12-18 in either VOICES, a gender-responsive program or other community-based services. Researchers aim to identify the program's effect on reducing drug use and sexual risk behaviors.
Researchers found that teens prescribed anxiety or sleep medications during their lifetime were 12 times more likely to misuse those drugs than those who had never been prescribed. The study also highlighted the risk of overdose when these medications are mixed with narcotics or alcohol.
A study of over 2,700 teens found that those prescribed anti-anxiety or sleep medications were 10-12 times more likely to abuse them than those who never received a prescription. The risk was higher for white, female, and long-term prescribers.
A month-long residential program with strong linkage to community-based follow-up care enabled almost 30% of opioid-dependent participants to remain abstinent a year later. This study suggests that abstinence-focused, 12-step residential treatment may be a viable alternative to outpatient approaches for young adults.
Researchers found that even brief oxycodone exposure can impair cognitive flexibility in rats, leading to maladaptive decision-making. The study suggests that this 'cognitive hangover' may contribute to drug addiction.
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.
A recent study developed an AAV-based medication that offers substantial protective effects for patients attempting to cease methamphetamine use. The treatment, which tightly binds and sequesters meth away from its sites of action in the brain, is non-addicting and suitable for use in combination with existing behavioral therapies.
A new study by Yale University researchers found that buprenorphine maintenance therapy is more effective than detoxification in treating patients with prescription opioid dependence. Patients who received ongoing buprenorphine were less likely to use illicit opiates and had better treatment outcomes.
A study by Case Western Reserve University's social work school found that many women in poverty struggle to drop users in their lives, making it difficult to establish new networks of non-using friends and supporters. The researchers identified relationships in the network as a key factor in whether women used drugs or not.
A commentary cautions against using experimental Ebola drugs without proper triage to minimize risks. Meanwhile, health economists highlight a major flaw in the FDA's cost-benefit analysis of proposed cigarette labeling regulations. Additionally, a national study reveals that medical residents have varying levels of knowledge on High V...
The University of Chicago has established a national Center of Excellence to study the genetics of drug abuse in rats, using genome-wide association studies and behavioral research. The center aims to shed light on the genes behind drug addiction and explore potential therapeutic interventions.
A new study found that state policies can increase access to heroin treatment by promoting the use of buprenorphine. States with specific guidance and clinical guidelines for buprenorphine treatment had more physicians licensed to prescribe the drug.
A new study in the European Journal of Neuroscience found that oxycodone increases dopamine levels more significantly than morphine, potentially making it more addictive. The study aims to better understand addiction and inform treatment for pain relief.
A study led by Atika Khurana found that adolescents with strong working memory are less likely to engage in impulsive drug-use behaviors. Weaknesses in executive functioning often underlie self-control issues in children as young as 3 years old, making targeted interventions crucial for early prevention.
The NIH/NCCAM initiative aims to enhance options for managing pain and associated problems in US military personnel, veterans, and their families. The research will focus on nondrug approaches to address chronic pain, PTSD, drug abuse, and sleep issues.
A new RAND Corporation study found that only about one quarter of commercially-insured children treated for ADHD also receive psychotherapy, with significant variation in receipt of talk therapy across counties. The study highlights the need for improved access to behavioral therapy for children with ADHD.
The study aims to test a collaborative care intervention to improve chronic opioid therapy management and reduce prescription opioid misuse among HIV-infected patients. Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine hope to develop an effective model that can be adopted nationwide.
A NYU study found that young adult non-medical prescription opioid users are at high risk for overdose due to their lack of knowledge about overdose awareness, avoidance, and response strategies. The study highlights the need for education about naloxone and overdose prevention services for this population.
A new NYU study found that teen alcohol consumption is linked to unsafe driving and compromised relationships with peers, while marijuana consumption compromises relationships with authority figures. Marijuana use also leads to lower school or job performance and increased regret.
The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work has received a $1.25 million NIH grant to study the long-term impact of heroin use on health and behavior. The grant will support innovative virtual reality research, as well as programs to promote underrepresented researchers and provide prevention services.
Researchers developed an app that measures tremor strength using iPods, enabling clinicians to objectively assess patients' symptoms. The app's accuracy matches that of junior physicians and senior doctors, potentially improving treatment for alcohol withdrawal patients worldwide.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Engineering have successfully reprogrammed yeast cells to produce opioids in stainless steel vats, eliminating the need for poppy cultivation. The breakthrough could lead to reliable manufacture of essential medicines while mitigating diversion to illegal use.
A Purdue University study found that peer associations, access points to drugs, and motivations to have a good time with friends are linked to increased prescription drug misuse. The research, conducted among 404 young adults aged 18-29, suggests that prevention efforts should focus on these subtle components rather than peer pressure.
A new nasal spray application of anti-opioid drug naloxone has been developed to make overdose treatment more accessible and easier to administer. The product, which is currently in clinical trials, aims to reduce the death toll from heroin abuse and make a lifesaving treatment more available to those at high risk.
A study of brief interventions for problem drug use found no significant reduction in drug use among participants. The intervention, which included a handout and feedback on drug use screening results, was compared to enhanced care as usual.
A recent study tested two brief counseling interventions for unhealthy drug use among primary care patients, but found no significant reduction in drug use. The authors suggest that brief counseling may be inadequate to address the complexities of prescription drug misuse and illicit drug use.
A new study published in JAMA finds that two brief counseling interventions did not reduce the continued use of marijuana, cocaine, or opioids. The researchers suggest that clinicians should consider longer and more complex care management strategies to address unhealthy drug use. The study's findings raise questions about the federal ...
A study by NYU CDUHR researchers found that peer group dynamics play a significant role in facilitating the transition from oral and/or intranasal prescription opioid (PO) use to heroin injection. Nonmedical PO users are at high risk of acquiring HIV and/or HCV through injection and sexual risk behaviors associated with drug use.
Recent research demonstrates a critical link between dopamine signaling and dopamine transporter function in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Michelle Sahai's simulations using TACC's Stampede supercomputer have contributed to the discovery of mutations in the dopamine transporter linked to Parkinsonism and ADHD.
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 study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that marijuana-dependent individuals' brains respond differently to drug-related cues compared to non-dependent users. The research used fMRI scans to reveal altered brain activity patterns, which may inform tailored addiction treatment strategies.
According to a new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine, nearly all emergency patients who reported using any drug other than marijuana had problem drug use. The study found that 46.6% of cannabis users met the criteria for having a drug problem, with most also showing signs of addiction and substance abuse.
Researchers estimate that at least 60% of sildenafil consumed in the Netherlands is not from prescribed sources, with potential for widespread misuse of rogue online pharmacies
Researchers discovered a new form of neurotransmission involving acid-sensitive ion channels (ASICs) that influence addiction-related behavior. Targeting ASIC activity may lead to new therapies for treating drug addiction.
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 Northwestern Medicine study finds that delinquency in youth, particularly females, significantly increases the risk of violent death in adulthood. The study reveals that female delinquents are nearly five times more likely to die violently than the general population.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that blocking NMDA receptors with ketamine can elicit rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The study suggests that this fundamental difference between ketamine and memantine could lead to a new class of drugs with fewer side effects.
Scientists have developed a new method to analyze sewage and track levels of illicit drug use in local communities in real time. This study found cocaine and byproducts from opioids and hallucinogenic drugs in 93% of untreated wastewater samples.
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 study reveals that marijuana users are more likely to experience sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep and feeling daytime sleepiness. The association is strongest in adults who started marijuana use before age 15, with those who began early being twice as likely to struggle with severe sleep issues.
A CDC report documents outbreaks of infections caused by health care providers stealing or tampering with patients' medications. Over 100 infections and nearly 30,000 patients have been potentially exposed to bloodborne or bacterial pathogens over the past decade.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry analyzed heroin use patterns from 1970 to 2014, revealing significant changes in demographics. The findings indicate that heroin users are becoming increasingly young, urban, and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, reflecting broader societal trends.
A nationwide survey reveals that heroin users are attracted to the drug for its lower cost and ease of use compared to prescription painkillers. The study found that most people switching to heroin began with OxyContin or other opioids, highlighting a significant shift in the US heroin market.