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Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases risk of psychiatric problems in children

It is well-known that maternal smoking during pregnancy can have long-term effects on the physical health of the child, including increased risk for respiratory disease, ear infections and asthma. New research shows that prenatal smoking also can lead to psychiatric problems and increase the need for psychotropic medications in childhood and young adulthood.

4 May 2010

Codeine containing preparations lose their OTC status

It will get more difficult to procure Codeine based pain killers, cough syrups etc. from the local pharmacists from now on. There have been new restrictions over codeine based drugs like Nurofen Plus, Panadeine and Mersyndol which were initially sold over the counter but lost this OTC status with effect from May 1st 2010. The National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee formulated the changes during meetings in June and October last year.

2 May 2010

UGA, Emory researchers awarded $1.9M grant to study role of regular exercise in attenuating drug abuse

A team of researchers at the University of Georgia and Emory University will receive $1.9 million over the next five years from the National Institutes of Health to study the neurobiological mechanisms for how regular aerobic exercise may prevent drug abuse relapse.

30 Apr 2010

Hullabaloo over the tobacco tax hike and planned plain cigarette packaging law

The Australian Federal Government this week announced an increase in taxes by 25% on cigarettes to discourage smoking and generate funds for more antismoking measures. In a new development Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott announced that the Coalition will support this move.

29 Apr 2010

Injection drug use contributes to transmission of syphilis

A binational team of researchers led by University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that active syphilis infections are significantly greater in female sex workers who inject drugs and share needles than those who don't. The findings suggest that injection drug use may play as big a role as risky sexual behavior in the transmission of syphilis. It may also exacerbate the spread of both HIV and syphilis, as syphilis is frequently a co-factor for HIV infection.

29 Apr 2010

New imaging protocol to visualize activity of brain's reward circuitry in individuals addicted to drugs

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed an imaging protocol that allows them to visualize the activity of the brain's reward circuitry in both normal individuals and those addicted to drugs. The technique could lead to better insight into why people take recreational drugs as well as help determine which treatment strategies might be most effective.

27 Apr 2010

Military trauma transition units breed culture of drug abuse, depression

The New York Times reports on a Warrior Transition Battalion unit in Colorado used by the military to transition injured veterans back into the military or their home lives. "Created in the wake of the scandal in 2007 over serious shortcomings at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Warrior Transition Units were intended to be sheltering way stations where injured soldiers could recuperate and return to duty or gently process out of the Army.

27 Apr 2010

DeCODE scientists discover common SNPs that increase number of CPD and risk of lung cancer

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of illness and death worldwide. But it is a complex behavior, and how much people smoke, how hard they find it to quit, and the impact of long-term smoking on health varies greatly among individuals. A substantial portion of this variability is genetic. Two years ago, deCODE discovered the first common, single-letter variation in the sequence of the human genome, on chromosome 15q25, associated with nicotine addiction and risk of lung cancer.

26 Apr 2010

Sexual addiction therapists Steffens Counseling and Hope Source Counseling form strategic partnership

Sexual addiction is defined as any sexually-related, compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one's work environment. Sex becomes the organizing principle of an addict's life to the extent they are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most in order to preserve and continue their unhealthy behavior.

26 Apr 2010

Three genetic regions associated with cigarette smoking

A team of scientists has used data from genome-wide association studies to identify genetic variants associated with key smoking behaviors that have a significant impact on health.

26 Apr 2010

Genes that predispose to smoking behavior and lung cancer identified: More reason to quit say researchers

According to new research there are certain genes in a smoker that make it difficult for them to cut down or quit the bad habit. This report from three studies published in the journal Nature Genetics mentions at least three different genetic mutations on chromosome 15 or changes that can increase the number of cigarettes smoked per day by an individual.

25 Apr 2010

New study to assess prevalence of addiction to sunbed use among college students

Young people who regularly use sunbeds often display signs of addiction to using them, a US study has found.

24 Apr 2010

Springfield community members support treatment services provided by Gateway Alcohol and Drug Rehab

Members of the Springfield community turned out in force to support the comprehensive treatment services provided to adults and teens by Gateway Foundation's Alcohol and Drug Rehab's Springfield Treatment Center at an April 14 Open House.

24 Apr 2010

Nicotine poisoning linked to weight gain

A new study links nicotine poisoning with weight gain, and concludes tha active smokers, not only those who stop, put on more weight than non-smokers. After four years of analysis in the University of Navarra, those who put on least weight were those who had never smoked.

23 Apr 2010

New multi-faceted treatment program for young adults addicted to opioid drugs

A multi-faceted treatment program for young adults addicted to opioid drugs was unveiled today at the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Blending Conference in Albuquerque, N.M. This eighth meeting in the series brings together researchers and clinicians so their latest findings can be immediately applied to the needs of patients and their families dealing with addictive disorders.

23 Apr 2010

Researchers receive grant to help people living with mental illness tackle tobacco dependence

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have won government funding to improve the services which help people living with serious mental illness to tackle their tobacco dependence.

22 Apr 2010

GUMC researchers awarded grant to discover and develop new smoking cessation drugs

A Georgetown University Medical Center research team has been awarded a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to discover and develop new smoking cessation drugs based on an unconventional theory about nicotine addiction. Kenneth Kellar, PhD, a professor of pharmacology at GUMC is principal investigator of the five year grant totaling $4.6 million.

22 Apr 2010

Stopping smoking may be harder than quitting heroin

An addiction is an addiction and it may be tougher to quit smoking cigarettes compared to beating a heroin addiction. An Australian study found that many long term smokers have tried to quit 7.4 times but are still unable to do so. Sydney GP Raymond Seidler actually feels that people do not realize that quitting smoking is just as bad as kicking heroin out of your life.

22 Apr 2010

Researchers discover subunits of GABAB receptors in central nervous system

In the latest issue of the renowned scientific journal "Nature" researchers from the universities of Freiburg and Basel report on their discovery of previously unknown subunits of the GABAB receptors in the central nervous system. GABAB receptors are transmembrane proteins in nerve cells which are of fundamental significance for the functioning of the brain and have great therapeutical and pharmaceutical importance.

21 Apr 2010

Cannabis users are at risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders: CAMH study

Research has shown possible links between cannabis use and the onset of Schizophrenia, but a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows that people who use cannabis may also be at risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders.

21 Apr 2010

Addiction News and Research

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases risk of psychiatric problems in children

Codeine containing preparations lose their OTC status

UGA, Emory researchers awarded $1.9M grant to study role of regular exercise in attenuating drug abuse

Hullabaloo over the tobacco tax hike and planned plain cigarette packaging law

Injection drug use contributes to transmission of syphilis

New imaging protocol to visualize activity of brain's reward circuitry in individuals addicted to drugs

Military trauma transition units breed culture of drug abuse, depression

DeCODE scientists discover common SNPs that increase number of CPD and risk of lung cancer

Sexual addiction therapists Steffens Counseling and Hope Source Counseling form strategic partnership

Three genetic regions associated with cigarette smoking

Genes that predispose to smoking behavior and lung cancer identified: More reason to quit say researchers

New study to assess prevalence of addiction to sunbed use among college students

Springfield community members support treatment services provided by Gateway Alcohol and Drug Rehab

Nicotine poisoning linked to weight gain

New multi-faceted treatment program for young adults addicted to opioid drugs

Researchers receive grant to help people living with mental illness tackle tobacco dependence

GUMC researchers awarded grant to discover and develop new smoking cessation drugs

Stopping smoking may be harder than quitting heroin

Researchers discover subunits of GABAB receptors in central nervous system

Cannabis users are at risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders: CAMH study

Lab Matters host Harriet Gould on building a more connected lab community

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

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