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Survey underscores need for continued efforts to combat substance abuse among teens

New survey data released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and MetLife Foundation point to the need for continued efforts to combat substance abuse among teens. While there was no significant increase in the abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines containing dextromethorphan, the 21st annual Partnership/MetLife Foundation Attitude Tracking Survey (PATS) found an overall waning in teens' negative perceptions about many drugs along with increases in abuse rates for alcohol, ecstasy, and marijuana.

3 Mar 2010

Merck’s MF/F Phase III study data presented at AAAAI annual meeting

Data from two Phase III studies of Merck’s investigational fixed-dose combinations of mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate (MF/F) were presented by researchers today in two poster presentations at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting.

3 Mar 2010

Of the 2.3M inmates, only 1.5M meet DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse: CASA

Of the 2.3 million inmates crowding our nation's prisons and jails, 1.5 million meet the DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction, and another 458,000, while not meeting the strict DSM IV criteria, had histories of substance abuse; were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of their crime; committed their offense to get money to buy drugs; were incarcerated for an alcohol or drug law violation; or shared some combination of these characteristics, according to Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America's Prison Population. Combined these two groups constitute 85 percent of the U.S. prison population.

27 Feb 2010

Neurogenesis linked to drug addiction and relapse

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center hope they have begun paving a new pathway in the fight against drug dependence. Their hypothesis - that increasing the normally occurring process of making nerve cells might prevent addiction - is based on a rodent study demonstrating that blocking new growth of specific brain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse.

27 Feb 2010

The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy selects Botvin LST as "Top Tier" program

Botvin LifeSkills Training has been selected as a "Top Tier" program by The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy. The Top Tier initiative, which is being followed closely by Congress, focuses on identifying and validating social programs meeting the highest standard of evidence of effectiveness.

25 Feb 2010

ONDCP, HHS announce availability of over $1.1M for new Drug Free Communities Support programs

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing the availability of more than $1.1 million for new Drug Free Communities Support Mentoring program (DFC Mentoring) grants. An estimated 15 new Mentoring grants will be awarded (up to $75,000 per grant, per year) to drug and alcohol prevention community coalitions from across the nation. The length of the project period is up to two years.

24 Feb 2010

LifeSciences British Columbia, UBC to host global summit on HIV/AIDS

LifeSciences British Columbia, the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and the University of British Columbia will host a global summit on HIV/AIDS on Feb. 26th, 2010, against the backdrop of the 2010 Olympic Games.

24 Feb 2010

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, NIDA partner to conduct CPP-109 Phase II(b) clinical trial for cocaine addiction

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. announced today that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to conduct a U.S. Phase II(b) clinical trial evaluating CPP-109, Catalyst's formulation of vigabatrin, for the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is anticipated that NIDA, under their agreement with Veteran's Administration Cooperative Studies Program, will provide substantial resources for the trial and that Catalyst will contribute approximately $2.5 million in resources as part of the estimated $10 million trial cost.

23 Feb 2010

FDA Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee supports approval of XIFAXAN 550 mg for management of HE

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today reported that the Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA has recommended by a vote of 14 to 4 in favor of the approval of XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) Tablets, 550 mg for the maintenance of remission of hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

23 Feb 2010

Cancer pain patients: European regulations restricting access to opioid-based drugs

Many cancer patients in Europe are being denied access to adequate pain relief because of over-zealous regulations restricting the availability and accessibility of opioid-based drugs such as morphine.

22 Feb 2010

Roots of many adult diseases sprout in poverty: Scientist to discuss at AAAS meeting

The roots of many adult diseases sprout in poverty and other burdens on the socially disadvantaged. Rockefeller University-s Bruce S. McEwen, a self-described molecular sociologist, will talk about the effects such environmental stressors have on the brain and in turn other organ systems in a talk in San Diego this Friday at the 2010 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

22 Feb 2010

Missing prescription drugs: Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services to pay $1M penalty

U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced today that Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services, LLC, a company engaged in providing hospital pharmacy management services, has agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $1 million for failing to account for large amounts of missing prescription drugs.

20 Feb 2010

UBC researcher finds improved uptake of highly active antiretroviral therapy

A comprehensive population-based study, conducted by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) and presented at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in San Francisco, shows that expanded highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) coverage was associated with a 50% decrease in new yearly HIV infections among injection drug users.

19 Feb 2010

Wyoming lawkmaker pushes for reform, Mississippi Governor bans certain over-the-counter drugs

Associated Press/CNBC: "A veteran Wyoming state senator for the third time is pushing a bill he says would offer health insurance to people who couldn't afford it on the open market and also serve as an example to the rest of the nation of how to tackle rising health care costs. Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, has proposed a pilot program that calls for allowing 500 participants to enroll in Medicaid beginning in July. It would be limited to people whose family income is below 250 percent of the federal poverty level — $55,125 for a family of four.

15 Feb 2010

'Doctor Shopping': Data from California's prescription monitoring program

Research presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting provides early published data analyzing information gathered from California's prescription monitoring program, known as the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES). The analysis found a two-fold increase in the likelihood of individuals receiving opioids from multiple providers or "doctor shopping" when they were also being simultaneously prescribed a single additional class of a controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines or amphetamines.

5 Feb 2010

Paracetamol reduces damage caused to kidneys following severe muscle injury

The commonly-used painkiller Paracetamol can protect against kidney failure after severe muscle injury, according to research at the University of Essex.

4 Feb 2010

UCSF studies show relationship between Alzheimer's disease and smoking

A UCSF analysis of published studies on the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and smoking indicates that smoking cigarettes is a significant risk factor for the disease. After controlling for study design, quality of the journals, time of publication, and tobacco industry affiliation of the authors, the UCSF research team also found an association between tobacco industry affiliation and the conclusions of individual studies.

4 Feb 2010

Dopamine plays a critical role in behavioral processes

People have typically viewed the benefits that accrue with social status primarily from the perspective of external rewards. A new paper in the February 1st issue of Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier suggests that there are internal rewards as well.

3 Feb 2010

Gene variants protect sexually-abused victims from alcohol dependence, says study

Exposure to severe stress early in life increases the risk of alcohol and drug addiction. Yet surprisingly, some adults sexually abused as children - and therefore at high risk for alcohol problems - carry gene variants that protect them from heavy drinking and its effects, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

3 Feb 2010

Extended nicotine patch therapy benefits relapsing smokers trying to quit

New research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine may help more smokers keep their New Year's resolution by helping them quit smoking. Extended use of a nicotine patch - 24 weeks versus the standard eight weeks recommended by manufacturers - boosts the number of smokers who maintain their cigarette abstinence and helps more of those who backslide into the habit while wearing the patch, according to a study which will be published in the February 2 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

2 Feb 2010

Drug Abuse News and Research

Survey underscores need for continued efforts to combat substance abuse among teens

Merck’s MF/F Phase III study data presented at AAAAI annual meeting

Of the 2.3M inmates, only 1.5M meet DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse: CASA

Neurogenesis linked to drug addiction and relapse

The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy selects Botvin LST as "Top Tier" program

ONDCP, HHS announce availability of over $1.1M for new Drug Free Communities Support programs

LifeSciences British Columbia, UBC to host global summit on HIV/AIDS

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, NIDA partner to conduct CPP-109 Phase II(b) clinical trial for cocaine addiction

FDA Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee supports approval of XIFAXAN 550 mg for management of HE

Cancer pain patients: European regulations restricting access to opioid-based drugs

Roots of many adult diseases sprout in poverty: Scientist to discuss at AAAS meeting

Missing prescription drugs: Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services to pay $1M penalty

UBC researcher finds improved uptake of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Wyoming lawkmaker pushes for reform, Mississippi Governor bans certain over-the-counter drugs

'Doctor Shopping': Data from California's prescription monitoring program

Paracetamol reduces damage caused to kidneys following severe muscle injury

UCSF studies show relationship between Alzheimer's disease and smoking

Dopamine plays a critical role in behavioral processes

Gene variants protect sexually-abused victims from alcohol dependence, says study

Extended nicotine patch therapy benefits relapsing smokers trying to quit

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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