ScienceDaily: Methamphetamine News

Native Hawaiians have bleeding strokes at earlier age, independent of meth use

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:10:10 EST

Native Hawaiians have more bleeding strokes at an earlier age than other people independent of methamphetamine abuse. Besides genetics, environmental factors -- such as diet, stress, unhealthy lifestyles and a lack of good healthcare could also affect the higher incidences. Researchers suggest more focus is needed on controlling high blood pressure, diabetes and weight management in this population.

Drug tests in humans for methamphetamine addiction

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:27:27 EST

Scientists have successfully completed dosing in the first human safety study of a medication to help methamphetamine users fight their addictions.

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.

Meth vaccine shows promising results in early tests; Blocking a meth high could help addicts committed to recovery

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:01:01 EDT

Scientists have performed successful tests of an experimental methamphetamine vaccine on rats. Vaccinated animals that received the drug were largely protected from typical signs of meth intoxication. If the vaccine proves effective in humans too, it could become the first specific treatment for meth addiction, which is estimated to affect 25 million people worldwide.

Pain pill abuse: Research sheds light on potential habit-forming properties of tramadol

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:38:38 EDT

A study by a team of University of Kentucky researchers has shed new light on the potential habit-forming properties of the popular pain medication tramadol.

Fruit flies on methamphetamine die largely as a result of anorexia

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:38:38 EDT

A new study finds that, like humans, fruit flies exposed to methamphetamine drastically reduce their food intake and increase their physical activity. The study, which tracked metabolic and behavioral changes in fruit flies on meth, indicates that starvation is a primary driver of methamphetamine-related death in the insects.

Speed and ecstasy associated with depression in teenagers

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:35:35 EDT

A five year study conducted with thousands of teenagers reveals that those who used speed (meth/ampthetamine) or ecstasy (MDMA) at fifteen or sixteen years of age were significantly more likely to suffer elevated depressive symptoms the following year.

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.

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.

Recent methamphetamine use among young men who have sex with men associated with increased risk of sexual practices that may expose them to HIV

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:30:30 EDT

Adolescent boys and young men who have sex with men and use methamphetamines appear to be at an increased risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure, according to a new study.

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.

Toward a vaccine for methamphetamine abuse

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:42:42 EDT

Scientists are reporting development of three promising formulations that could be used in a vaccine to treat methamphetamine addiction -- one of the most serious drug abuse problems in the US.

Newborns exposed to methamphetamine before birth are hard to arouse, hard to calm down, study suggests

Sun, 01 May 2011 18:36:36 EDT

A scale used to assess the behavior of newborns exposed to methamphetamine before birth might be able to identify those children who will develop problems later on.

Fruit flies on meth: Study explores whole-body effects of toxic drug

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:44:44 EDT

A new study in fruit flies offers a broad view of the potent and sometimes devastating molecular events that occur throughout the body as a result of methamphetamine exposure. The study tracks changes in the expression of genes and proteins throughout the body in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) exposed to meth.

Drug-abusers have difficulty to recognize negative emotions as wrath, fear and sadness, study finds

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:25:25 EST

Scientists in Spain have analyzed the relation between drug abuse and recognition of basic emotions (happiness, surprise, wrath, fear, sadness and disgust). This study was carried out with a sample including 123 polysubstance abusers and 67 no-drug users.

Post-9/11 security zones blight landscape, create 'architecture of fear'

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:19:19 EST

A new study says post-9/11 "security zones" in major American cities blight landscape, create "architecture of fear" and safety effects may be negligible.

Early-life brain inflammation may increase susceptibility to drug addiction in adulthood

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:54:54 EST

An episode of brain inflammation early in life may lead to long-lasting changes in the brain that increase the risk of developing drug addiction during adulthood, a new animal study found. Brain inflammation is most often caused by head injury or a viral infection such as encephalitis or meningitis.

Amphetamine use increases risk of aortic tears in young adults, study suggests

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:48:48 EDT

Young adults who abuse amphetamines may be at greater risk of suffering a tear in the main artery leading from the heart.

Fewer meth-related emergency visits reported following Oregon 'anti-meth' legislation

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:16:16 EDT

The number of methamphetamine-related emergency room visits decreased significantly in the year following the implementation of Oregon's law prohibiting the sale of over-the-counter decongestant containing pseudoephedrine, according to Oregon Health & Science Emergency Department physician-researchers.

Snails on methamphetamine: Memories formed by snails under influence of meth are harder to forget

Thu, 27 May 2010 20:42:42 EDT

Crystal meth (methamphetamine) is a highly addictive drug, which improves memory, but once hooked, addicts find the habit hard to break. One researcher wondered whether she could learn more about the effects of meth by studying the effect it has pond snail's memories. She found that memories formed by snails under the influence of meth are harder to forget and could help us understand human addiction.

Brain abnormalities identified that result from prenatal methamphetamine exposure

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:42:42 EDT

Children whose mothers abused methamphetamine (meth) during pregnancy show brain abnormalities that may be more severe than that of children exposed to alcohol prenatally, according to a new study. While researchers have long known that drug abuse during pregnancy can alter fetal brain development, this finding shows the potential impact of meth. Identifying vulnerable brain structures may help predict particular learning and behavioral problems in meth-exposed children.

Undergrad researchers lay groundwork for drug addiction remedy

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:25:25 EST

Sarah Steele and Langtian "Ren" Yuan were both self-admittedly inexperienced Duke freshmen in the spring of 2006. But then they followed helpful directions of an assistant chemistry professor, added their own patience and ingenuity, and ended up identifying compounds that might allay the powerful cravings of methamphetamine and cocaine addiction.

The buzz on fruit flies: New role in the search for addiction treatments

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:40:40 EST

Fruit flies may seem like unlikely heroes in the battle against drug abuse, but new research suggests that these insects -- already used to study dozens of human disease -- could claim that role. Scientists are reporting that fruit flies can be used as a simpler and more convenient animal model for studying the effects of cocaine and other drugs of abuse on the brain.

Wastewater Used To Map Illicit Drug Use

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:08:08 EDT

A team of researchers has mapped patterns of illicit drug use across the state of Oregon using a method of sampling municipal wastewater before it is treated. Their findings provide a one-day snapshot of drug excretion that can be used to better understand patterns of drug use in multiple municipalities over time.

Brain Functions That Can Prevent Relapse Improve After A Year Of Methamphetamine Abstinence

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:51:51 EDT

Researchers report that it takes at least a year for former methamphetamine users to regain impulse control. The results tell recovering substance abusers, their families and drug-treatment specialists that it can take an extended period of time for the brain functions critical to recovery to improve.

Following Meth Use In Mice: Exercise Protects Against Damage Causing Leakage In Blood-brain Barrier

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:16:16 EDT

Regular exercise can prevent the disruption of the blood brain barrier that normally occurs with a dose of methamphetamine comparable to that used by heavy meth users. A new study is the first to look at the protective effects of exercise on the vascular effects of methamphetamine.

Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure Linked To Abnormal Brain Development

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:26:26 EDT

A first of its kind study examining the effects of methamphetamine use during pregnancy has found the drug appears to cause abnormal brain development in children. The research is published in the April 15, 2009, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Methamphetamine Use Cost United States About $23 Billion In 2005, Study Estimates

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:51:51 EST

The first-ever comprehensive national assessment of the economic burden of methamphetamine use in the United States finds the drug cost the United States $23.4 billion in 2005, including the burden of addiction, premature death, drug treatment and many other aspects of the drug.

Success Of Anti-meth Ads Questioned By Study

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:14:14 EST

The federal government and several states have funded an advertising campaign on methamphetamine use. This study shows that the campaign has produced some negative outcomes. The study author recommends that government support for the campaign should be put on hold to allow for better research of the campaign's effectiveness.

Methamphetamine Abuse Linked To Underage Sex, Smoking And Drinking

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:05:05 EST

Teens who have never done drugs, but engage in other risky behaviours such as drinking, smoking and being sexually active, are more likely to use crystal meth, medical researchers have concluded.

Hope For Treating Relapse To Methamphetamine Abuse

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:16:16 EST

A new study suggests that vigabatrin blocks drug-seeking behavior in animals previously trained to associate methamphetamine with a particular environment.

Methamphetamine Abuse Linked To Underage Sex, Smoking And Drinking

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:57:57 EDT

Children and adolescents who abuse alcohol or are sexually active are more likely to take methamphetamines, also known as 'meth' or 'speed.' New research reveals the risk factors associated with MA use, in both low-risk children (those who don't take drugs) and high-risk children (those who have taken other drugs or who have ever attended juvenile detention centers).

Methamphetamine Enters Brain Quickly And Lingers

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:13:13 EDT

Using positron emission tomography to track tracer doses of methamphetamine in humans' brains, scientists find that the addictive and long-lasting effects of this increasingly prevalent drug can be explained in part by its pharmacokinetics -- the rate at which it enters and clears the brain, and its distribution.

Pharmacology Of Crystal Meth Described

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:08:08 EDT

When smoked, crystal meth rapidly achieves high concentrations in the brain without the burdens of the intravenous route. Scientists review the actions of methamphetamine and explain the potential role of dopamine in methamphetamine craving.

Amphetamine Abuse Linked To Heart Attacks In Young Adults

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:18:18 EDT

Young adults who abuse amphetamines may be at greater risk of suffering a heart attack. Amphetamines may contribute to heart attacks by increasing heart rate and blood pressure and by causing inflammation and artery spasms that limit blood to the heart muscle.

Methamphetamine Use In Pregnancy Damages Learning Ability Of Offspring, Study Suggests

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:01:01 EDT

Using a guinea pig model that can assess neural changes in offspring born to mothers given methamphetamine during an otherwise normal pregnancy, researchers provide new evidence for the cognitive damage of these drugs.

Methamphetamine Addiction Mechanism Discovered, Explains Why Cravings Last So Long

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:06:06 EDT

Repeatedly stimulating the mouse brain with methamphetamine depresses important areas of the brain, and those changes can only be undone by reintroducing the drug, according to new research. It explains why the craving of addiction is so stubborn and long-lived. This research also suggests that withdrawal from the drug may not undo the changes the stimulant can cause in the brain.

Club Drugs Inflict Damage Similar To Traumatic Brain Injury

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:11:11 EST

Researchers say certain club drugs trigger a chemical chain reaction in the brain similar to what occurs during traumatic brain injury, leading to cell death, memory loss and potentially irreversible brain damage.

Meth Use May Increase Risk Of Spreading HIV and other STDs, Study Suggests

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:11:11 EDT

New findings that one in 20 North Carolina men who have sex with men (MSM) reported using crystal methamphetamine during the previous month suggests increased risk for spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Meth Exposure In Young Adults Leads To Long-term Behavioral Consequences

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:07:07 EDT

Methamphetamine exposure in young adults may lead to long-term behavioral consequences later in life. The new work examines the idea that methamphetamine puts young users at risk of developing deficits later in life that are symptomatic of Parkinson's disease in individuals with depletion of glial derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that protects and repairs dopamine in areas of the brain related to movement control. Loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine is a major factor in the disease.

Crystal Methamphetamine Use In Young Adults May Be Higher Than Previously Reported

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:53:53 EDT

Crystal methamphetamine use among young adults in the United States is considerably higher than previous surveys indicate, according to new research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study, published in the July issue of the journal Addiction, found 2.8 percent of young adults (ages 18-26) reported use of crystal methamphetamine in the past year during 2001-2002.

Chronic Methamphetamine Abuse Linked To Cardiovascular Disease, Study Suggests

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:34:34 EDT

Scientists have found that chronic abuse of the highly addictive drug methamphetamine may be an unrecognized risk factor in the development of a number of potentially serious cardiovascular disorders frequently reported by methamphetamine abusers.

New Vaccines Help Kick Drug Habits

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:55:55 EDT

A pair of new vaccines designed to combat cocaine and methamphetamine dependencies not only relieve addiction but also minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Common Treatment For Methamphetamine Overdose May Damage Brain Cells

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:48:48 EDT

A common antipsychotic drug used in emergency rooms to treat methamphetamine overdose damages nerve cells in an area of the brain known to regulate movement, a new study shows.

Lab Finds Meth Receptor That Could Lead To New Therapy

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:11:11 EDT

A recently discovered signaling system in the brain has just been shown to be turned on by methamphetamine. The signaling system could soon become a target for therapies aiming to reverse meth's adverse health effects as well as reduce the craving that drives its abuse.

Amphetamine, Cocaine Usage Increase Risk Of Stroke Among Young Adults

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:37:37 EDT

Increasing rates of amphetamine and cocaine usage by young adults significantly boost their risk of stroke, with amphetamine abuse associated with the greatest risk, researchers recently report.

Methamphetamine Use Increases Risks Of Artery Tears And Stroke

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 09:54:54 EST

Methamphetamine use may be associated with increased risks of major neck artery tears and stroke, according to an article published in the December 26, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

First Biomarker For Human Sleepiness Identified In Fruit Flies

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:10:10 EST

Scientists have identified the first biochemical marker linked to sleep loss, an enzyme in saliva known as amylase, which increases in activity when sleep deprivation is prolonged.

Hair Samples Show Babies Can Be Exposed To 'Crystal Meth' While In The Womb

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:24:24 EST

Babies can be exposed to methamphetamine or "crystal meth" while in the womb, reveals an analysis of hair samples, published ahead of print in the Fetal and Neonatal Edition of Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Stress Triggers Relapse In Meth Abuse, Study Finds

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:39:39 EDT

Oregon Health & Science University research showing stress triggers relapse of methamphetamine abuse in mice could be a step toward developing a drug to curb this frustrating obstacle to recovery. Results of the study not only validate earlier studies on the effects of stress on drug relapse in humans, they also show a compound researchers used to mimic metabolic changes that occur during stress creates a useful model for studying this effect in the laboratory.

Use, As Well As 'Meth Mouth,' On The Rise

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:21:21 EDT

It's cheap, addictive and can harm your smile for life. Its use is also rapidly increasing both nationally and world-wide. It is methamphetamine. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 12 million Americans age 12 and older reported they had tried methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime.

Methamphetamine Use Restricts Fetal Growth, Study Finds

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 20:50:50 EDT

Results from the first large-scale, prospective study of prenatal methamphetamine use show that newborns exposed to the drug are more than three times as likely to be born underweight. Appearing in Pediatrics, the findings mirror those from studies of prenatal cocaine use, says Barry Lester, a professor and researcher at Brown Medical School and Women & Infants Hospital.

Geography And Geospatial Technology Used To Study Patterns Of Seized Meth Lab

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:59:59 EDT

A Kansas State University geography professor is using geography and geospatial technology to describe the spatial patterns of seized meth labs in an area of Colorado and parts of Kansas, and to analyze their association with geographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Meth Promotes Spread Of Virus In HIV-infected Users

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 13:56:56 EDT

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have presented the first evidence that the addictive drug methamphetamine, or meth, also commonly known as "speed" or "crystal," increases production of a docking protein that promotes the spread of the HIV-1 virus in infected users.

New Mechanism Found For Neurodegenerative Effects Of Amphetamines In Mice

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:35:35 EDT

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for the neurodegenerative effects of amphetamines. These drugs are converted in the brain into free radicals, highly reactive molecules that cause neurodegenerative brain damage and whose effects manifest and linger long after the amphetamine has left the body.

Team Discovers Possible 'Universal Strategy' To Combat Addiction

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:06:06 EST

An international research team has discovered a signaling pathway in the brain involved in drug addiction, together with a method for blocking its action, that may point to a single treatment strategy for most addictions.

Genetics Plays Role In Relapse Of Illicit Drug-seeking Behavior

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:29:29 EST

Inbred strains of rats differ in how aggressively they seek cocaine after a few weeks of use, researchers say. The finding is another piece of evidence that genetics plays a role in the relapse of drug-seeking behavior in humans, says Dr. Paul J. Kruzich, behavioral neuroscientist at the Medical College of Georgia and lead study author.

First Human Tests Of Antidepressant Bupropion As Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment Hold Promise

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 19:36:36 EST

A new study led by researchers at UCLA's Semel Institute suggests the antidepressant bupropion may help treat methamphetamine addiction. No medications presently are approved for treating methamphetamine addicts.

One Hit Of Crystal Meth Causes Birth Defects, Affects Fetuses At All Stages Of Development

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 06:37:37 EDT

A single prenatal dose of methamphetamine -- commonly known as speed -- may be enough to cause long-term neurodevelopmental problems in babies, say University of Toronto researchers.

Brain Region Recovery Possible In Former Methamphetamine Users

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 09:20:20 EDT

Adaptive changes in chemical activity in certain regions of the brain of former methamphetamine users who have not used the drug for a year or more suggest some recovery of neuronal structure and function, according to an article in the April issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.