Addiction News and Research

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Most residents dissatisfied with quality of substance-abuse training, survey finds

A 2012 survey of internal medicine residents at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) - one of the nation's leading teaching hospitals - found that more than half rated the training they had received in addiction and other substance use disorders as fair or poor.

24 May 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

Unhealthy food choices: The cause of current global obesity epidemic

Research presented today shows that high-fructose corn syrup can cause behavioural reactions in rats similar to those produced by drugs of abuse such as cocaine. These results, presented by addiction expert Francesco Leri, Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Science at the University of Guelph, suggest food addiction could explain, at least partly, the current global obesity epidemic.

23 May 2013

Research findings reveal promising new anti-addiction drug

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine's effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice.

23 May 2013

Obesity directly tied to several cancers

"Obesity is a major risk factor for developing cancer, roughly the equivalent of tobacco use, and both are potentially reversible. Further, obese cancer patients do worse in surgery, with radiation or on chemotherapy - worse by any measure." Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., Director of MD Anderson's new Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship and professor of Behavioral Science.

22 May 2013

Kidneys discarded for transplant can be used for manufacturing replacement organs, say researchers

Nearly 20 percent of kidneys that are recovered from deceased donors in the U.S. are refused for transplant due to factors ranging from scarring in small blood vessels of the kidney's filtering units to the organ going too long without blood or oxygen. But, what if instead of being discarded, these organs could be "recycled" to help solve the critical shortage of donor organs?

21 May 2013

New study finds link between AAS use and mental health

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 that researchers from the University of Gothenburg recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

21 May 2013

Students receive Addiction Science Award at 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

An exploration of electronic "screen time" and sleep on mood, memory and learning was given the top Addiction Science Award at the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair - the world's largest science competition for high school students.

20 May 2013

First alcoholic drink during puberty increases risk of alcohol problems

Research shows that the earlier the age at which youth take their first alcoholic drink, the greater the risk of developing alcohol problems. Thus, age at first drink (AFD) is generally considered a powerful predictor of progression to alcohol-related harm.

18 May 2013

College females exceed national drinking guidelines for drinking more frequently than males

In order to avoid harms associated with alcohol consumption, in 2009 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism issued guidelines that define low-risk drinking. These guidelines differ for men and women: no more than four drinks per day, and 14 drinks per week for men, and no more than three drinks per day, and seven drinks per week for women.

18 May 2013

Alcohol advertising pre-disposes young people to have favorable attitudes toward drinking

In order to avoid exposing vulnerable groups such as children and young adults to alcohol advertising, industry groups have developed their own self-regulation guidelines. However, these guidelines have been criticized for possible conflict of interest, lack of objectivity, and unresponsiveness to complaints about violations.

18 May 2013

Study examines effects of smoking on cognitive functioning in AD individuals

Treatment for alcohol use disorders works best if the patient actively understands and incorporates the interventions provided in the clinic.

18 May 2013

Roundup: N.D. abortion clinic sues to stop new law; Health care savings close budget hole in Conn.; Calif. counties struggle to expand mental health care

The running battle over the regulation of abortions entered a North Dakota courtroom on Wednesday, as the state's sole abortion clinic sued to block a new law that it says could force it to shut down. The law, requiring doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, was promoted by anti-abortion legislators, who argued that it would mean better care for women who suffer medical emergencies (Eckholm, 5/15).

17 May 2013

Regularly taking prescription painkillers is associated with higher risk of ED in men

Regularly taking prescription painkillers, also known as opioids, is associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, according to a study published online today in the journal Spine.

17 May 2013

Brazilian investigators call for targeted interventions among young crack users

A Brazilian investigative team, collaborating with a Simon Fraser University researcher, is citing an urgent need for targeted interventions among young crack users in cities throughout Brazil, identified as the world's biggest crack market, and further research to better address the problem.

15 May 2013

TCAT improves health and social outcomes for people with complex substance use issues

A program co-led by St. Michael's Hospital could be the next widely used model to treat patients who are frequent users of the health care system and have severe addictions, often complicated by homelessness and mental health problems.

15 May 2013

Clinical study reveals that Kava could be an alternative treatment for GAD

A world-first completed clinical study by an Australian team has found Kava, a medicinal South Pacific plant, significantly reduced the symptoms of people suffering anxiety.

14 May 2013

NAPHS releases new study that examines readmission patterns within Medicare IPF PPS

The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems today released a new study by The Moran Company that is the first to examine readmission patterns within inpatient psychiatric facilities paid under the Medicare IPF prospective payment system.

13 May 2013

New challenges to military medicine

Better body armor and rapid aeromedical evacuations enable American service members to survive blasts that would have proved fatal in Vietnam or even the first Gulf War, but they pose new challenges to military medicine - how to deal with the excruciating pain of injuries, especially severe burns from IED blasts that body armor can't protect.

13 May 2013

Researchers successfully test new anti-cocaine vaccine in primates

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have successfully tested their novel anti-cocaine vaccine in primates, bringing them closer to launching human clinical trials.

13 May 2013

Addiction News and Research

Most residents dissatisfied with quality of substance-abuse training, survey finds

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

Unhealthy food choices: The cause of current global obesity epidemic

Research findings reveal promising new anti-addiction drug

Obesity directly tied to several cancers

Kidneys discarded for transplant can be used for manufacturing replacement organs, say researchers

New study finds link between AAS use and mental health

Students receive Addiction Science Award at 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

First alcoholic drink during puberty increases risk of alcohol problems

College females exceed national drinking guidelines for drinking more frequently than males

Alcohol advertising pre-disposes young people to have favorable attitudes toward drinking

Study examines effects of smoking on cognitive functioning in AD individuals

Roundup: N.D. abortion clinic sues to stop new law; Health care savings close budget hole in Conn.; Calif. counties struggle to expand mental health care

Regularly taking prescription painkillers is associated with higher risk of ED in men

Brazilian investigators call for targeted interventions among young crack users

TCAT improves health and social outcomes for people with complex substance use issues

Clinical study reveals that Kava could be an alternative treatment for GAD

NAPHS releases new study that examines readmission patterns within Medicare IPF PPS

New challenges to military medicine

Researchers successfully test new anti-cocaine vaccine in primates

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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