Newswise Feature Channel: Drugs and Drug Abuse

UC Irvine-led team finds that compound in rosemary extract can reduce cocaine sensitivity

University of California, Irvine — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:05:09 EST

Irvine, Calif., Aug. 20, 2024 -- A team of researchers led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered that an antioxidant found in rosemary extract can reduce volitional intakes of cocaine by moderating the brain's reward response, offering a new therapeutic target for treating addiction. The study, recently published online in the journal Neuron, describes team members' focus on a region of the brain called the globus pallidus externus, which acts as a gatekeeper that regulates how we react to cocaine.

Nationally Recognized Behavioral Scientist Dr. Kelly Dunn Named Director of the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

University of Maryland School of Medicine — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 13:05:53 EST

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today the appointment of Kelly Dunn, PhD, MBA, one of the nation's leading researchers on opioid use disorder, as the inaugural Director of the School's Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine

National Academy of Medicine Selects FAU for Substance Use, Opioid Crises Collaborative

Florida Atlantic University — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:30:11 EST

FAU joins the National Academy of Medicine's Action Collaborative on Combating Opioid Crises. This pilot project, involving more 80 organizations, aims to enhance coordination and address addiction challenges through collaboration among public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Understanding Ketamine - Expert toxicologist available.

Case Western Reserve University — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:45:26 EST

Rutgers Medical Toxicology Expert Available to Discuss Misinformation Surrounding Ketamine in Matthew Perry's Autopsy

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:05:57 EST

American Society of Anesthesiologists Brings ANESTHESIOLOGY(r) 2024 to Philadelphia

American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:05:41 EST

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may be a simple way to reduce the risk of postoperative delirium. Combining two common blood tests may help doctors identify pregnant women who are at higher risk for life-threatening preeclampsia.

Unveiling the Brain's Reward Circuitry

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:30:49 EST

A research team - co-led by Penn Nursing - has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the complex neural circuitry underlying reward and addiction by identifying 34 distinct subtypes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key brain region involved in pleasure and motivation. The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports by Nature, offer insights into the diversity of these neurons and their potential roles in substance use disorders.

Johns Hopkins Children's Center Researchers Report Potential New Treatment Regimens for Multidrug-Resistant TB Meningitis

Johns Hopkins Medicine — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 06:00:00 EST

In a preliminary study with a small number of humans, rabbits and mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center say they have developed four new regimens that have the potential to treat and save the lives of people with multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculous (TB) meningitis.

Tackling cancer from the inside out: a deep dive into immune checkpoint inhibitors

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 11:05:43 EST

In the past two decades, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, showing promising results against various solid tumors. This study reviews recent developments in ICIs, focusing on new targets like T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3), and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3). These targets aim to overcome resistance mechanisms limiting the effectiveness of current therapies, such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4. By identifying and developing these new ICIs, researchers hope to improve treatment outcomes and provide new therapeutic options for cancer patients.

Researchers warn of dangers associated with rising kratom use

American College of Physicians (ACP) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:00:00 EST

Researchers from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and WorkIt Health suggest it's time for physicians to embrace asking patients about kratom use, the same as they would cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamines, or heroin.

Curious by Nature: How Addictive Are Companies Making Video Games with Dr. Puneet Manchanda

Newswise — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:05:04 EST

For many years, addiction research has focused on chemical dependencies like drugs and alcohol. However, new phenomena such as video game and social media addictions are not as extensively studied.

Study identifies weight-loss drug target in the brain

UT Southwestern Medical Center — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:05:10 EST

A team led by researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center and a university in South Korea has identified a subset of brain cells whose activation may be partially responsible for the effects of a popular class of weight loss drugs that includes semaglutide and tirzepatide. Their findings, published in Science, could eventually help scientists optimize the efficacy of these drugs, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs).

Prescription painkiller misuse and addiction are widespread in chronic pain patients

University of Bristol — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:05:00 EST

A new scientific review of 148 studies enrolling over 4.3 million adult chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioid painkillers has found that nearly one in ten patients experiences opioid dependence or opioid use disorder and nearly one in three shows symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder.

Fentanyl May Increase or Decrease Oxygen Levels Depending on Dosage

American Physiological Society (APS) — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:05:44 EST

Seeking Ozempic Alternatives? Prioritize Safety with These Expert Tips

Hackensack Meridian Health — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:05:30 EST

Novel study reveals that a surprising number of pregnant people are using cannabis -- and need to be informed of its risks

Association for Diagnostic and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM (formerly AACC)) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:30:00 EST

Breaking research shows that rates of cannabis use during pregnancy are far higher than previously thought, a finding that could improve efforts to identify pregnant cannabis users and inform them of potential risks.

Illicit Fentanyl Use Linked to Increased Risk of Hepatitis C Among People Who Use Drugs

University of California San Diego — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:00:15 EST

Researchers from University of California San Diego and el Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Mexico have revealed a link between illicit fentanyl use and the transmission of hepatitis C (HCV) among people who inject drugs in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico.

Last decade saw big decrease in teens who used commonly prescribed and misused prescription drugs

University of Michigan — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:05:58 EST

Since 2009, U.S. high school seniors have reported steep declines in medical use, misuse and availability of the three most commonly prescribed and misused controlled substances for teens, a new University of Michigan study found.

Older adults want to cut back on medication, but study shows need for caution

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:05:33 EST

More than 82% of Americans age 50 to 80 take one or more kinds of prescription medication, and 80% of them say they'd be open to stopping one or more of those drugs -- with major differences among people with different health conditions.

Dual action antibiotic could make bacterial resistance nearly impossible

University of Illinois Chicago — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 08:55:24 EST

New drug that disrupts two cellular targets would make it much harder for bacteria to evolve resistance