witchlinblue
03-11-2004, 12:16 PM
Make Addiction and Treatment a Priority for Congress
Ask Your U.S. Representative to Join the New Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus
There is an exciting new Congressional effort to raise lawmaker awareness about addiction and build legislative support for expanding treatment access. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN), a recovering alcoholic and a longtime leader in Congress on addiction issues, has launched the bipartisan Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. The caucus is co-chaired by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, (D-RI), another ally of addiction recovery and treatment. Congressional caucuses are informal but organized groups of legislators that exist to advocate for a shared interest. Caucuses play an important long-term role in federal policymaking, focusing attention on their issues and gathering support for legislation. Representatives Ramstad and Kennedy understand the magnitude of this national health problem, and they know what needs to be done. "Last year alone, 3.5 million Americans were denied access to treatment," said Rep. Ramstad when announcing the new caucus, "and this is totally unacceptable." He also called on Congress to pass his treatment parity legislation "to end the discrimination against alcoholics and addicts who need treatment." You can help ensure the success of this important bipartisan effort. Call or e-mail your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and ask him or her to join the Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus, and in so doing help make this issue a priority for Congress.
Survey: Teens' Sense of Self Determines Drug Use
3/10/2004
A nationwide survey says that they way young adults feel about themselves is linked to whether they decide to use alcohol and other drugs.
The Teens Today 2003 study from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Liberty Mutual Group says that teens with a high self image are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs. The survey also said that parental involvement significantly impacted teens' sense of self and the decisions they made regarding alcohol and other drug use.
According to the report, 80 percent of high-school teens whose parents do not provide strong guidance used alcohol, compared with 47 percent of teens whose parents provide a strong level of support.
The survey looked at a teen's self-assessment in three important developmental areas: identity formation, independence, and peer relationships.
"This information is critically important in helping us to better understand the role that self-definition plays in predisposing young adults to destructive decision-making, establishing a clear link between 'who they are' and what they do," said Stephen Wallace, chairman and chief executive officer of the national SADD organization.
The report was based on 2,753 self-administered surveys of middle- and high-school students in grades 6 through 12. RoperASW designed the Teens Today 2003 survey and administered it nationwide to a cross-section of 25 middle schools and 21 high schools between May 6 and June 18, 2003.
New Version of Naltrexone Treats Alcohol Addiction in Men
3/8/2004
An injectable version of the anti-addiction medication Naltrexone is showing some promise in treating male alcoholics, Michigan's WILX TV-10 reported March 3.
Naltrexone blocks brain chemicals that activate the euphoria obtained from alcohol and other drug use. Previous studies evaluating the pill form of Naltrexone found that it only worked if individuals remembered to take it every day. In addition, many patients stopped taking the medication after a couple of months because it didn't have a strong enough effect in stopping their cravings.
The injectable version, on the other hand, lasts an entire month. A study of 600 men and women found that it reduced heavy drinking among men by nearly 50 percent compared to a placebo.
But the Naltrexone injection had no effect on women. Researchers are conducting a larger study to determine why.
New Congressional Caucus Focuses on Addiction, Recovery
3/4/2004
Reps. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) and Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) have formed a new Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, intended to enhance awareness of addiction and educate lawmakers about the challenges associated with accessing treatment and recovery services, the LegalActionCenter reported March 2.
According to Ramstad, 3.5 million Americans who sought treatment last year were unable to access it.
Ramstad is urging Congress to pass his Recovery and Treatment (HEART) Act of 2003, which is aimed at establishing parity for treatment services.
Study: Disulfuram Effective for Cocaine Addiction
3/5/2004
New research finds that medication used to treat alcohol addiction is also effective for treating cocaine addiction when combined with behavioral therapy, according to a March 1 news release from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
For the study, 121 cocaine-dependent individuals were given either disulfiram, a medication commonly used to treat alcohol addiction, or a placebo. Participants also received either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in individual sessions during the 12-week project.
Researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine found that participants given disulfiram significantly reduced their cocaine use compared to those given a placebo. Furthermore, participants who received disulfiram and CBT showed a greater reduction in cocaine use compared with those who received disulfiram and IPT.
"About 60 percent of people dependent on cocaine also abuse alcohol, so it was thought you could reduce cocaine abuse by targeting the accompanying codependence on alcohol," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "But these results suggest that disulfiram exerts a direct effect on cocaine use, rather than reducing concurrent alcohol use. More research is needed about whether combining disulfiram with CBT provides an even more effective tool for treating cocaine dependence."
The study's findings are published in the March 2004 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Offspring of Drinking Moms Suffer Nerve Damage
3/11/2004
New research finds that babies born to mothers who drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy are more likely to be born with nerve damage in their arms and legs, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
The study by researchers at NICHD, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Chile, said that this nerve damage could be permanent. "Infants born to mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy are known to be at risk for mental retardation and birth defects, said Duane Alexander, M.D., director of the NICHD. "This is the first study to show that these infants may suffer peripheral nerve damage, as well."
For the study, heavy drinking was defined as consuming four standard drinks per day. A standard drink is the equivalent to one can of beer, one glass of wine, or one mixed drink.
Researchers compared 17 full-term, newborn infants whose mothers drank heavily during pregnancy to 13 newborns not exposed to alcohol in the womb. A complete neurological exam and testing of the nerves in the upper and lower limbs found that newborns of drinking mothers had significant problems in conducting messages between nerves.
An examination at one year of age found the nerve damage still present, with no improvement in nerve function.
"The finding that the nerve damage persisted when the children were a year old suggests that alcohol may cause permanent damage to developing nerves," said James Mills, M.D., M.S., director of the study and chief of the Pediatric Epidemiology section in the division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research at NICHD. "Because the children were evaluated before they could talk, they were unable to tell us if they had symptoms such as pain or numbness. We are continuing to follow these children to determine what effect this nerve damage will have on normal nerve function and whether it will lead to weakness or problems with touch sensation or fine motor skills later in life."
The study's findings are published in the March 2004 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.
Albuquerque Jail to Offer Methadone Treatment to Inmates
March 2, 2004
In a first-of-its-kind program for a county jail in the United States, the MetropolitanDetentionCenter in Albuquerque, New Mexico recently began offering “preventive” healthcare to prison inmates. A methadone maintenance treatment pilot program at the jail is set to begin shortly. County officials say that “preventive” healthcare will curb the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, save medical costs, and help reduce the rate at which inmates return to jail, thereby saving taxpayers thousands of dollars – perhaps millions – in medical and correctional costs.
The public-health-service program, a joint project of state, county and city officials, already offers testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, counseling, and immunizations to promote inmate health. According to a statement issued by BernalilloCounty, which operates the jail, an estimated 66% of the 40,000 men and women processed at the jail each year arrive with drugs in their system. Eight in ten inmates enter the jail with medical needs.
According to the county, the pilot methadone maintenance treatment program will be offered only to inmates who are enrolled in a methadone treatment program at the time of their arrest. The county has hired an outside agency to evaluate how effective the methadone program is in reducing what it calls the “crime and disease associated with heroin abuse.” Methadone maintenance is the most effective known treatment for heroin addiction.
The Drug Policy Alliance hosted a conference four years ago in New Mexico that brought together many of state public safety officials and some of the world’s leading harm reduction experts. Most recently, the Alliance attended a meeting with the Department of Corrections where similar drug treatment work in prisons was discussed. We will continue our work in New Mexico, promoting open dialogue on drug policy issues, providing information and resources to government agencies, policy makers, community-based organizations, foundations, the media, and the general public.
NIDA Study Finds Alcohol Treatment Medication, Behavioral Therapy Effective for Treating Cocaine Addiction
3/3/2004
Press Release
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213
Bethesda, MD20892
www.drugabuse.gov
Results of a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, suggest that disulfiram, a medication used to treat alcohol addiction, is effective in combating cocaine abuse. The researchers also conclude in the same study that combining disulfiram with behavioral therapy provides more positive results in treating cocaine dependence than disulfiram in combination with another form of therapy. The research is published in the March 2004 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
In the study, 121 cocaine-dependent individuals randomly were assigned to receive disulfiram (also known as Antabuse) or a placebo, in addition to undergoing one of two behavioral therapy interventions. Participants received either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in individual sessions during the 12-week project. Results showed that participants given disulfiram reduced their cocaine use significantly compared with people given placebo. In addition, those who received disulfiram in combination with CBT reduced their cocaine use compared with those who received disulfiram in combination with IPT. Lead investigator Dr. Kathleen Carroll, of Yale University School of Medicine, and her colleagues also report that benefits seen with disulfiram and CBT were most pronounced for people who were not alcohol dependent or who abstained fully from alcohol during therapy.
"About 60 percent of people dependent on cocaine also abuse alcohol, so it was thought you could reduce cocaine abuse by targeting the accompanying codependence on alcohol," says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "But these results suggest that disulfiram exerts a direct effect on cocaine use, rather than reducing concurrent alcohol use. More research is needed about whether combining disulfiram with CBT provides an even more effective tool for treating cocaine dependence."
Disulfiram is one of two medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating alcohol abuse. It interferes with the metabolism of alcohol, producing aversive reactions such as nausea and vomiting when alcohol is ingested. The FDA notes that aversive reactions may also occur when patients taking disulfiram use cocaine.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) theory holds that surroundings strongly influence a person's thinking and behavior, so CB therapists teach their patients new ways of acting and thinking in response to their environments. In the case of CBT for addiction, patients are urged to avoid situations that lead to drug use and to practice drug refusal skills. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is based on the concept that many psychiatric disorders, including cocaine dependence, are related intimately to disorders in interpersonal functioning, which may be related to the origin or perpetuation of the disorders.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at www.drugabuse.gov
Teen Brain Wired to Seek Easy Rewards
2/27/2004
Researchers say that the reward center in an adolescent's brain isn't as fully developed or responsive as an adult's, which could explain why teens tend to engage in risky behaviors such as consuming alcohol, using drugs, or having unsafe sex, Health Day News reported Feb. 26.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), researchers scanned the brains of 12 teens aged 12 to 17 and 12 young adults aged 22 to 28. During the scan, participants played a game that involved monetary risk and reward.
In comparing the scans, the researchers found that the ventral stratium, the section of the brain known as the reward center, showed increased activity as the reward increased for both groups. However, the right ventral stratium, which is responsible for motivation, showed more activation in adult participants than in the teens.
"That region of the brain controls how much an organism is willing to work to get a reward," Bjork said. "The data show that adolescents are just as happy and excited at the prospect of winning as adults, but they differed in the expenditure of effort for that reward."
The researchers concluded that adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use, because they involve little effort but provide a greater reward in return.
The research also may explain why teens sometimes seem unmotivated to adults. "Adults have readily active motivation in the brain," said study co-author James Bjork, a research fellow in the Laboratory of Clinical Studies at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "But it may take exceptionally strong incentives to get kids jazzed up."
The study's findings are published in the Feb. 25 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
OxyContin Use Growing Among White-Collar Population
2/24/2004
Doctors and social workers in New York City have seen an increase in the number of white-collar professionals using OxyContin to get high, the New York Post reported Feb. 16.
"For the white-collar people that I take care of, OxyContin is an attractive option," said Dr. Brealyn Sellers, director of rehabilitative services at Bellevue's methadone-treatment clinic in New York City. "I definitely have seen more of it."
In New York's metropolitan area, emergency-room visits related to oxycodone, the active drug in OxyContin, Percodan, and Percocet, have increased nearly 300 percent since 1995.
Compared to other drugs, OxyContin is expensive, costing between $25 and $80 a pill. But the "high" achieved from the drug can last 12 hours, and price is no object for wealthier users. Heroin, on the other hand, costs about $10 a dose, but the "high" lasts for just about an hour.
"The patients that I'm seeing are doing some doctor shopping," said Dr. Clifford Gevirtz, medical director of the Addiction Recovery Institute in Westchester. "I don't need to go to the corner bodega to get my drugs -- I can go to the doctor's office."
OxyContin is also preferred by upscale users because it's difficult for local law enforcement to track.
"There is no national database to determine how many prescriptions are given out," said Robert Strang, head of an investigative and security company and a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
Protein Linked to Addiction, Learning Disorders
2/27/2004
New animal research suggests that a protein called PSD-95 is linked both to cocaine addiction and learning disorders, the Guardian reported Feb. 23.
Over the past six years, researchers in the United Kingdom and the United States have examined molecular changes in the brains of mice. They found that the absence of PSD-95 impaired learning and memory processes. They also found that cocaine use lowers levels of the protein, which may explain the memory and coordination problems suffered by many drug users.
The researchers found that reduced levels of the protein or the complete lack of it interfered with the way the brain changes electrical activity in nerve cells into chemical activity.
"The protein molecule is important in the type of learning to do with people, places and things, so cocaine strikes at the kinds of learning which would include, for example, studying for examinations," said Seth Grant, professor of molecular neuroscience at Edinburgh University in the United Kingdom.
The study's findings could lead to the development of drugs that might reverse the damage and reduce drug cravings.
The research is published in the journal Neuron.
Ask Your U.S. Representative to Join the New Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus
There is an exciting new Congressional effort to raise lawmaker awareness about addiction and build legislative support for expanding treatment access. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN), a recovering alcoholic and a longtime leader in Congress on addiction issues, has launched the bipartisan Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. The caucus is co-chaired by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, (D-RI), another ally of addiction recovery and treatment. Congressional caucuses are informal but organized groups of legislators that exist to advocate for a shared interest. Caucuses play an important long-term role in federal policymaking, focusing attention on their issues and gathering support for legislation. Representatives Ramstad and Kennedy understand the magnitude of this national health problem, and they know what needs to be done. "Last year alone, 3.5 million Americans were denied access to treatment," said Rep. Ramstad when announcing the new caucus, "and this is totally unacceptable." He also called on Congress to pass his treatment parity legislation "to end the discrimination against alcoholics and addicts who need treatment." You can help ensure the success of this important bipartisan effort. Call or e-mail your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and ask him or her to join the Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus, and in so doing help make this issue a priority for Congress.
Survey: Teens' Sense of Self Determines Drug Use
3/10/2004
A nationwide survey says that they way young adults feel about themselves is linked to whether they decide to use alcohol and other drugs.
The Teens Today 2003 study from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Liberty Mutual Group says that teens with a high self image are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs. The survey also said that parental involvement significantly impacted teens' sense of self and the decisions they made regarding alcohol and other drug use.
According to the report, 80 percent of high-school teens whose parents do not provide strong guidance used alcohol, compared with 47 percent of teens whose parents provide a strong level of support.
The survey looked at a teen's self-assessment in three important developmental areas: identity formation, independence, and peer relationships.
"This information is critically important in helping us to better understand the role that self-definition plays in predisposing young adults to destructive decision-making, establishing a clear link between 'who they are' and what they do," said Stephen Wallace, chairman and chief executive officer of the national SADD organization.
The report was based on 2,753 self-administered surveys of middle- and high-school students in grades 6 through 12. RoperASW designed the Teens Today 2003 survey and administered it nationwide to a cross-section of 25 middle schools and 21 high schools between May 6 and June 18, 2003.
New Version of Naltrexone Treats Alcohol Addiction in Men
3/8/2004
An injectable version of the anti-addiction medication Naltrexone is showing some promise in treating male alcoholics, Michigan's WILX TV-10 reported March 3.
Naltrexone blocks brain chemicals that activate the euphoria obtained from alcohol and other drug use. Previous studies evaluating the pill form of Naltrexone found that it only worked if individuals remembered to take it every day. In addition, many patients stopped taking the medication after a couple of months because it didn't have a strong enough effect in stopping their cravings.
The injectable version, on the other hand, lasts an entire month. A study of 600 men and women found that it reduced heavy drinking among men by nearly 50 percent compared to a placebo.
But the Naltrexone injection had no effect on women. Researchers are conducting a larger study to determine why.
New Congressional Caucus Focuses on Addiction, Recovery
3/4/2004
Reps. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) and Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) have formed a new Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, intended to enhance awareness of addiction and educate lawmakers about the challenges associated with accessing treatment and recovery services, the LegalActionCenter reported March 2.
According to Ramstad, 3.5 million Americans who sought treatment last year were unable to access it.
Ramstad is urging Congress to pass his Recovery and Treatment (HEART) Act of 2003, which is aimed at establishing parity for treatment services.
Study: Disulfuram Effective for Cocaine Addiction
3/5/2004
New research finds that medication used to treat alcohol addiction is also effective for treating cocaine addiction when combined with behavioral therapy, according to a March 1 news release from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
For the study, 121 cocaine-dependent individuals were given either disulfiram, a medication commonly used to treat alcohol addiction, or a placebo. Participants also received either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in individual sessions during the 12-week project.
Researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine found that participants given disulfiram significantly reduced their cocaine use compared to those given a placebo. Furthermore, participants who received disulfiram and CBT showed a greater reduction in cocaine use compared with those who received disulfiram and IPT.
"About 60 percent of people dependent on cocaine also abuse alcohol, so it was thought you could reduce cocaine abuse by targeting the accompanying codependence on alcohol," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "But these results suggest that disulfiram exerts a direct effect on cocaine use, rather than reducing concurrent alcohol use. More research is needed about whether combining disulfiram with CBT provides an even more effective tool for treating cocaine dependence."
The study's findings are published in the March 2004 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Offspring of Drinking Moms Suffer Nerve Damage
3/11/2004
New research finds that babies born to mothers who drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy are more likely to be born with nerve damage in their arms and legs, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
The study by researchers at NICHD, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Chile, said that this nerve damage could be permanent. "Infants born to mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy are known to be at risk for mental retardation and birth defects, said Duane Alexander, M.D., director of the NICHD. "This is the first study to show that these infants may suffer peripheral nerve damage, as well."
For the study, heavy drinking was defined as consuming four standard drinks per day. A standard drink is the equivalent to one can of beer, one glass of wine, or one mixed drink.
Researchers compared 17 full-term, newborn infants whose mothers drank heavily during pregnancy to 13 newborns not exposed to alcohol in the womb. A complete neurological exam and testing of the nerves in the upper and lower limbs found that newborns of drinking mothers had significant problems in conducting messages between nerves.
An examination at one year of age found the nerve damage still present, with no improvement in nerve function.
"The finding that the nerve damage persisted when the children were a year old suggests that alcohol may cause permanent damage to developing nerves," said James Mills, M.D., M.S., director of the study and chief of the Pediatric Epidemiology section in the division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research at NICHD. "Because the children were evaluated before they could talk, they were unable to tell us if they had symptoms such as pain or numbness. We are continuing to follow these children to determine what effect this nerve damage will have on normal nerve function and whether it will lead to weakness or problems with touch sensation or fine motor skills later in life."
The study's findings are published in the March 2004 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.
Albuquerque Jail to Offer Methadone Treatment to Inmates
March 2, 2004
In a first-of-its-kind program for a county jail in the United States, the MetropolitanDetentionCenter in Albuquerque, New Mexico recently began offering “preventive” healthcare to prison inmates. A methadone maintenance treatment pilot program at the jail is set to begin shortly. County officials say that “preventive” healthcare will curb the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, save medical costs, and help reduce the rate at which inmates return to jail, thereby saving taxpayers thousands of dollars – perhaps millions – in medical and correctional costs.
The public-health-service program, a joint project of state, county and city officials, already offers testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, counseling, and immunizations to promote inmate health. According to a statement issued by BernalilloCounty, which operates the jail, an estimated 66% of the 40,000 men and women processed at the jail each year arrive with drugs in their system. Eight in ten inmates enter the jail with medical needs.
According to the county, the pilot methadone maintenance treatment program will be offered only to inmates who are enrolled in a methadone treatment program at the time of their arrest. The county has hired an outside agency to evaluate how effective the methadone program is in reducing what it calls the “crime and disease associated with heroin abuse.” Methadone maintenance is the most effective known treatment for heroin addiction.
The Drug Policy Alliance hosted a conference four years ago in New Mexico that brought together many of state public safety officials and some of the world’s leading harm reduction experts. Most recently, the Alliance attended a meeting with the Department of Corrections where similar drug treatment work in prisons was discussed. We will continue our work in New Mexico, promoting open dialogue on drug policy issues, providing information and resources to government agencies, policy makers, community-based organizations, foundations, the media, and the general public.
NIDA Study Finds Alcohol Treatment Medication, Behavioral Therapy Effective for Treating Cocaine Addiction
3/3/2004
Press Release
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213
Bethesda, MD20892
www.drugabuse.gov
Results of a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, suggest that disulfiram, a medication used to treat alcohol addiction, is effective in combating cocaine abuse. The researchers also conclude in the same study that combining disulfiram with behavioral therapy provides more positive results in treating cocaine dependence than disulfiram in combination with another form of therapy. The research is published in the March 2004 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
In the study, 121 cocaine-dependent individuals randomly were assigned to receive disulfiram (also known as Antabuse) or a placebo, in addition to undergoing one of two behavioral therapy interventions. Participants received either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in individual sessions during the 12-week project. Results showed that participants given disulfiram reduced their cocaine use significantly compared with people given placebo. In addition, those who received disulfiram in combination with CBT reduced their cocaine use compared with those who received disulfiram in combination with IPT. Lead investigator Dr. Kathleen Carroll, of Yale University School of Medicine, and her colleagues also report that benefits seen with disulfiram and CBT were most pronounced for people who were not alcohol dependent or who abstained fully from alcohol during therapy.
"About 60 percent of people dependent on cocaine also abuse alcohol, so it was thought you could reduce cocaine abuse by targeting the accompanying codependence on alcohol," says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "But these results suggest that disulfiram exerts a direct effect on cocaine use, rather than reducing concurrent alcohol use. More research is needed about whether combining disulfiram with CBT provides an even more effective tool for treating cocaine dependence."
Disulfiram is one of two medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating alcohol abuse. It interferes with the metabolism of alcohol, producing aversive reactions such as nausea and vomiting when alcohol is ingested. The FDA notes that aversive reactions may also occur when patients taking disulfiram use cocaine.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) theory holds that surroundings strongly influence a person's thinking and behavior, so CB therapists teach their patients new ways of acting and thinking in response to their environments. In the case of CBT for addiction, patients are urged to avoid situations that lead to drug use and to practice drug refusal skills. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is based on the concept that many psychiatric disorders, including cocaine dependence, are related intimately to disorders in interpersonal functioning, which may be related to the origin or perpetuation of the disorders.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at www.drugabuse.gov
Teen Brain Wired to Seek Easy Rewards
2/27/2004
Researchers say that the reward center in an adolescent's brain isn't as fully developed or responsive as an adult's, which could explain why teens tend to engage in risky behaviors such as consuming alcohol, using drugs, or having unsafe sex, Health Day News reported Feb. 26.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), researchers scanned the brains of 12 teens aged 12 to 17 and 12 young adults aged 22 to 28. During the scan, participants played a game that involved monetary risk and reward.
In comparing the scans, the researchers found that the ventral stratium, the section of the brain known as the reward center, showed increased activity as the reward increased for both groups. However, the right ventral stratium, which is responsible for motivation, showed more activation in adult participants than in the teens.
"That region of the brain controls how much an organism is willing to work to get a reward," Bjork said. "The data show that adolescents are just as happy and excited at the prospect of winning as adults, but they differed in the expenditure of effort for that reward."
The researchers concluded that adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use, because they involve little effort but provide a greater reward in return.
The research also may explain why teens sometimes seem unmotivated to adults. "Adults have readily active motivation in the brain," said study co-author James Bjork, a research fellow in the Laboratory of Clinical Studies at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "But it may take exceptionally strong incentives to get kids jazzed up."
The study's findings are published in the Feb. 25 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
OxyContin Use Growing Among White-Collar Population
2/24/2004
Doctors and social workers in New York City have seen an increase in the number of white-collar professionals using OxyContin to get high, the New York Post reported Feb. 16.
"For the white-collar people that I take care of, OxyContin is an attractive option," said Dr. Brealyn Sellers, director of rehabilitative services at Bellevue's methadone-treatment clinic in New York City. "I definitely have seen more of it."
In New York's metropolitan area, emergency-room visits related to oxycodone, the active drug in OxyContin, Percodan, and Percocet, have increased nearly 300 percent since 1995.
Compared to other drugs, OxyContin is expensive, costing between $25 and $80 a pill. But the "high" achieved from the drug can last 12 hours, and price is no object for wealthier users. Heroin, on the other hand, costs about $10 a dose, but the "high" lasts for just about an hour.
"The patients that I'm seeing are doing some doctor shopping," said Dr. Clifford Gevirtz, medical director of the Addiction Recovery Institute in Westchester. "I don't need to go to the corner bodega to get my drugs -- I can go to the doctor's office."
OxyContin is also preferred by upscale users because it's difficult for local law enforcement to track.
"There is no national database to determine how many prescriptions are given out," said Robert Strang, head of an investigative and security company and a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
Protein Linked to Addiction, Learning Disorders
2/27/2004
New animal research suggests that a protein called PSD-95 is linked both to cocaine addiction and learning disorders, the Guardian reported Feb. 23.
Over the past six years, researchers in the United Kingdom and the United States have examined molecular changes in the brains of mice. They found that the absence of PSD-95 impaired learning and memory processes. They also found that cocaine use lowers levels of the protein, which may explain the memory and coordination problems suffered by many drug users.
The researchers found that reduced levels of the protein or the complete lack of it interfered with the way the brain changes electrical activity in nerve cells into chemical activity.
"The protein molecule is important in the type of learning to do with people, places and things, so cocaine strikes at the kinds of learning which would include, for example, studying for examinations," said Seth Grant, professor of molecular neuroscience at Edinburgh University in the United Kingdom.
The study's findings could lead to the development of drugs that might reverse the damage and reduce drug cravings.
The research is published in the journal Neuron.