Addiction News and Research

RSS

Genetic analysis of opioid-induced hyperalgesia

In findings published in Nature Biotechnology (May 2006, vol. 24 No. 5), Roche scientists present a new method for analyzing the metabolism of a commonly prescribed drug.

10 May 2006

Underage and abusive drinkers very profitable for the alcohol industry

According to new research in the U.S. the underage drinking market is making the alcohol industry a neat $23 billion a year and that figure represents 17.5 percent of all money spent on alcohol in the U.S. annually.

3 May 2006

Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence

While many treatment approaches were found helpful, the authors report that the patients who were most successful in abstaining from alcohol 16 weeks after treatment were those prescribed naltrexone under medical management and those participating in a multi-session program of alcohol counseling delivered by a behavioral specialist.

3 May 2006

Prefrontal cortex in the brain damaged by both alcoholism and chronic smoking

Alcoholism is commonly associated with chronic smoking, and both alcohol and nicotine are believed to act on the same brain region. Research builds upon previous research that identified four potential alcohol-sensitive genes in the prefrontal cortex, finding that smoking also influences the expression of these genes.

26 Apr 2006

Link between expectancy, visual cues and the desire to smoke

In a study recently published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) and the Department of Psychology at McGill University found that when people expect to smoke in the near future, external cues such as watching someone smoke affects their brain more than their level of craving or how long they have gone without a cigarette.

23 Apr 2006

Microarray analysis could lead to better understanding of mechanisms underlying the genetic propensity toward excessive drinking

The meta analysis, which examined more than 4.5 million data points on more than 100 microarrays from mouse models, also identified more than 1,300 functional groups, including signaling and transcription pathways, which may also play an important role in establishing a capacity for a "high level of alcohol consumption."

18 Apr 2006

Stress-induced, high levels of corticotropin-releasing factor might be responsible for binge behaviour and addiction

Stressed individuals might be particularly prone to binge eating or drug addiction because of the high levels of the stress hormone corticotropin-releasing factor in their brain.

13 Apr 2006

Researchers identify potential targets for more effective analgesic drugs with potentially fewer side effects

Studying mice, pain researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified two key components in the pain cascade that may provide targets for more effective analgesic drugs with potentially fewer side effects

6 Apr 2006

Man takes 40,000 ecstasy pills in nine years

Researchers from London University have revealed details of a man who claims to have taken 40,000 ecstasy pills over nine year period.

5 Apr 2006

Study questions health benefits of moderate drinking

Previous analyses did not account for effects of age and illness that may make abstainer groups appear to have higher death rates than drinkers.

4 Apr 2006

Regular consumption of either black or green tea may reduce risk of Alzheimer's

Tea may be more than a trendy coffee alternative, according to researchers at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre (DHRC).

4 Apr 2006

Study examines behavioral changes that occur after a person heavily drinks as an adolescent

Adolescence is a time of change both physically and mentally. Many times it means trying new things and for some, that includes experimenting with alcohol.

4 Apr 2006

Just when you thought that glass of wine did you good!

Just when you thought those one or two glasses of wine were of benefit to your health, a new study is now saying that is not necessarily the case.

31 Mar 2006

Researchers find potential new mechanism for how the brain's reward system works

Amid reports that a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease has caused some patients to become addicted to gambling and sex, University of Pittsburgh researchers have published a study that sheds light on what may have gone wrong.

23 Mar 2006

Genetic factors underlie alcohol consumption and may also contribute to nicotine addiction

Vulnerability to both alcohol and nicotine abuse may be influenced by the same genetic factor, according to a recent study supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

20 Mar 2006

Telephone support helps smokers quit

University of Minnesota Medical School and Minneapolis VA Medical Center research shows that smokers who receive support over the telephone when trying to quit are more successful in kicking the habit than those who receive help as part of routine medical care.

19 Mar 2006

Profound alterations in the brain mechanisms that regulate motivated behavior with addiction

Rats that have a strong craving for cocaine have a different biochemical response to the drug than their less-addicted counterparts, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

15 Mar 2006

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals receives Fast Track status for nicotine vaccine

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals today announced that NicVAX (Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine), the company's novel investigational vaccine being developed to treat nicotine addiction and prevent smoking relapse, has received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

9 Mar 2006

Researchers see individual differences in brain activation depending on person's preferences or aversions to risk

Distinct regions of the human brain are activated when people are faced with ambiguous choices versus choices involving only risk, Duke University Medical Center researchers have discovered.

7 Mar 2006

Link found between morphine addiction and the tendency to explore

The tendency to use drugs depends on each individual person. Not all those who have access to drugs become addicts, therefore there may be personality characteristics that influence their use.

24 Feb 2006

Addiction News and Research

Genetic analysis of opioid-induced hyperalgesia

Underage and abusive drinkers very profitable for the alcohol industry

Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence

Prefrontal cortex in the brain damaged by both alcoholism and chronic smoking

Link between expectancy, visual cues and the desire to smoke

Microarray analysis could lead to better understanding of mechanisms underlying the genetic propensity toward excessive drinking

Stress-induced, high levels of corticotropin-releasing factor might be responsible for binge behaviour and addiction

Researchers identify potential targets for more effective analgesic drugs with potentially fewer side effects

Man takes 40,000 ecstasy pills in nine years

Study questions health benefits of moderate drinking

Regular consumption of either black or green tea may reduce risk of Alzheimer's

Study examines behavioral changes that occur after a person heavily drinks as an adolescent

Just when you thought that glass of wine did you good!

Researchers find potential new mechanism for how the brain's reward system works

Genetic factors underlie alcohol consumption and may also contribute to nicotine addiction

Telephone support helps smokers quit

Profound alterations in the brain mechanisms that regulate motivated behavior with addiction

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals receives Fast Track status for nicotine vaccine

Researchers see individual differences in brain activation depending on person's preferences or aversions to risk

Link found between morphine addiction and the tendency to explore

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Latest News