People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants were more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who did not, in a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The researchers examined almost 300,000 hospital records from California covering 16 years. Patients admitted to hospital for methamphetamine or amphetamine-use disorders had […]
Tag Archives | Substance Abuse
Potential First-Ever Pharmacological Treatment For Cocaine Addiction Discovered – May Compliment Behavioral Exposure Therapies
New discoveries by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) offer potential for development of a first-ever pharmacological treatment for cocaine addiction. A common beta blocker, propranolol, currently used to treat people with hypertension and anxiety, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories associated with cocaine use in animal-addiction models, […]
New National Report Shows Differences In Types And Levels Of Substance Use And Mental Illness Problems
A new report providing state-by-state analyses of a wide range of behavioral health issues reveals that despite some wide variations among the states in the types and levels of problems they confront – every state must deal with these issues. For example, among those aged 12 and older, Iowa had less than half the current […]
Misuse Of Pain Medication Is Gateway To High-Risk Behaviors, Such As Intravenous Drug Use
A new study by researchers at Drexel University’s School of Public Health suggests that abuse of prescription painkillers may be an important gateway to the use of injected drugs such as heroin, among people with a history of using both types of drugs. The study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, explores factors surrounding […]
Adolescent Binge Drinking Can Damage Spatial Working Memory
Binge or “heavy episodic” drinking is prevalent during adolescence, raising concerns about alcohol’s effects on crucial neuromaturational processes during this developmental period. Heavy alcohol use has been associated with decrements in cognitive functioning in both adult and adolescent populations, particularly on tasks of spatial working memory (SWM). This study examined gender-specific influences of binge drinking […]
Current Depression (But Not Past) Predicts Crack Cocaine Use
Women who are clinically depressed at the time they enter drug court have a substantially higher risk of using crack cocaine within four months, according to a new study. Because current but not past depression was associated with a higher risk of use, the study published in the journal Addiction suggests that addressing depression could […]
‘The Rose-Colored Beer Goggles Effect’ Shows That For Some Heavy Drinkers, Perceived Social Benefits Outweigh Harms
A study by University of Washington psychologists shows some people continue to drink heavily because of perceived positive effects, despite experiencing negative effects such as hangovers, fights, and regrettable sexual situations. According to participants in the study, boosts of courage, chattiness, and other social benefits of drinking outweigh its harms, which they generally did not […]
‘Teen Marijuana Check-Up’ Leads To Less Marijuana Use For A Year Or More
Marijuana is the most prevalent illicit drug used by teenagers and adults around the world. Nearly a third of high school students in the United States report smoking it, and most high schoolers say they have access to the drug. To many people, smoking pot is no big deal. They cite reasons such as: “it […]
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