Drug Abuse News and Research

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Findings uncover epigenomic modification that occurs during brain formation

Changes in the epigenome, including chemical modifications of DNA, can act as an extra layer of information in the genome, and are thought to play a role in learning and memory, as well as in age-related cognitive decline.

5 Jul 2013

NIDA grants $3.3M to design vaccine conferring immunity to nicotine

A chemical component present in the nightshade family of plants is one of the world's most tenaciously addictive substances. It is the nicotine contained in tobacco and found in high concentrations in cigarettes. Smoking remains a global scourge; in the U.S. it is the leading source of preventable death.

3 Jul 2013

New resource guide to tackle prescription drug abuse among youth

To help tackle the serious problem of youth prescription drug abuse, high school teachers will have free access to a new resource guide, Rx for Understanding: Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse.

28 Jun 2013

Ritalin helps improve brain function in cocaine addiction

A single dose of a commonly-prescribed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug helps improve brain function in cocaine addiction, according to an imaging study conducted by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

28 Jun 2013

UH receives NIDA grant to study transdiagnostic CBT to address tobacco cessation

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. resulting in more than 440,000 premature deaths a year. An additional 25 million smokers will most likely die of a smoking related illness.

27 Jun 2013

MGHfC physicians describe how pediatric practices can help address parental smoking

Finally some good news for parents who smoke: you may now be able to get help quitting from an unlikely source, your child's doctor. A study in the journal Pediatrics, which has been posted online, shows that it is feasible for pediatric practices to incorporate into their normal routine efforts to inform patients' parents about services available to help them quit smoking.

25 Jun 2013

NIH awards $12.7M to research groups to explore new treatments for patients in eight disease areas

The National Institutes of Health has awarded $12.7 million to match nine academic research groups with a selection of pharmaceutical industry compounds to explore new treatments for patients in eight disease areas, including Alzheimer's disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and schizophrenia.

19 Jun 2013

Missing brain enzyme increases concentrations of protein related to pain-killer addiction

A missing brain enzyme increases concentrations of a protein related to pain-killer addiction, according to an animal study. The results will be presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

18 Jun 2013

More restrictive policies can prevent teen smoking, says study

States that want to reduce rates of adult smoking may consider implementing stringent tobacco restrictions on teens, suggests a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

14 Jun 2013

TSRI scientists find emotion-related brain region plays major role in sustaining cocaine addiction

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found evidence that an emotion-related brain region called the central amygdala—whose activity promotes feelings of malaise and unhappiness—plays a major role in sustaining cocaine addiction.

13 Jun 2013

Study: Stress felt by dad leaves lasting impression on his sperm

Sperm doesn't appear to forget anything. Stress felt by dad-whether as a preadolescent or adult-leaves a lasting impression on his sperm that gives sons and daughters a blunted reaction to stress, a response linked to several mental disorders.

13 Jun 2013

Studies highlight role of workplace and financial stress on health behaviors

Two studies from the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington highlight the negative impact workplace and financial stress can have on health behaviors. The lead author urges workplace wellness and smoking cessation programs to consider such impacts as the economy sputters along.

13 Jun 2013

Sugar ingestion associated with low dopamine release in patients with insulin resistance

Using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain, researchers have identified a sweet spot that operates in a disorderly way when simple sugars are introduced to people with insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

11 Jun 2013

Novel approach to pain therapy paves way for lower dosage painkillers

For patients managing cancer and other chronic health issues, painkillers such as morphine and Vicodin are often essential for pain relief. The body's natural tendency to develop tolerance to these medications, however, often requires patients to take higher doses - increasing risks of harmful side effects and dependency.

11 Jun 2013

New approach for reducing drug abuse

Critics of the "war on drugs" point to the limited success of current strategies for reducing drug abuse and argue that a new approach is needed. Such an approach may now be on the horizon within the covers of a new book by New York Times best-selling author David Sheff. Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy was published in April 2013 and is quickly gaining attention. The book confronts the traditional views on addiction and highlights scientific approaches that work.

11 Jun 2013

Young adults reduce drug misuse if they are part of community-based prevention effort

Prevention is often the best medicine, not only for physical health, but also public health, according to researchers at Penn State and Iowa State University.

5 Jun 2013

Study: Blood vessels in retina may indicate brain health years before onset of dementia

The width of blood vessels in the retina, located at the back of the eye, may indicate brain health years before the onset of dementia and other deficits, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

4 Jun 2013

Dog-interaction activities improve mood among teenagers living in treatment centers

Lindsay Ellsworth is prescribing a new, mood-boosting therapy for teenagers in drug and alcohol treatment: shelter dogs. On Friday afternoons, about four dogs from the Spokane Humane Society take a field trip to Excelsior Youth Center as a group of teenage boys eagerly await their arrival. Ellsworth, a doctoral candidate in animal sciences at Washington State University, organizes the meet-ups where participants can help brush, feed and play with the dogs.

4 Jun 2013

Spicing up fingerprints

It is most commonly used to spice up Indian cuisine, but scientists at Sheffield Hallam University have discovered turmeric could be used to help solve crimes.

From Sheffield Hallam University 3 Jun 2013

Lightlake Therapeutics announces Phase II clinical trial results of nasal spray treatment for BED

Lightlake Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing addiction treatments based on its expertise in opioid antagonists, announced today that results of the Company's Phase II clinical trial of its nasal spray treatment for Binge Eating Disorder were presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco by Professor Hannu Alho, MD, professor of addiction medicine at the University of Helsinki and Principal Investigator for the trial.

23 May 2013

Drug Abuse News and Research

Findings uncover epigenomic modification that occurs during brain formation

NIDA grants $3.3M to design vaccine conferring immunity to nicotine

New resource guide to tackle prescription drug abuse among youth

Ritalin helps improve brain function in cocaine addiction

UH receives NIDA grant to study transdiagnostic CBT to address tobacco cessation

MGHfC physicians describe how pediatric practices can help address parental smoking

NIH awards $12.7M to research groups to explore new treatments for patients in eight disease areas

Missing brain enzyme increases concentrations of protein related to pain-killer addiction

More restrictive policies can prevent teen smoking, says study

TSRI scientists find emotion-related brain region plays major role in sustaining cocaine addiction

Study: Stress felt by dad leaves lasting impression on his sperm

Studies highlight role of workplace and financial stress on health behaviors

Sugar ingestion associated with low dopamine release in patients with insulin resistance

Novel approach to pain therapy paves way for lower dosage painkillers

New approach for reducing drug abuse

Young adults reduce drug misuse if they are part of community-based prevention effort

Study: Blood vessels in retina may indicate brain health years before onset of dementia

Dog-interaction activities improve mood among teenagers living in treatment centers

Spicing up fingerprints

Lightlake Therapeutics announces Phase II clinical trial results of nasal spray treatment for BED

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (2nd Edition) eBook

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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