ScienceDaily: Illegal Drug and Controlled Substance News

Anabolic steroids may affect future mental health

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

There is a link between use of anabolic-androgenic steroids and reduced mental health later in life. This is the main conclusion of a new study on elite male strength athletes. Twenty per cent of the subjects in the study admitted steroid use.

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.

Study adds to evidence that cigarettes are gateway to marijuana

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Teen smokers who rationalize their use of cigarettes by saying, "At least, I'm not doing drugs," may not always be able to use that line. New research supports the theory that cigarettes are a gateway drug to marijuana.

Adderall abuse as final exam study aid 'trending' among U.S. students

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:51:51 EDT

A growing number of U.S. college students are abusing the ADHD medication Adderall to give them an academic edge and they're tweeting about it. A six-month study tracking Adderall mentions on Twitter revealed two things: 1. It's mentioned most among students in the northeast and south of the United States. 2. Tweets about Adderall peak during final exam periods.

Scientists weaken HIV infection in immune cells using synthetic agents

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:20 EDT

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is notorious for hiding within certain types of cells, where it reproduces at a slowed rate and eventually gives rise to chronic inflammation, despite drug therapy. But researchers recently discovered that synthetic anti-inflammatory substances distantly related to the active ingredient of marijuana may be able to take the punch out of HIV while inside one of its major hideouts -- immune cells called macrophages.

Prevention programs dramatically cut substance abuse among teens

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Young adults reduce their overall prescription drug misuse up to 65 percent if they are part of a community-based prevention effort while still in middle school, according to researchers.

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.

Alcohol use, anxiety predict Facebook use by college students

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Anxiety and alcohol use significantly predict emotional connectedness to Facebook, a new study suggests. According to one of the researchers, alcohol use is generally viewed as normative, or socially acceptable, among college students, so increased alcohol use may cause an increase in emotional connectedness to Facebook. Researchers also found that marijuana use predicted the opposite: a lack of emotional connectedness with Facebook.

First trial to investigate magic mushrooms as a treatment for depression delayed by UK and EU regulations

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:08:08 EDT

The world’s first clinical trial to explore the use of the hallucinogenic ingredient in magic mushrooms to treat depression is being delayed due to the UK and EU rules on the use of illegal drugs in 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.

Children of deployed parents at higher risk for alcohol, drug use

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

A statewide survey of sixth-, eighth-, and 11th-grade Iowa students found that children of deployed or recently returned military parents had an increased risk for alcohol use, binge drinking, and using marijuana, compared to children in non-military families. The study also found that when parental deployment resulted in a child not living with a parent or relative, the risk of binge drinking and marijuana use was even higher.

Study shows rising rate of propofol abuse by health care professionals

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Abuse of the anesthesia drug propofol is a "rapidly progressive form of substance dependence" that is being more commonly seen among health care professionals, a new study reports.

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.

Study pinpoints, prevents stress-induced drug relapse in rats

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:42:42 EST

Scientists have identified specific key steps in the chain of events that causes stress-related drug relapse. They identified the exact region of the brain where the events take place in rat models and showed that by blocking a step, they could prevent stress-related relapse to drug seeking.

How the brain suppresses pain during times of stress

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:40:40 EST

How does the brain suppress pain? For the first time, it has been shown that suppression of pain during times of fear involves complex interplay between marijuana-like chemicals and other neurotransmitters in a brain region called the amygdala.

New study shows cannabis effects on driving skills

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:22:22 EST

Cannabis is second only to alcohol for causing impaired driving and motor vehicle accidents. In 2009, 12.8% of young adults reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs and in the 2007 National Roadside Survey, more drivers tested positive for drugs than for alcohol. These cannabis smokers had a 10-fold increase in car crash injury compared with infrequent or nonusers after adjustment for blood alcohol concentration.

Parents talking about their own drug use to children could be detrimental

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:31:31 EST

Parents know that one day they will have to talk to their children about drug use. The hardest part is to decide whether or not talking about ones own drug use will be useful in communicating an antidrug message. Recent research found that children whose parents did not disclose drug use, but delivered a strong antidrug message, were more likely to exhibit antidrug attitudes.

Prevention efforts focused on youth reduce prescription abuse into adulthood

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:42:42 EST

Middle school students from small towns and rural communities who received any of three community-based prevention programs were less likely to abuse prescription medications in late adolescence and young adulthood.

12th grade dropouts have higher rates of cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use, U.S. study finds

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:15:15 EST

Youth in the 12th grade age range (ages 16 to 18) who have dropped out of school prior to graduating are more likely than their counterparts to be current users of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs, according to a new U.S. report.

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.

Large study shows substance abuse rates higher in teenagers with ADHD

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:48:48 EST

A new study revealed a significantly higher prevalence of substance abuse and cigarette use by adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) histories than in those without ADHD. Researchers also found that, contrary to previous findings, current medications for ADHD do not counter the risk for substance abuse or substance abuse disorder.

Smoking marijuana associated with higher stroke risk in young adults

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:10:10 EST

Marijuana use may double the risk of stroke in young adults. The New Zealand findings are the first from a case-controlled study to indicate a potential link between marijuana and stroke.

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.

Medical cannabis provides dramatic relief for sufferers of chronic ailments, Israeli study finds

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:34:34 EST

Though still controversial, medical cannabis has been gaining ground as a valid therapy for cancer, PTSD, and chronic pain. Now a specialist says that residents of an Israel nursing home experienced dramatic physical and mental improvements following cannabis therapy and that the therapy significantly reduced the need for chronic medications for many of them.

Socially isolated rats are more vulnerable to addiction, report researchers

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:50:50 EST

Rats that are socially isolated during a critical period of adolescence are more vulnerable to addiction to amphetamine and alcohol. Amphetamine addiction is also harder to extinguish in the socially isolated rats.

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.

Brain imaging insight into cannabis as a pain killer

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:57:57 EST

The pain relief offered by cannabis varies greatly between individuals, a brain imaging study suggests. The researchers found that an oral tablet of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, tended to make the experience of pain more bearable, rather than actually reduce the intensity of the pain.

Regular marijuana use by teens continues to be a concern

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:27:27 EST

Continued high use of marijuana by the United States' eighth, 10th and 12th graders combined with a drop in perceptions of its potential harms was revealed in this year's Monitoring the Future survey, an annual survey of eighth, 10th, and 12th-graders conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan. The survey was carried out in classrooms around the country earlier this year, under a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health.

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.

Holiday spices often abused for cheap highs, says toxicologist

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:05:05 EST

Cinnamon, nutmeg and even marshmallows are being intentionally abused in risky behavior, says a toxicologist. Once folly for teenagers, pre-teens are now copying what they see from Internet videos with dangerous results.

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.

Combined chronic alcohol and marijuana use during youth can compromise white-matter integrity

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:09:09 EST

Chronic alcohol and marijuana during youth is associated with worsened neurocognitive abilities into later adolescence and adulthood. A new study examines fiber tract integrity affected by adolescent alcohol and marijuana use for 1.5 years. Results support previous findings of reduced white-matter integrity in these youth.

Binge eating, overeating may be associated with initiating use of marijuana, other drugs

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:36:36 EST

Overeating and binge eating may be associated with initiating use of marijuana and other drugs in a study of adolescents and young adults.

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.

Parents key to preventing alcohol, marijuana use by kids

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:55:55 EST

New research finds that parental involvement is more important than the school environment when it comes to preventing or limiting alcohol and marijuana use by children.

Street forms of 'synthetic marijuana' products linked to thousands of hospital emergency departments visits each year

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:53:53 EST

Street forms of synthetic cannabinoids – so-called “synthetic marijuana” – were linked to 11,406 of the 4.9 million drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in 2010, according to a new report.

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.

Pain medication addiction reaching epidemic level

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:36:36 EST

Addiction to pain medication is creating new challenges for physicians. Would you believe -- hydrocodone was the most prescribed drug in America in 2011?

A risk gene for cannabis psychosis

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:39:39 EST

The ability of cannabis to produce psychosis has long been an important public health concern. This concern is growing in importance as there is emerging data that cannabis exposure during adolescence may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, a serious psychotic disorder. Further, with the advent of medical marijuana, a new group of people with uncertain psychosis risk may be exposed to cannabis.

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.

Alcohol, drug abuse counselors don't always require total abstinence

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:19:19 EDT

Compared to a survey conducted nearly 20 years ago, about twice the proportion of addiction counselors now find it acceptable for at least some of their patients to have a drink occasionally -- either as an intermediate goal or as their final treatment goal, according to a new study.

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.

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.

Young people driving epidemic of prescription drug abuse, study finds; Abuse of nonmedical analgesics up 40 percent

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:28:28 EDT

A new study reveals that today's adolescents are abusing prescription drugs at a rate 40 percent higher than previous generations. That makes it the second most common form of illegal drug use in the U.S. after marijuana.

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.

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.

Boosting natural marijuana-like brain chemicals treats fragile X syndrome symptoms

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:13:13 EDT

Scientists have found that increasing natural marijuana-like chemicals in the brain can help correct behavioral issues related to fragile X syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of autism.

Marijuana use implicated in pregnancy problems

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:18:18 EDT

New research indicates marijuana-like compounds called endocannabinoids alter genes and biological signals critical to the formation of a normal placenta during pregnancy and may contribute to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia. A new study offers evidence that abnormal biological signaling by endocannabinoid lipid molecules produced by the body disrupts the movement of early embryonic cells important to a healthy pregnancy.

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.

Adolescent pot use leaves lasting mental deficits; Developing brain susceptible to lasting damage from exposure to marijuana

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:20:20 EDT

The persistent, dependent use of marijuana before age 18 has been shown to cause lasting harm to a person's intelligence, attention and memory, according to an international research team.

Native American spiritual beliefs influential in spurring youth to avoid drugs and alcohol

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:08:08 EDT

New research indicates that urban Native American youth who follow the traditional spiritual beliefs are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

High potency and synthetic marijuana pose real dangers in first weeks of pregnancy

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:30:30 EDT

Experts say the argument that marijuana is a harmless drug is no longer valid due to the emergence of "high potency" marijuana and synthetic marijuana which pose a potential real threat for pregnant women and their unborn children.