Articles tagged with Drug Abuse
A survey of 3,639 college students found that those who used prescription medications without a prescription were more likely to screen positive for drug abuse than those who used them for medical reasons. The study highlights the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment of college students taking frequently abused medications.
A new study found that stimulant treatment for children with ADHD has no effect on their future risk of substance abuse. The 10-year follow-up study analyzed over 100 young men and controlled for conditions like conduct disorder, which are associated with substance abuse.
A specific gene variant associated with a better response to naltrexone in treating alcohol dependence has been identified, according to a large-scale analysis of the COMBINE Study. Patients carrying the variant experienced significantly improved clinical outcomes compared to those without it.
Researchers found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB play a crucial role in age-specific responses to stimulants. The study suggests that BDNF/TrkB might be used as a target for new treatments for childhood neuropsychiatric disorders or addiction.
Researchers used fMRI to show that cocaine-related images stimulate activity in the limbic system, a brain network involved in emotion and reward, even when subjects are unaware they've seen anything. The study suggests new drug treatment strategies by targeting the brain's sensitivity to conditioned drug cues.
A study in PLOS Medicine found that Somali combatants' excessive use of khat, a stimulant with amphetamine-like effects, is prevalent across southern and central Somalia. The study also revealed high levels of cannabis and other drug use among combatants, posing significant challenges for post-conflict reintegration programs.
Research at UCSD reveals ketamine impairs brain circuitry by increasing superoxide production, leading to memory and attention problems. Inhibiting NADPH oxidase could provide novel treatments for schizophrenia.
Research by University of Florida scientists found that using club drugs triggers a similar chemical chain reaction in the brain as a traumatic brain injury, resulting in cell death and memory loss. The study suggests that methamphetamine use can cause irreversible brain damage.
The University of Houston will receive a five-year, $2.3 million National Institutes of Health grant to fund a multidisciplinary approach to drug abuse research. The grant will focus on the health and social consequences of drug abuse among aging minority populations, with a particular emphasis on Latino injecting heroin users in the H...
A study found that state Medicaid policies, such as restricting access to pharmacy networks and preferred drug lists, limit the use of naltrexone, an inexpensive therapy proven to reduce problem drinking. Changing these policies could increase naltrexone's availability and address the huge financial burden of alcohol abuse.
A study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that approximately 15% of teens receiving routine outpatient medical care had positive results on a substance abuse screening test. The study highlights the importance of efficient office-based systems for substance abuse screening and therapeutic interventions.
Researchers found that genes influencing risk for psychoactive drug abuse or dependence vary between illicit and licit substances, with caffeine addiction appearing to be genetically independent. Heritability estimates suggest that genetic factors account for over 70% of risk for cocaine, cannabis, and nicotine dependence.
A Phase 2 study showed ALO-01, an extended-release morphine sulfate plus sequestered naltrexone, provided similar effectiveness and tolerability to KADIAN Capsules for moderate-to-severe chronic osteoarthritis pain. The majority of patients rated both medications as good or excellent.
The opioid system controls pain, reward and addictive behaviors through mu, delta, and kappa receptors. Mice lacking these receptors exhibit altered emotional responses and sensitivity to pain.
The project aims to reveal how some viral infections become resistant to antiviral medications. Researchers will test the interactions between FIV, a cat virus, and an AIDS drug called AZT in the presence of methamphetamine.
The study reveals that adult steroid users are driven and ambitious individuals motivated by physical self-improvement, including muscle gain, strength, and attractiveness. These non-medical AAS users follow a health-centered lifestyle, using directed drug technology as part of their strategy.
A study found that topiramate significantly reduced percentage of heavy drinking days and increased days of continuous nonheavy drinking compared to placebo. The medication also showed greater reduction in heavy drinking days from baseline to week 14.
A USC study found that social network-tailored prevention curricula can significantly reduce substance use among teenagers, with a 15% decrease in high-risk teens. The program's success depends on how peer influence is channeled, with positive influences boosting participation and negative influences hindering it.
Researchers aim to improve diagnosis and treatment of neurologic emergencies with rapid, reliable information. The Point-of-Care Center will focus on developing technologies for fast and accurate diagnosis at the bedside or in the operating room.
A genetic variant in nearly half of Americans with European ancestry is linked to greater effectiveness of bupropion in quitting smoking. People with the variant were less likely to resume smoking six months after treatment.
A new study found that pill box organizers significantly improved HIV patients' adherence to medication, leading to better viral suppression and reduced risk of disease progression. The inexpensive tool was associated with a 4% improvement in adherence and an estimated 11% reduction in the risk of clinical AIDS.
A new sewage screening test has been developed to track community-wide drug abuse trends, providing a fast, reliable, and inexpensive way to estimate illicit drug use. The method analyzes drug residues and metabolites in urine flushed into municipal sewage treatment plants.
Adults with ADHD show blunted response to methylphenidate, suggesting dopamine dysfunction may contribute to ADHD symptoms. Reduced dopamine activity is also associated with increased substance abuse in individuals with ADHD.
A Scripps Research study found that chronic methamphetamine abuse can lead to vascular inflammation and deterioration, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study also discovered that long-term methamphetamine users have aberrant immune responses, producing proinflammatory cytokines.
A new study suggests that stimulant treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can increase the risk of future drug abuse, with age and treatment duration being key variables. The researchers found that brain chemistry changes associated with longer treatment periods may attenuate the propensity to abuse drugs.
Studies demonstrated that ROZEREM did not impair middle-of-the-night balance, mobility or memory performance in patients with chronic insomnia. The medication's unique mechanism of action targets the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle, and showed no evidence of abuse potential.
A double-blind study found DAYTRANA significantly reduced ADHD symptoms in boys and girls aged 6-12 by 56.5% and 57.4%, respectively. The patch offers a favorable safety profile and provides a platform to discuss gender differences in ADHD treatment.
According to the study, approximately 10.3% of U.S. adults have problems with drug use or abuse, with 2.6% becoming drug-dependent at some point. The results highlight the need for education and prevention efforts to address these widespread issues.
A case report in The Lancet highlights the dangers of continued cocaine abuse on the heart, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy. After treatment, the patient's condition improved significantly, showing promise for recovery with abstinence.
A play about substance abuse was successful in prompting audience members to participate in prevention activities. After seeing the play, participants were more likely to talk about substance abuse, donate money to organizations, and volunteer time.
A teenage girl in London collapsed in a nightclub after taking 1-benzylpiperazine tablets, highlighting the dangers of this new drug. Analysis revealed the presence of the substance in her blood and seized tablet, which was linked to similar symptoms in seven other patients.
New research reveals morphine makes lasting changes in the brain by blocking a key mechanism for memory making, suggesting addiction is a disease of learning and memory. The findings may help explain how addictive drugs affect the brain and support a new theory of addiction.
A new certification, CCDP, has been introduced to treat patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. This change aims to integrate addiction and mental health treatment, addressing the interactive relationship between the two disorders.
The Prescription Opiate Addiction Treatment Study aims to assess the effectiveness of buprenorphine/naloxone combination tablets and different models of drug counseling in patients addicted to prescription opioids. The study will enroll 648 participants and test various treatment approaches to treat addiction to opioid painkillers.
A recent NIDA study has identified genes associated with an individual's ability to quit smoking. The research, published in BMC Genetics, found 221 genes that distinguish successful quitters from those who struggled to stop smoking.
Young adults who abuse amphetamines are five times more likely to have a hemorrhagic stroke than non-abusers, while cocaine abuse doubles their likelihood of having either a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. The study highlights the dangers of methamphetamine use among young people.
A study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found a significant association between cocaine and amphetamine abuse and an increased risk of stroke. The use of these stimulant drugs may raise blood pressure and contribute to narrowing blood vessels, leading to an increased risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes.
A study of 5,500 women found that smokers had shorter careers, lower pay, and more disciplinary actions than non-smokers. Smokers were also more likely to be discharged for medical or behavioral reasons.
A study found that most first-time DWI offenders have high rates of other substance-use disorders and psychiatric disorders, requiring enhanced services in intervention programs. The research suggests that treatment approaches may need to be modified to better serve this more severe subtype of DWI offenders.
A new nine-category matrix of harm ranks drugs by their physical harm to users, dependence potential, and societal impact. Alcohol and tobacco are found to be more harmful than previously classified substances like LSD and cannabis.
A new study published in Clinical Therapeutics suggests that private health plans increasingly rely on escalating copayments to manage drug costs, making treatment more expensive for patients. This can affect adherence to treatment, particularly for psychiatric disorders.
Patients with Parkinson's disease who develop the condition at a younger age and have a history of alcohol abuse are more likely to experience pathological gambling as a side effect of dopamine agonist medications. Behavioral characteristics such as impulsivity and risk-taking behavior may also play a role in this increased risk.
A Penn study found that only 16% of male veterans indicated zero tolerance for detainee exposure and deprivation, while 48% showed no tolerance for detainee rape. Depression and PTSD were strongly linked to increased tolerance for abuse.
Researchers investigated opioid analgesic abuse and found it is more prevalent in rural areas, with teenagers increasingly affected. Spinal cord stimulation also showed significant results in managing axial low back pain associated with failed back surgery syndrome.
Research has found that brain damage to a specific area called the insula may help smokers quit by eliminating their addiction to nicotine. Twelve out of thirteen participants who experienced this type of damage were able to quit smoking without any reported struggles.
A Johns Hopkins study finds that individuals entering drug treatment programs are more likely to be female, unemployed, and HIV-positive, with a history of mental illness. This highlights the need for strong linkages between needle exchange programs and treatment services to address co-occurring health problems.
A systematic literature review found that opioids are effective only in the short-term (less than four months) treatment of chronic low back pain. Long-term effectiveness is not conclusive, and behaviors consistent with opioid abuse were reported in 24 percent of cases.
A new study from Harvard Medical School found no association between benzodiazepine use and hip fractures among the elderly. The study, which analyzed data from over 90,000 Medicaid recipients, suggests that policies limiting sedative prescriptions may need to be reexamined.
A recent study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers found that prenatal cocaine exposure in rabbits causes a long-lasting displacement of dopamine receptors in certain brain cells. This effect alters their ability to function normally and may lead to subtle cognitive impairments, attention deficits, and emotional problems.
Research led by the National Drug Evidence Centre found that problem drug use is declining in some areas previously considered 'hot spots' in the UK. The study suggests that younger people are being recruited into the problem drug use population at a faster rate, leading to a decline in incidence rates.
Dextromethorphan abuse among California teens increased tenfold between 1999 and 2004, with 74.5% of cases involving youth aged 9-17. The trend was attributed to easy access and perceived safety of the medication.
A 12-year study by University of Pittsburgh researchers suggests that marijuana use at a young age is not a predictor of substance abuse. Instead, environmental factors such as neighborhood exposure and parental involvement play a stronger role in determining drug use patterns.
A study conducted by Dr. Benedikt Fischer and his team reveals that prescription opioids are the major form of illicit opioid use in seven Canadian cities, surpassing heroin use. The findings suggest a significant decline in heroin use among participants between 2001 and 2005.
Street drug users increasingly rely on prescription opioids instead of heroin, raising concerns about treatment programs and public health. The shift has significant implications for addiction treatment, highlighting the need for adjustments to opioid addiction programs.
A study analyzing hair samples from over 8,000 individuals found that babies can be exposed to crystal meth in the womb, with wide-ranging levels detected in both mothers' and newborns' hair. The findings suggest restricted fetal growth and developmental problems, highlighting the need for increased awareness and safety measures.
A study by UCLA researchers found that HIV-infected individuals without consistent outpatient medical care are disproportionately minorities, the poor, and substance abusers. These groups are more likely to receive acute care rather than routine medical services.
A study by Oregon Health & Science University researchers found that stress triggers a relapse of methamphetamine abuse in mice, validating human studies. The researchers used a compound to mimic metabolic changes during stress and found it was effective in reinstating drug-seeking behavior.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that MDMA can increase the survival of dopamine cells during fetal development. This may lead to better therapies for neurological diseases like Parkinson's. The study suggests that preventing dopamine cell death is key to finding lasting treatments.
New data from University of Florida researchers reveal a sharp increase in cocaine-related deaths in Florida, with nearly twice the number of deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 compared to 2005. The trend is particularly concerning in college towns and wealthy communities.
Researchers found PPM abuse varies greatly across US states, differing from traditional illicit drug trends. States with large metropolitan areas often have lower abuse rates despite perceptions of city dwellers being more prone to drug use.