ScienceDaily: Cocaine News

Cocaine vaccine passes key testing hurdle

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:01:01 EDT

Researchers have successfully tested their novel anti-cocaine vaccine in primates, bringing them closer to launching human clinical trials.

Mephedrone boosts illegal drug use

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:10:10 EDT

Experienced clubbers are more likely to add the former ‘legal high’ mephedrone to their drug repertoires rather than use it to replace popular established club drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine, according to new research.

Laser light zaps away cocaine addiction

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

By stimulating one part of the brain with laser light, researchers have shown that they can wipe away addictive behavior in rats -- or conversely turn non-addicted rats into compulsive cocaine seekers.

Discovery could yield treatment for cocaine addicts

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:12:12 EDT

Scientists have discovered a molecular process in the brain triggered by cocaine use that could provide a target for treatments to prevent or reverse addiction to the drug.

Cocaine addiction study reveals targets for treatment

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:07:07 EST

Scientists are researching cocaine addiction, part of a widespread problem, which, along with other addictions, costs billions of dollars in damage to individuals, families, and society. Laboratory studies have revealed that the diminished brain function and learning impairment that result from cocaine addiction can be treated –– and that learning can be restored.

Disulfiram: New support for an old addiction drug

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:44:44 EST

Disulfiram was the first medication approved for the treatment of alcoholism over 50 years ago. It works, at least in part, by preventing the metabolism of an alcohol by-product, acetaldehyde. High levels of acetaldehyde in the body quickly cause unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headache, and accelerated heart rate. Thus, disulfiram provides a very strong incentive to avoid drinking.

Gene interactions make cocaine abuse death eight times more likely

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:22:22 EST

Scientists have identified genetic circumstances under which common mutations on two genes interact in the presence of cocaine to produce a nearly eight-fold increased risk of death as a result of abusing the drug.

People with low risk for cocaine dependence have differently shaped brain to those with addiction

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:33:33 EST

People who take cocaine over many years without becoming addicted have a brain structure which is significantly different from those individuals who developed cocaine-dependence, researchers have discovered.

Drug abuse impairs sexual performance in men even after rehabilitation

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:57:57 EST

Alcohol is the drug that most affects sexual arousal (erectile capacity), according to new research. In addition, researchers observed that men did not improve their sexual performance when they stopped drinking alcohol. The study included 905 men of which 550 had been diagnosed with alcohol, cocaine, cocaine and alcohol, heroin, marijuana and speedball (cocaine and heroin) addiction.

Resistance to cocaine addiction may be passed down from father to son

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 13:25:25 EST

New research reveals that sons of male rats exposed to cocaine are resistant to the rewarding effects of the drug, suggesting that cocaine-induced changes in physiology are passed down from father to son.

Overprescribing of opioids impacts patient safety and public health

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:57:57 EST

A new article suggests that the clinical practice of prescribing amphetamines, opioids, and benzodiazepines to treat chronic pain may be contributing to the increase in fatal drug overdoses and the likelihood that those drugs will be diverted to the illegal market.

Treating cocaine dependence: Promising new pharmacotherapy

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:36:36 EST

Medication development efforts for cocaine dependence have yet to result in an FDA approved treatment. The powerful rewarding effects of cocaine, the profound disruptive impact of cocaine dependence on one's lifestyle, and the tendency of cocaine to attract people who make poor life choices and then exacerbate impulsive behavior all make cocaine a vexing clinical condition. In this battle, many candidate pharmacotherapies have been tested, but none have succeeded sufficiently to be adopted widely. Perhaps like cancer, heart disease, and AIDS, cocaine dependence is a disorder that requires combinations of medications for effective treatment.

Brain area's role in learning identified

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:29:29 EST

An area of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex is responsible for decisions made on the spur of the moment, but not those made based on prior experience or habit, according to a new study from substance abuse researchers. The distinction is critical to understanding the neurobiology of decision-making, particularly with regard to substance abuse.

Recreational cocaine use linked to conditions that cause heart attack

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:02:02 EST

Recreational cocaine users may have higher blood pressure, stiffer arteries and thicker heart muscle walls than non-users -- all of which can cause a heart attack. The Australian study is the first to document some of these cardiovascular abnormalities in seemingly healthy cocaine users long after the immediate effects of cocaine have worn off.

Diabetes drug could be effective in treating addiction, researchers find

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:09:09 EDT

Researchers are reporting that a drug currently used to treat type 2 diabetes could be just as effective in treating addiction to drugs, including cocaine. The findings could have far-reaching implications for patients worldwide who suffer from addiction.

Overcoming memories that trigger cocaine relapse

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:19:19 EDT

Researchers have identified mechanisms in the brain responsible for regulating cocaine-seeking behavior, providing an avenue for drug development that could greatly reduce the high relapse rate in cocaine addiction.

Does motherhood dampen cocaine’s effects?

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:19:19 EDT

Mother rats respond much differently to cocaine than female rats that have never given birth, according to new research that looks at both behavior and brain chemistry. The findings may help lay the groundwork for more tailored human addiction treatment.

Research reveals decline in illicit drug abuse; Prescription drug abuse on the rise

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:15:15 EDT

New research shows that while there has been an encouraging decline in illicit drug abuse across most major metropolitan areas in recent years, prescription drug abuse is climbing.

Neuroimaging technique captures cocaine's devastating effect on brain blood flow

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:12:12 EDT

Researchers have developed a high-resolution, 3D optical Doppler imaging tomography technique that captures the effects of cocaine restricting the blood supply in vessels of the brain.

Mechanism of opiate addiction is completely different from other drugs

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:46:46 EDT

Chronic morphine exposure has the opposite effect on the brain compared to cocaine in mice, providing new insight into the basis of opiate addiction, according to researchers. They found that a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is increased in cocaine addiction, is inhibited in opioid addiction.

Mechanism related to negative emotions of cocaine withdrawal discovered: Emotional 'brakes' stay on after cocaine wears off

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:20:20 EDT

Researchers have found a cellular mechanism that contributes to the lack of motivation and negative emotions of a cocaine addict going through withdrawal. Their discovery offers a deeper look into the cellular and behavioral implications of addiction.

Traumatic childhood may increase the risk of drug addiction

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:34:34 EDT

Previous research has shown that personality traits such as impulsivity or compulsiveness are indicators of an increased risk of addiction. Now, new research suggests that these impulsive and compulsive personality traits are also associated with a traumatic upbringing during childhood.

Scientists show two-drug combination has potential to fight cocaine addiction

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:21:21 EDT

A fine-tuned combination of two existing pharmaceutical drugs has shown promise as a potential new therapy for people addicted to cocaine -— a therapy that would reduce their craving for the drug and blunt their symptoms of withdrawal.

Childhood defiance correlated with drug dependence

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:26:26 EDT

Childhood defiance is correlated with drug dependence whereas inattention suggests a susceptibility to smoking.

Modeling of new enzymes helps develop therapies for cocaine abuse

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:02:02 EDT

Researchers have designed and discovered a series of highly efficient enzymes that effectively metabolize cocaine.

Waste water analysis reveals for the first time real time information regarding drug consumption in 19 European cities

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:29:29 EDT

Waste water analysis using urinary biomarkers allows the reliable detection of actual drug consumption in cities. For the first time, a wide group of scientists have carried out a comparative study regarding the consumption of illegal drugs in 19 European cities, four of which are Spanish, based on waste water analysis. In the case of Spain, cannabis and cocaine consumption is higher than that of other drugs such as methamphetamines and ecstasy, appearing in each of the four cities analysed: Barcelona, Castelló de la Plana, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia.

European drug use analyzed through raw sewage samples

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:45:45 EDT

Surveys of drug use form an important basis for the development of effective drug policies, and also for measuring the effectiveness of existing policies. For the first time in history, scientists have now made direct comparisons of illicit drug use in 19 European cities by a cooperative analysis of raw sewage samples.

Increasing dopamine in brain's frontal cortex decreases impulsive tendency

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:24:24 EDT

Raising levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the frontal cortex of the brain significantly decreased impulsivity in healthy adults.

Synthetic stimulants called 'bath salts' act in the brain like cocaine

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:10:10 EDT

Results of a new study offer compelling evidence for the first time that mephedrone, like cocaine, does have potential for abuse and addiction.

Neurons that control overeating also drive appetite for cocaine

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 13:49:49 EDT

Researchers have zeroed in on a set of neurons in the part of the brain that controls hunger, and found that these neurons are not only associated with overeating, but also linked to non-food associated behaviors, like novelty-seeking and drug addiction.

How plants make cocaine

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:26:26 EDT

Cocaine is one of the most commonly used (and abused) plant-derived drugs in the world, but we have almost no modern information on how plants produce this complex alkaloid. Researchers have just discovered a key reaction in cocaine formation in the coca plant from South America, and identified the responsible enzyme. This enzyme was shown to belong to the aldo-keto-reductase protein family revealing some exciting new insights into the evolution of cocaine biosynthesis.

Chronic cocaine use triggers changes in brain's neuron structure

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:53:53 EDT

Chronic exposure to cocaine reduces the expression of a protein known to regulate brain plasticity, according to new, in vivo research on the molecular basis of cocaine addiction.

Binge eating may lead to addiction-like behaviors

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:18:18 EDT

A history of binge eating -- consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time -- may make an individual more likely to show other addiction-like behaviors, including substance abuse, according to researchers. In the short term, this finding may shed light on the factors that promote substance abuse, addiction, and relapse. In the long term, may help clinicians treat individuals suffering from this devastating disease.

Chronic cocaine use may speed up aging of brain

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:59:59 EDT

New research suggests that chronic cocaine abuse accelerates the process of brain aging. The study found that age-related loss of gray matter in the brain is greater in people who are dependent on cocaine than in the healthy population.

Specific protein triggers changes in neurons in brain reward center linked to cocaine addiction

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:50:50 EDT

New research reveals that repeated exposure to cocaine decreases the activity of a protein necessary for normal functioning of the brain's reward system, thus enhancing the reward for cocaine use, which leads to addiction. Investigators were also able to block the ability of repeated cocaine exposure, to induce addiction.

Antidote for cocaine overdose shows promise in lab tests

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:51:51 EDT

Scientists are reporting development and successful testing in laboratory mice of a substance that shows promise for becoming the first antidote for cocaine toxicity in humans. The new so-called "passive vaccine" reversed the motor impairment, seizures and other dangerous symptoms of a cocaine overdose, which claims thousands of lives each year among users of the illicit drug.

Antidote for cocaine overdose looks promising in lab studies

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:48:48 EDT

Scientists have shown that an injectable solution can protect mice from an otherwise lethal overdose of cocaine. The findings could lead to human clinical trials of a treatment designed to reverse the effects of cocaine in case of emergency. Cocaine is involved in more than 400,000 emergency-room visits and about 5,000 overdose deaths each year in the United States.

Structure of ‘salvia’ receptor solved

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:20:20 EDT

A research team has determined the structure of the kappa-opioid receptor—site of action of the widely abused hallucinogen Salvia divinorum – solving longstanding scientific mysteries and offering new insights for treating drug addiction, chronic pain and depression.

Discovery of brain's natural resistance to drugs may offer clues to treating addiction

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:16:16 EST

A single injection of cocaine or methamphetamine in mice caused their brains to put the brakes on neurons that generate sensations of pleasure, and these cellular changes lasted for at least a week, according to new research.

Cocaine and the teen brain: New insights into addiction

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:26:26 EST

When first exposed to cocaine, the adolescent brain launches a strong defensive reaction designed to minimize the drug's effects, scientists have found. Now two new studies identify key genes that regulate this response and show that interfering with this reaction dramatically increases a mouse's sensitivity to cocaine.

Addicts' cravings have different roots in men and women

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:15:15 EST

A new brain imaging study suggests stress robustly activates areas of the brain associated with craving in cocaine-dependent women, while drug cues activate similar brain regions in cocaine-dependent men. The study suggests men and women with cocaine dependence might benefit more from different treatment options.

Potential target for anti-craving medications identified

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:18:18 EST

Scientists have identified a potential target for the development of anti-craving medications for people with addictions to stimulants such as methamphetamine.

How the brain puts the brakes on negative impact of cocaine

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:35:35 EST

New research provides fascinating insight into a newly discovered brain mechanism that limits the rewarding impact of cocaine. The study describes protective delayed mechanism that turns off the genes that support the development of addiction-related behaviors. The findings may lead to a better understanding of vulnerability to addiction and as well as new strategies for treatment.

Gray matter in brain's control center linked to ability to process reward; Structure-function impairments observed in people addicted to cocaine

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:11:11 EST

The more gray matter you have in the decision-making, thought-processing part of your brain, the better your ability to evaluate rewards and consequences. A new study is the first to show this link between structure and function in healthy people -- and the impairment of both in people addicted to cocaine.

New way to boost potency of natural pain relief chemical in body

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:25:25 EST

Researchers have discovered a new means of enhancing the effects of anandamide -- a natural, marijuana-like chemical in the body that provides pain relief.

High childhood IQ linked to subsequent illicit drug use, research suggests

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:10:10 EST

A high childhood IQ may be linked to subsequent illegal drug use, particularly among women, new research suggests.

Nicotine primes brain for cocaine use: Molecular basis of gateway sequence of drug use

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:04:04 EDT

Cigarettes and alcohol serve as gateway drugs, which people use before progressing to the use of marijuana, cocaine and other illicit substances; this progression is called the "gateway sequence" of drug use. Latest findings provide the first molecular explanation for the gateway sequence. They show that nicotine causes specific changes in the brain that make it more vulnerable to cocaine addiction -- a discovery made by using a novel mouse model.

Nicotine as a gateway drug: Biological mechanism in mice identified

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:12:12 EDT

A landmark study in mice identifies a biological mechanism that could help explain how tobacco products could act as gateway drugs, increasing a person's future likelihood of abusing cocaine and perhaps other drugs as well, according to researchers. The study is the first to show that nicotine might prime the brain to enhance the behavioral effects of cocaine.

Jonesing for java: Could caffeine use predict risk for cocaine abuse?

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:39:39 EDT

A new study that examined responses to stimulants is the first to demonstrate that caffeine reinforcement prospectively predicts the positive effects of another drug.

Cocaine users have 45 percent increased risk of glaucoma

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:29:29 EDT

A study of the 5.3 million men and women seen in Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics in a one-year period found that use of cocaine is predictive of open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma. Current and former cocaine users had a 45 percent increased risk of glaucoma.

Faulty signaling in brain increases craving for sugar and drugs

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:38:38 EDT

When glutamate and dopamine do not collaborate as they should in the brain's signal system, the kick that alcohol, sugar, or other drugs induce increases. This provides a key piece of the puzzle about the mechanisms behind both substance abuse and obesity.

Mechanism links substance abuse with vulnerability to depression

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:28:28 EDT

A new study finds that repeated cocaine use increases the severity of depressive-like responses in a mouse model of depression and identifies a mechanism that underlies this cocaine-induced vulnerability.

Cocaine addicts prefer money in hand to snowy future

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:40:40 EDT

When a research team asked cocaine addicts to choose, hypothetically, between money now or cocaine of greater value later, "preference was almost exclusively for the money now."

Possible therapeutic target for depression and addiction identified

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:28:28 EDT

Researchers have identified an important part of the pathway through which stress affects mood and motivation for drugs. The finding may prove useful in humans by providing new potential targets for drugs to treat problems related to stress.

Drug development in the blink of an eye

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:42:42 EDT

The development of drugs for brain-related conditions is not an efficient process. A key reason for this is a lack of preclinical tests that accurately predict drug efficacy and detect unwanted side effects. But now, researchers have developed a new preclinical approach that they hope can be used alongside current strategies to guide more efficient drug development for brain-related conditions.

Non-cocaine, topical anesthetics can kill pain when repairing skin wounds

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:34:34 EDT

While some pain killers need to be injected into the damaged tissue in order to work, topical anesthetics only need to be spread on the surface. The earliest examples of "topical" anesthetics contained cocaine, but now a new systematic review has shown that newer agents that don't contain cocaine can effectively treat pain caused by torn skin. This makes these pain killers an attractive choice for doctors who need to sew-up a patient's skin wound.

Increased risk of Parkinson's disease in methamphetamine users, study finds

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:21:21 EDT

People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who do not, according to a new study.

Scientists create vaccine against heroin high

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:35:35 EDT

Researchers have developed a highly successful vaccine against a heroin high and have indicated its therapeutic potential.

New hope for treatment of cocaine addiction

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:53:53 EDT

Researchers have discovered that a common beta blocker, used to treat people with hypertension, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories associated with cocaine use in animal-addiction models. Cocaine is one of the worst drug addictions to kick, with about 80 percent of those trying to quit experiencing a relapse within six months.

Contaminated cocaine triggers decaying, dying skin

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:12:12 EDT

If the obvious reasons for avoiding recreational drug use aren't off-putting enough, physicians have another consequence to add -- crusty, purplish areas of dead skin that are extremely painful and can open the door to nasty infections. The condition is called purpura. Typical causes include some rare disorders, but it is also associated with the use of cocaine. Not just any cocaine, though: physicians believe cocaine contaminated with a de-worming drug is the culprit.