Elizabeth F. Howell, M.D., FASAM, DFAPA

Follow me on Twitter @efhmd

2011-08-09T22:10:00.001-06:00

Hello all-- I am posting more frequently to Twitter, as my time becomes more crunched. Follow me there for more frequent updates. Thanks!

Anti-Smoking Drugs Alter Brain to Curb Cravings, Two Studies Suggest

2011-01-25T21:38:00.001-07:00

New research indicates smoking-cessation drugs may work by changing the way our brains react to seeing others smoke.

Specialty 'Bath Salts' Linked to Hospitalizations, Suicides

2011-01-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Alarming numbers of adolescents and others are ending up in emergency rooms and mental hospitals after using "fake cocaine" -- a powder legally sold as bath salts.

Early-life brain inflammation may increase susceptibility to drug addiction in adulthood

2010-11-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-11-15) -- An episode of brain inflammation early in life may lead to long-lasting changes in the brain that increase the risk of developing drug addiction during adulthood, a new animal study found. Brain inflammation is most often caused by head injury or a viral infection such as encephalitis or meningitis.

Year-long opiate substitution for drug misusers has 85 percent chance of cutting deaths

2010-10-29T17:30:00.000-06:00

Year-long opiate substitution for drug misusers has 85 percent chance of cutting deathsScienceDaily (2010-10-28) -- Giving people opiate substitution treatment to help with their drug addiction can lead to a 85 percent plus chance of reducing mortality, according to a new study.

Drug that helps adults addicted to opioid drugs also relieves withdrawal symptoms in newborns

2010-10-07T20:15:00.001-06:00

In the October 6th online issue of Addiction, the researchers say that using buprenorphine in a dozen addicted infants was both safe and successful and reduced days of treatment by 40 percent, compared to use of morphine in 12 other infants randomized to this treatment. The difference was 23 days of treatment versus 38 days.

Medical News: ADHD May Have Genetic Component - in Pediatrics, ADHD/ADD from MedPage Today

2010-09-29T21:09:00.000-06:00

Medical News: ADHD May Have Genetic Component - in Pediatrics, ADHD/ADD from MedPage TodayChildren with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were more likely than other kids to have large chunks of deleted or duplicated DNA called copy number variants, possibly establishing a genetic component to the disorder, researchers found.See the original article here: Rare chromosomal

Stigma Unaffected by Acceptance of Disease Model, Study Finds

2010-09-27T16:35:00.000-06:00

Survey results show that although more Americans now believe that mental illness and alcohol dependency are medical or genetic in origin than did so in the mid-1990s, they are just as likely to reject those who suffer from them, HealthDay News reported Sept. 14.

Compound boosts marijuana-like chemical in the body to relieve pain at injury site

2010-09-25T13:30:00.000-06:00

ScienceDaily (Sep. 21, 2010) — American and Italian researchers have found that a novel drug allows anandamide -- a marijuana-like chemical in the body -- to effectively control pain at the site of an injury.

Stress hormone impacts on alcohol recovery

2010-09-25T13:25:00.000-06:00

ScienceDaily (Sep. 24, 2010) — Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that high levels of a stress hormone in recovering alcoholics could increase the risk of relapse.

Tarasoff Duties and Independent Examination

2010-07-15T17:38:00.001-06:00

Wednesday, July 14, 2010Tarasoff Duties and Independent ExaminationGutheil and Brodsky have contributed an excellent introduction to the question of whether Tarasoff duties to warn or protect should apply to forensic examiners

Addiction: a loss of plasticity of the brain?

2010-06-25T18:25:00.000-06:00

Why is it that only some drug users become addicts? This is the question that has been addressed by the teams of Pier Vincenzo Piazza and Olivier Manzoni, at the Neurocentre Magendie in Bordeaux (Inserm unit 862). These researchers have just discovered that the transition to addiction could result from a persistent impairment of synaptic plasticity in a key structure of the brain. This is

Exercise may be an effective and nonpharmacologic treatment option for alcohol dependence

2010-06-23T23:11:00.000-06:00

Alcohol abuse is highly disruptive of circadian rhythms, which refers to the timing of daily rhythms. A new animal study has used hamsters to test for the influence of wheel-running on alcohol intake. Results indicate that exercise, perhaps through stimulation of brain reward pathways, may be able to reduce alcohol intake in humans.

Researchers define traits associated with prescription drug disorders in a primary care setting

2010-05-21T23:03:00.001-06:00

Researchers define traits associated with prescription drug disorders in a primary care settingThe study identified a number of factors associated with PDUD, including jail time, severely disabling pain, cigarette smoking, family history of substance abuse, white, male and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Researchers define traits associated with prescription drug disorders in a primary care setting

2010-05-21T23:03:00.000-06:00

Smoking cessation treatments work and are safe for people with severe mental illness

2010-05-21T15:50:00.000-06:00

Smoking cessation treatments work and are safe for people with severe mental illnessIn a study published in the journal Addiction, researchers have determined that treatment for smoking dependence is as effective among people with severe mental illnesses as it is for the general population. Importantly, they also found that offering such treatments does not appear to cause deterioration in

New research suggests potential target for drugs to combat alcohol addiction | News | Addiction Professional

2010-05-18T22:23:00.001-06:00

New research suggests potential target for drugs to combat alcohol addiction | News | Addiction Professional In findings that should finally put to rest a decade of controversy in the field of neurobiology, a team at The Scripps Research Institute has found decisive evidence that a specific neurotransmitter system—the endocannabinoid system—is active in a brain region known to play a key

Non-daily use of tobacco can trigger nicotine dependency among adolescents

2010-05-08T20:35:00.000-06:00

Kids who have just started smoking, but not on a daily basis, don't seem to recognize the early symptoms of dependence, according to a new study.

Hangover remedy promotes alcoholism

2010-05-08T19:42:00.001-06:00

Thursday, 6 May 2010According to researchers at the University of South Hampton in the United Kingdom, using alcohol to quell a hangover promotes alcohol dependence, affects the brain and should not be a go-to remedy.

Proteins may point to alcohol use test

2010-04-23T23:55:00.001-06:00

Proteins may point to alcohol use test | News | Addiction ProfessionalHershey, PA — Measuring a set of protein changes in the blood linked to alcohol use may potentially lead to a more accurate diagnostic test than those currently available, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Childhood sleep problems and alcohol/drug problems in young adulthood

2010-04-05T19:48:00.001-06:00

Sleep problems are a major public-health issue in the United States. In 2006, for example, more than half of 6th to 12th graders reported feeling tired or sleepy, and more than 30 percent reported having problems remaining asleep during the night. A first-of-its-kind study has found a long-term relationship between childhood sleep problems and subsequent alcohol and drug outcomes.

Brain mechanism may explain alcohol cravings that drive relapse

2010-03-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2010) — New research provides exciting insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with addiction and relapse. The study, published by Cell Press in the March 11 issue of the journal Neuron, uncovers a crucial mechanism that facilitates motivation for alcohol after extended abstinence and opens new avenues for potential therapeutic intervention.

Do recreational drugs make us fail to remember?

2010-02-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (Feb. 23, 2010) — A new study from UK researchers suggests that for those who regularly use ecstasy or other recreational drugs, a certain kind of memory lapse is more common. Their research, which uncovered potential links between memory deficits and cocaine for the first time, appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE.

Increasing neurogenesis might prevent drug addiction and relapse

2010-02-26T15:05:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-02-26) -- Researchers hope they have begun paving a new pathway in the fight against drug dependence. Their hypothesis -- that increasing the normally occurring process of making nerve cells might prevent addiction -- is based on a rodent study demonstrating that blocking new growth of specific brain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse.

The Association of Pipe and Cigar Use With Cotinine Levels, Lung Function, and Airflow Obstruction — Ann Intern Med

2010-02-20T22:57:00.000-07:00

The Association of Pipe and Cigar Use With Cotinine Levels, Lung Function, and Airflow Obstruction — Ann Intern Med Conclusion: Pipe and cigar smoking increased urine cotinine levels and was associated with decreased lung function and increased odds of airflow obstruction, even in participants who had never smoked cigarettes.

DSM-V Draft Includes Major Changes to Addictive Disease Classifications

2010-02-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

News FeatureBy Bob CurleyThe first draft of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) eliminates the disease categories for substance abuse and dependence and replaces it with a new "addictions and related disorders" ...

Novelty lures rats from cocaine-paired settings, hinting at new treatments for recovering addicts

2010-02-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-02-05) -- The brain's innate interest in the new and different may help trump the power of addictive drugs, according to new research. In controlled experiments, novelty drew cocaine-treated rats away from the place they got cocaine.

Please comment on DSM-5 criteria Feb 10, 2010 through April 20, 2010

2010-02-04T23:15:00.001-07:00

DSM-5 Draft Criteria Available for Public Comment through April 20 The American Psychiatric Association is seeking your comments on proposed criteria for the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health and other health professionals for diagnostic and research purposes.

Relationship of Opioid Use and Dosage Levels to Fractures in Older Chronic Pain Patients

2010-01-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

SpringerLink - Journal Article Conclusions: Higher doses (≥50 mg/day) of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain were associated with a 2.00 increase in risk of fracture confirmed by medical record review. Clinicians should consider fracture risk when prescribing higher-dose opioid therapy for older adults.

Scripps research team finds stress hormone key to alcohol dependence

2010-01-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

LA JOLLA, CA – January 25, 2010 – A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has found that a specific stress hormone, the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), is key to the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence in animal models. Chemically blocking the stress factor also blocked the signs and symptoms of addiction, suggesting a potentially promising area for future

FDA Wants Drug Companies To Look For Abuse - baltimoresun.com

2010-01-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

FDA Wants Drug Companies To Look For Abuse - baltimoresun.comThe Food and Drug Administration is calling on pharmaceutical firms to give more attention to the potential for abuse of new drugs when subjecting them to pre-market testing.

Higher opioid dose linked to overdose risk in chronic pain patients

2010-01-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-01-19) -- More Americans are taking prescribed opioids like Oxycontin long-term for chronic noncancer pain. This study sheds light on the national epidemic of opioid overdose. It is the first to explore the risk of overdose in patients prescribed opioids for chronic noncancer pain in community practice. Researchers link the risk of opioid overdose to prescription use.

Sudden death in cocaine abusers: Study reveals role played by illegal drug

2010-01-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-01-13) -- Forensic pathologists have shown that over three per cent of all sudden deaths in south-west Spain are related to the use of cocaine. They believe their findings can be extrapolated to much of the rest of Europe, indicating that cocaine use is a growing public health problem in Europe and that there is no such thing as "safe" recreational use of small amounts of the

Morphine Use after Combat Injury in Iraq and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

2010-01-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/362/2/110 Results Among the 696 patients studied, 243 received a diagnosis of PTSD and 453 did not. The use of morphine during early resuscitation and trauma care was significantly associated with a lower risk of PTSD after injury. Among the patients in whom PTSD developed, 61% received morphine; among those in whom PTSD did not develop, 76% received

Parkinson's patients shed light on role of reward bias in compulsive behaviors

2010-01-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-01-13) -- New research unravels the brain mechanisms that underlie the ability of a standard drug treatment for Parkinson's to elicit compulsive behaviors in some patients with the disease. The study provides fascinating new insight into the brain mechanisms that underlie a predisposition to behavioral addictions, such as pathological gambling and shopping.

Words used to describe substance-use patients can alter attitudes, contribute to stigma

2010-01-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-01-13) -- Changing the words used to describe someone struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction may significantly alter the attitudes of health care professionals, even those who specialize in addiction treatment.

New mechanism underlying cocaine addiction discovered

2010-01-07T20:17:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-01-07) -- Researchers have identified a key epigenetic mechanism in the brain that helps explain cocaine's addictiveness.

Technology new gateway into treatment for problem alcohol users

2010-01-05T23:33:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2010-01-05) -- Interventions for problem alcohol use can be effective in changing drinking behaviors and offers a significant public health benefit, according to new research. The study found that problem drinkers provided access to an online screener reduced their alcohol consumption by 30 percent -- or six to seven drinks weekly -- rates that are comparable to face-to-face

Legal Blood-Alcohol Limit to be Lowered in Quebec

2009-12-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Legal Blood-Alcohol Limit to be Lowered in QuebecQuebec will be joining the rest of Canada by lowering its legal blood-alcohol level for motorists from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent, CBC News reported Nov. 30.

Pathological gambling may be successfully treated with medications for substance addiction

2009-12-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (Dec. 11, 2009) — Pathological gambling can be successfully treated with medications that decrease urges and increase inhibitions, according to researchers at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). Researchers found positive outcomes in gamblers treated with medications often used for substance addictions.

New clues emerge for understanding morphine addiction

2009-12-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2009) — Scientists are adding additional brush strokes to the revolutionary new image now emerging for star-shaped cells called astrocytes in the brain and spinal cord. Their report, which suggests a key role for astrocytes in morphine's ability to relieve pain and cause addiction, appears online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, a monthly publication.

Craving hinders comprehension without you realizing it

2009-12-08T00:29:00.002-07:00

ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2009) — A new University of Pittsburgh study reveals that craving a cigarette while performing a cognitive task not only increases the chances of a person's mind wandering, but also makes that person less likely to notice when his or her mind has wandered.

Deaths from opioid use have doubled; five-fold increase in oxycodone deaths

2009-12-07T18:05:00.002-07:00

ScienceDaily (2009-12-07) -- Deaths from opioid use in Ontario, Canada, have doubled since 1991 and the addition of long-acting oxycodone to the drug formulary was associated with a 5-fold increase in oxycodone-related deaths, a new study finds. Most of these additional deaths were accidental.

Mental-health parity laws require oversight

2009-12-05T17:50:00.003-07:00

Consumers need more information regarding new laws that mandate insurance coverage for mental-health treatment, according to an analysis of the first five years of the mental-health parity law in California. Read more here.Posted using ShareThis

Waterpipe tobacco smokers inhale same toxicants as cigarette smokers

2009-12-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2009-12-03) -- Smoking tobacco through a waterpipe exposes the user to the same toxicants -- carbon monoxide and nicotine -- as puffing on a cigarette, which could lead to nicotine addiction and heart disease, according to a new study.

Long-Term Use of Ketamine Affects Memory, Researchers Say

2009-11-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

Long-Term Use of Ketamine Affects Memory, Researchers SayFrequent, long-term use of the club drug ketamine appears to cause significant impairment in short-term and visual memory, according to researchers from University College London.

Brain scan study shows cocaine abusers can suppress drug cravings

2009-11-30T22:02:00.002-07:00

ScienceDaily (2009-12-01) -- A new brain-imaging study shows that active cocaine abusers can suppress drug craving, suggesting new ways to help them quit and avoid relapse.

Are Psychiatrist Characteristics Associated With Postdischarge Suicide of Schizophrenia Patients?

2009-11-19T13:44:00.002-07:00

Schizophr Bull. 2009 Jul;35(4):760-5. Epub 2008 Feb 16.Lee HC, Lin HC.Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.Information on the relationship between characteristics of mental healthcare providers, including hospitals and psychiatrists, and postdischarge suicide is scanty. This study aims to identify the risk factors for suicide among schizophrenia patients

NIDAMED Resources for Medical and Health Professionals - NIDA

2009-11-19T12:13:00.000-07:00

NIDAMED Resources for Medical and Health Professionals - NIDANIDAMED - Screening Tools, Resources for Your Practice, Resources for Your Patients, Centers of Excellence for Physician Information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Georgia Bans Tobacco in All Prisons

2009-11-19T12:09:00.001-07:00

Georgia Bans Tobacco in All Prisons Georgia's Department of Corrections will start phasing out smoking and tobacco use in its 37 facilities beginning Jan. 1, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Nov. 9.

Evidence for Genetic Association of RORB with Bipolar Disorder

2009-11-18T12:49:00.006-07:00

Casey McGrath, et al; BMC Psychiatry 2009, 9:70doi:10.1186/1471-244X-9-70Bipolar disorder, particularly in children, is characterized by rapid cycling and switching, making circadian clock genes plausible molecular underpinnings for bipolar disorder. We previously reported work establishing mice lacking the clock gene D-box binding protein (DBP) as a stress-reactive genetic animal model of

NIDA Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research Based Guide (Second Edition)

2009-11-08T00:53:00.003-07:00

Drug addiction is a complex illness.It is characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences. Many people do not realize that addiction is a brain disease. While the path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs, over time a persons ability to choose not to do so

Stress-induced Changes In Brain Circuitry Linked To Cocaine Relapse

2009-11-06T23:46:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2009-10-31) -- Stress-evoked changes in circuits that regulate serotonin in certain parts of the brain can precipitate a low mood and a relapse of cocaine-seeking, based on mouse studies.

Smoking During Pregnancy May Predispose Kids to Behavioral Problems

2009-11-06T22:55:00.001-07:00

Smoking During Pregnancy May Predispose Kids to Behavioral ProblemsWomen who smoked during pregnancy were more likely to report having children with behavioral problems, and researchers think the reason could be fetal brain damage, the BBC reported Nov. 3.

Report: Treatment Cuts Recidivism Nearly in Half

2009-10-19T10:08:00.002-06:00

Report: Treatment Cuts Recidivism Nearly in HalfCriminal offenders who completed in-prison and community-based treatment were far less likely to end up back in prison than those who did not get services, according to a new report from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).Shared via AddThis

My Medem site will go offline forever at the end of December 2009

2009-10-17T01:25:00.014-06:00

My Medem website will close forever at the end of December 2009.Due to changes in the web services provider, my Medem site will go offline at the end of December, 2009. After that time, you may reach me through this site and (in early 2010) http://www.efhmd.comI have taken down almost all the links on the old Medem site in preparation for the transition. If you are looking for some of the

The Why of Sleep

2009-10-16T00:21:00.002-06:00

Brain studies may reveal the purpose of a behavior both basic and mystifyingScience NewsSpecial issue on sleep

Screening and Brief Intervention: Making a Public Health Difference

2009-09-14T15:55:00.001-06:00

Screening and Brief Intervention: Making a Public Health DifferenceJoin Together published a policy report encouraging the increased use of screening and brief interventions. This policy report serves as a primer on screening and brief interventions (SBI) issues, covers barriers to expanded utilization, and recommends ways to boost understanding and usage of this important public health tool.

Common Mental Disorders May Be More Common Than We Think

2009-09-13T14:29:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2009-09-11) -- The prevalence of anxiety, depression and substance dependency may be twice as high as the mental health community has been led to believe. It depends on how one goes about measuring.

Deficits In Brain's Reward System Observed In ADHD Patients; Low Levels Of Dopamine Markers May Underlie Symptoms

2009-09-13T13:57:00.000-06:00

ScienceDaily (2009-09-10) -- A brain-imaging study provides the first definitive evidence that patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have lower-than-normal levels of certain proteins essential for experiencing reward and motivation.

UK Doctors want booze marketing ban

2009-09-13T13:52:00.001-06:00

Tuesday, 8 September 2009 10:00 UK The British Medical Association said the crackdown on marketing was needed, along with an end to cut-price deals, to stop rising rates of consumption.

Coming to Know the Limits of Healing

2009-09-13T13:44:00.002-06:00

By COLIN FERNANDES, M.D. Published: September 8, 2009 Sometimes a doctor must say, “There is nothing more I can do.”My comment: Great commentary on the perils of treating pain, the "5th vital sign" (surely a phrase coined by the pharmaceutical companies to drive opioid sales, considering the anemic research on chronic treatment with opioids).

Nearly Half of Americans Say They Couldn't Afford Alcohol or Drug Treatment

2009-07-19T11:40:00.002-06:00

Nearly Half of Americans Say They Couldn't Afford Alcohol or Drug TreatmentNearly half of U.S. adults -- 49 percent -- say that they would not be able to afford alcohol or drug treatment if they or someone in their family needed it, according to a telephone survey conducted this past June.Shared via AddThis

Brain Functions That Can Prevent Relapse Improve After A Year Of Methamphetamine Abstinence

2009-07-04T10:40:00.003-06:00

Brain Functions That Can Prevent Relapse Improve After A Year Of Methamphetamine AbstinenceScienceDaily (July 2, 2009) In a study published online by the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, UC Davis researchers report that it takes at least a year for former methamphetamine users to regain impulse control. The results tell recovering substance abusers, their families and drug-treatment

Site for alcohol's action in the brain discovered

2009-06-28T14:26:00.002-06:00

Site for alcohol's action in the brain discoveredOriginal Nature Neuroscience article online here.

Marijuana Damages DNA And May Cause Cancer, New Test Reveals

2009-06-26T09:44:00.002-06:00

Marijuana Damages DNA And May Cause Cancer, New Test RevealsShared via AddThis

Drinking Held Responsible for 4% of World Deaths

2009-06-26T09:40:00.002-06:00

Drink Held Responsible for 4% of World DeathsShared via AddThis

New CASA Report Finds Federal, State and Local Governments Spend Almost Half a Trillion Dollars a Year on Substance Abuse and Addiction

2009-06-24T21:22:00.002-06:00

New CASA Report Finds Federal, State and Local Governments Spend Almost Half a Trillion Dollars a Year on Substance Abuse and AddictionShared via AddThis

Smoking Linked To Brain Damage

2009-06-24T21:18:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2009-06-23) -- New research suggests a direct link between smoking and brain damage. Scientists have found that a compound in tobacco provokes white blood cells in the central nervous system to attack healthy cells, leading to severe neurological damage.

1,000 Treatment Providers Join the ACTION Campaign

2009-06-14T10:20:00.001-06:00

1,000 Treatment Providers Join the ACTION CampaignShared via AddThis

Why Smoking Increases The Risk Of Heart Disease And Strokes

2009-06-14T10:18:00.001-06:00

Why Smoking Increases The Risk Of Heart Disease And StrokesShared via AddThis

Rethinking Amphetamines in ADHD, Bipolar Disorder

2009-06-09T20:08:00.004-06:00

By Patrice WendlingElsevier Global Medical NewsConferences in DepthCHICAGO (EGMN) — Dr. Nassir Ghaemi is a bit of a maverick......Dr. Ghaemi contends that children and adults who are diagnosed with ADHD in the United States are automatically given amphetamines, and that there is a routine presumption that long-term treatment with these agents is warranted. He said he believes amphetamines should

Flipping The Brain's Addiction Switch Without Drugs

2009-05-28T22:18:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2009-05-29) -- Researchers investigating how the brain becomes drug dependent have now implicated a naturally occurring protein, a dose of which allowed them to get rats hooked with no drugs at all. The finding could suggest ways to medically counteract the effects of drug addiction.

A Person's High Or Low Response To Alcohol Says Much About Their Risk For Alcoholism

2009-05-22T22:27:00.000-06:00

ScienceDaily (2009-05-22) -- Someone who has a low level of response (LR) to alcohol, meaning relatively little reaction to alcohol, has a higher risk for developing alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). A study that examined the influence of LR in conjunction with other characteristics -- like family history of AUDs and age of drinking onset -- has found that LR is a unique risk factor for AUDs across

First Addiction Medicine Specialists Named

2009-05-15T11:39:00.000-06:00

May 15, 2009 | News Feature | by Bob CurleyIn a major milestone for the addiction field, the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM) recently named the first group of board-certified addiction-medicine specialists, recognizing 1,240 doctors who previously had been certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Smoking Interferes With Recovery From Alcohol-related Brain Damage

2009-05-15T11:36:00.000-06:00

ScienceDaily (2009-05-15) -- Excessive drinking can damage the brain, especially the frontal and parietal cortices. Some of this damage is reversible with abstinence from alcohol. New findings show that chronic cigarette smoking is associated with poor recovery of brain blood flow during abstinence from long-term heavy drinking.

Cocaine-linked Genes Enhance Behavioral Effects Of Addiction

2009-05-14T01:58:00.000-06:00

ScienceDaily (2009-05-13) -- New research sheds light on how cocaine regulates gene expression in a crucial reward region of the brain to elicit long-lasting changes in behavior. The study provides exciting insight into the molecular pathways regulated by cocaine and may lead to new strategies for battling drug addiction.

Gene's Role In Severity Of Drinking Uncovered

2009-02-07T22:57:00.002-07:00

ScienceDaily (2009-02-07) -- New research could help explain why some alcoholics are more severe drinkers than others. Scientists have found strong evidence that the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, plays a significant role in influencing drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals.

Why Smokers Struggle To Quit: New Findings

2009-01-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2009-01-07) -- Just seeing someone smoke can trigger smokers to abandon their nascent efforts to kick the habit, according to new research.

Reward-stress Link Points To New Targets For Treating Addiction

2008-12-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2008-12-25) -- Investigators have discovered a functional link between reward and stress. They found that dopamine -- the brain's chief reward signal -- works through corticotrophin-releasing factor -- the brain's main stress signal -- to increase the activity of a brain region involved in addiction relapse. The findings, reported in the Journal of Neuroscience, point to new

Sex Differences in µ-Opioid Receptor Expression in the Rat Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray

2008-12-26T21:30:00.002-07:00

The Journal of Neuroscience, December 24, 2008, 28(52):14007-14017Sex Differences in µ-Opioid Receptor Expression in the Rat Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray Are Essential for Eliciting Sex Differences in Morphine Analgesia. Opioid-based narcotics are the most widely prescribed therapeutic agent for the alleviation of persistent pain; however, it is becoming increasingly clear that

Avoiding the painkiller-overuse rut in migraines

2008-12-26T21:21:00.001-07:00

AP--WASHINGTON—Those pain pills you think help your migraines? Take too many and you could make them worse. Overusing painkillers can spin migraine patients into a rut, spurring more headaches that in turn require more pain medication.

Opioid Guidelines from Washington State

2008-12-12T21:58:00.001-07:00

Opioid Dosing Guidelines developed for Washington State.

Prescription Opioids, Overdose Deaths, and Physician Responsibility

2008-12-12T21:36:00.007-07:00

A. Thomas McLellan, PhD; Barbara Turner, MD, MsEdJAMA. 2008;300(22):2672-2673.A thoughtful editorial on the West Virginia study. See the Join Together press release about this editorial.

Patterns of Abuse Among Unintentional Pharmaceutical Overdose Fatalities

2008-12-12T21:27:00.003-07:00

JAMA. 2008;300(22):2613-2620. "Context Use and abuse of prescription narcotic analgesics have increased dramatically in the United States since 1990. The effect of this pharmacoepidemic has been most pronounced in rural states, including West Virginia, which experienced the nation's largest increase in drug overdose mortality rates during 1999-2004.....

Genetics: Why Some Drinkers Feel Effects Of Alcohol Strongly, And Why Some Are Prone To Alcohol Abuse

2008-12-10T21:00:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily (2008-12-11) -- Researchers have identified a region on the human genome that appears to determine how strongly drinkers feel the effects of alcohol and thus how prone they are to alcohol abuse.

Specific DNA Variations Of The Serotonin Transporter Gene Can Influence Drinking Intensity

2008-11-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2008-11-30) -- The brain's serotonergic system plays an important role in alcohol preference and consumption. New findings show that specific DNA sequence variations of the serotonin transporter gene can influence drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals.

Benzodiazepine Addiction, Withdrawal and Recovery

2008-11-30T00:08:00.006-07:00

"This web site is dedicated to sufferers of iatrogenic benzodiazepine tranquilliser addiction everywhere. Launched on July 6, 2000 with around a dozen pages this site now has more than 650 pages of articles and information, expert medical documents, news stories and personal accounts...."

Fears as tranquilliser addiction rises

2008-11-30T00:00:00.004-07:00

Guardian.co.uk, November 30, 2008. They used to be called 'mother's little helpers', pill prescribed to stressed suburban housewives as a miracle pick-me-up. Now benzodiazepines are proving popular again, this time as an alternative to heroin.

Something, anything to stop the pain

2008-11-16T11:16:00.001-07:00

The Boston Globe | November 9, 2008An addicted physician succumbs to this disease.

Drug Addiction: Environmental Conditions Play Major Role In Effective Treatment And Preventing Relapses, Animal Study Shows

2008-11-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (2008-11-14) -- Environmental conditions play a major role in treating drug addiction and in preventing relapses, according to new research. For the first time, researchers have shown that positive and stimulating environmental conditions make it easier to treat cocaine addiction.

At addiction centers, longer treatment programs are proving key to ending the relapse-rehab cycle

2008-11-07T23:15:00.003-07:00

Thirty days' treatment is the norm, but more facilities are offering programs to patients that extend to 45 days, 90 days and even longer. November 10, 2008 From the Los Angeles Times By Shari Roan >>> We love quick, tidy solutions in this country...But in the case of drug and alcohol dependence, it's becoming increasingly clear that there is no such

Methamphetamine Enters Brain Quickly And Lingers

2008-10-31T23:27:00.000-06:00

ScienceDaily (2008-10-16) -- Using positron emission tomography to track tracer doses of methamphetamine in humans' brains, scientists find that the addictive and long-lasting effects of this increasingly prevalent drug can be explained in part by its pharmacokinetics -- the rate at which it enters and clears the brain, and its distribution.

Preventing Prescription Drug Overdoses

2008-10-26T10:20:00.003-06:00

Check out the Utah Department of Health initiative to reduce the number of unintentional prescription pain medication overdose deaths by 15 percent in 2009.Learn more about talking to teenagers about prescription drug abuse here.Learn 3 easy steps to prevent prescription drug abuse here.

Variations In Key Genes Increase Caucasians’ Risk Of Heroin Addiction

2008-10-03T11:10:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2008-10-02) -- Sometimes, small changes do add up. In the case of addictive diseases, tiny variations in a few genes can increase or decrease the likelihood of some people developing a dependency on heroin. Now, by examining a select group of genetic variants in more than 400 former severe heroin addicts, Rockefeller University researchers have identified several genetic variations

Drinking Alcohol Before 15 Years Of Age Is Risky For Later Alcohol Problems

2008-09-29T21:49:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2008-09-30) -- Researchers have known that age of first drink (AFD) is associated with the later development of alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). New findings show that an early AFD, before the age of 15, is especially risky for later AUDs. Experts recommend delaying the onset of drinking behavior as late as possible, until 18 or older.

Drug Overdose Deaths on the Rise

2008-09-23T21:44:00.001-06:00

National Safety Council Says Prescription Painkillers Lead the Trend By Kathleen DohenyWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Sept. 22, 2008 (Anaheim, Calif.) -- Deaths from accidental drug overdoses have increased dramatically in recent years, and prescription painkillers account for much of the problem, according to research presented

Cocaine-induced Brain Plasticity May Protect The Addicted Brain: Findings May Lead To New Drug-abuse Treatments

2008-09-10T23:38:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2008-08-27) -- Increased connections among brain cells caused by excessive drug use may represent the body's defense mechanism to combat addiction and related behaviors, scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

New Evidence On Addiction To Medicines: Diazepam Has Effect On Nerve Cells In The Brain Reward System

2008-09-10T23:36:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2008-08-29) -- Addictions to medicines and drugs are thought to develop over a relatively long period of time. The process involves both structural and functional changes in brain nerve cells that are still poorly understood. However, a single drug or alcohol dose is sufficient to generate an initial stage of addiction.

Mechanism Behind Cocaine Craving Identified

2008-09-10T23:29:00.002-06:00

ScienceDaily (2008-08-16) -- A possible future way to prevent relapses into drug dependence has been discovered. The target is the dopamine-producing nerve cells in the midbrain.