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Study confirms low levels of serotonin transporter in cerebral cortex of chronic ecstasy users

Levels of the serotonin transporter are low in the brains of users of ecstasy, according to a US National Institute of Drug Abuse-funded study by Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) published today in the journal Brain.

19 May 2010

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners first-quarter net loss decreases to $0.06 per basic and diluted share

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. today announced its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2010. The Company reported a net loss of $1,045,043, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3,031,201, or $0.22 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2009.

18 May 2010

Titan Pharmaceuticals reports total revenues of $2.4M for first-quarter 2010

Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

17 May 2010

BUSM researchers identify clinical characteristics associated with PDUD in primary care patients

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified clinical characteristics associated with prescription drug use disorder in primary care patients with chronic pain. The study found that by identifying characteristics of prescription drug abuse, primary care clinicians can identify those at risk and provide appropriate treatment.

15 May 2010

Computerized model for treating nicotine addiction wins first place at ISEF science competition

A project using cutting edge computer modeling to identify potential new medications for nicotine addiction won first place distinction at the annual Addiction Science Awards at this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) --- the world's largest science competition for high school students.

15 May 2010

Study examines long-term economic consequences of childhood psychological disorders

A first-of-its-kind study examining the long-term economic consequences of childhood psychological disorders finds the conditions diminish people's ability to work and earn as adults, costing $2.1 trillion over the lifetimes of all affected Americans.

14 May 2010

Study reveals increase in treatment admissions for drug abuse

From 1998 to 2008 there were marked changes in some patterns of substance use treatment admissions according to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Although the concurrent abuse of both alcohol and drugs has remained widespread, the proportion of treatment admissions for the co-abuse of these substances has declined gradually yet significantly during this period - from 44 percent to 38 percent.

13 May 2010

Brandeis University surveys assess how recent legislation affects consumer access to behavioral health services

Brandeis University is launching two surveys of the nation's private health plans to assess how recent legislation affects quality of and consumer access to behavioral health services. Both the federal parity law and national health reform are likely to affect behavioral health care

12 May 2010

Two-day symposium on molecular neuroimaging

Today, SNM's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence kicked off a two-day symposium bringing together individuals from multiple scientific disciplines-including chemistry, engineering, physics, molecular biology, neurosciences and imaging sciences-to promote the emerging field of molecular neuroimaging.

7 May 2010

Health care practitioners call for national database to crack down on prescription drug abuse

The Associated Press reports on efforts in California, where "a state online drug database went into effect last year to thwart addicts who bounce from doctor to doctor to feed a habit or make a small fortune peddling meds" and efforts to set up a national program "to snare so-called doctor shoppers and curb drug abuse.

3 May 2010

First Edition: May 3, 2010

Today's headlines include analysis of how this year's health reform debate is shaping other national policy initiatives and the upcoming mid-term elections.

3 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

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

Nearly all U.S. states offer HPV vaccine to adolescent girls in juvenile justice facilities: Report

Nearly all U.S. states offer the human papillomavirus vaccine to adolescent girls who have been arrested or detained, according to a new report from The Miriam Hospital and Brown University. The study, published in the May issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, offers the first nationwide review of HPV vaccination practices among juvenile justice facilities.

29 Apr 2010

ONDCP launches new anti-meth ad campaign for Indian Country

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske today unveiled a new anti-methamphetamine ad campaign tailored for Indian Country, launched in New Mexico and in 14 other states with the largest Native American populations.

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

CocE exhibits potential for clinical treatment of cocaine toxicity

Cocaine toxicity due to drug overdose results in more than half a million emergency room visits annually. Despite these alarming statistics, there is no Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapy specifically designed to treat cocaine toxicity. Emergency medical personnel are limited to treating only the immediate life-threatening symptoms of patients, while toxic levels of cocaine and its metabolic break-down products persist and continue to damage the cardiovascular system, liver and brain.

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

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

FDA rejects experimental painkiller Acurox

In a new development King Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. have failed to win the approval of a US panel for marketing an experimental painkiller called Acurox.

23 Apr 2010

Drug Abuse News and Research

Study confirms low levels of serotonin transporter in cerebral cortex of chronic ecstasy users

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners first-quarter net loss decreases to $0.06 per basic and diluted share

Titan Pharmaceuticals reports total revenues of $2.4M for first-quarter 2010

BUSM researchers identify clinical characteristics associated with PDUD in primary care patients

Computerized model for treating nicotine addiction wins first place at ISEF science competition

Study examines long-term economic consequences of childhood psychological disorders

Study reveals increase in treatment admissions for drug abuse

Brandeis University surveys assess how recent legislation affects consumer access to behavioral health services

Two-day symposium on molecular neuroimaging

Health care practitioners call for national database to crack down on prescription drug abuse

First Edition: May 3, 2010

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

Injection drug use contributes to transmission of syphilis

Nearly all U.S. states offer HPV vaccine to adolescent girls in juvenile justice facilities: Report

ONDCP launches new anti-meth ad campaign for Indian Country

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

CocE exhibits potential for clinical treatment of cocaine toxicity

Military trauma transition units breed culture of drug abuse, depression

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

FDA rejects experimental painkiller Acurox

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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