RxPG News : Substance Abuse

Study highlights risky behavior, lack of care among HIV-infected crack users

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:00:00 PST

Doctors who treat HIV-infected crack users refer to them as the forgotten population. A study being presented at this week's International AIDS Conference in Mexico City reveals that these patients frequently lack outpatient health care, do not receive life-saving antiretroviral therapy and continue to engage in risky sexual behavior that likely contributes to HIV transmission.

Research says fat friends and poor education helps people think thin

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PST

Research by economists at the University of Warwick, Dartmouth College, and the University of Leuven, finds that people are powerfully but subconsciously influenced by the weight of those around them. Without being aware of it, the researchers believe, human beings keep up with the weight of the Joneses. For a whole society, this can lead to a spiral of imitative obesity. The researchers will present their results on Friday July 25th at a National Bureau of Economic Research conference in Cambridge Massachusetts in a paper entitled Imitative Obesity and Relative Utility at the NBER Summer Institute on Health Economics.

Energy drinks linked to risk-taking behaviors among college students

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Over the last decade, energy drinks -- such as Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar -- have become nearly ubiquitous on college campuses. The global market for these types of drinks currently exceeds $3 billion a year and new products are introduced annually.

Claims linking health problems and the strength of cannabis may be exaggerated

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PST

Claims that a large increase in the strength of cannabis over the last decade is driving the occurrence of mental health and other problems for users are not borne out by a study of the worldwide literature, say researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) and the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), both from Australia.

Drink and drugs fuel Scottish suicide and homicide rates

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PST

Alcohol and drug misuse mean Scots are almost twice as likely to kill or take their own life compared to people living in England and Wales, research published today (Monday, June 16) reveals.

Memory loss linked to common sleep disorder

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PST

For the first time, UCLA researchers have discovered that people with sleep apnea show tissue loss in brain regions that help store memory. Reported in the June 27 edition of the journal Neuroscience Letters, the findings emphasize the importance of early detection of the disorder, which afflicts an estimated 20 million Americans.

Excessive drinking and relapse rapidly cut in new approach

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PST

Boosting the level of a specific brain protein quickly cut excessive drinkingof alcohol in a new animal study, and also prevented relapse -- the common tendency found in sober alcoholics to easily return to heavy drinking after just one glass.

Repeated methamphetamine use causes long-term adaptations in brains of mice, researchers find

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Repeatedly stimulating the mouse brain with methamphetamine depresses important areas of the brain, and those changes can only be undone by re-introducing the drug, according to research at the University of Washington and other institutions. The study, which appears in the April 10 issue of the journal Neuron, provides one of the most in-depth views of the mechanisms of methamphetamine addiction, and suggests that withdrawal from the drug may not undo the changes the stimulant can cause in the brain.

Brain DNA 'remodeled' in alcoholism

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Reshaping of the DNA scaffolding that supports and controls the expression of genes in the brain may play a major role in the alcohol withdrawal symptoms, particularly anxiety, that make it so difficult for alcoholics to stop using alcohol.

Adolescent girls with ADHD are at increased risk for eating disorders, study shows

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

Girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stand a substantially greater risk of developing eating disorders in adolescence than girls without ADHD, a new study has found.

Brain chemistry ties anxiety and alcoholism

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

Doctors may one day be able to control alcohol addiction by manipulating the molecular events in the brain that underlie anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center report in the March 5 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Cocaine's effects on brain metabolism may contribute to abuse

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY - Many studies on cocaine addiction - and attempts to block its addictiveness - have focused on dopamine transporters, proteins that reabsorb the brain's reward chemical once its signal is sent. Since cocaine blocks dopamine transporters from doing their recycling job, it leaves the feel-good chemical around to keep sending the pleasure signal. Now a new study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory suggests that cocaine's effects go beyond the dopamine system. In the study, cocaine had significant effects on brain metabolism, even in mice that lack the gene for dopamine transporters.

UTMB wins $3.4 million federal grant to study addiction-recovery drugs

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

GALVESTON, Texas -- The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers a four-year, $3.4 million grant to develop what may become the first effective drugs to help people conquer cocaine addiction.

Video games activate reward regions of brain in men more than women, Stanford study finds

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

STANFORD, Calif. - Allan Reiss, MD, and his colleagues have a pretty good idea why your husband or boyfriend can't put down the Halo 3. In a first-of-its-kind imaging study, the Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have shown that the part of the brain that generates rewarding feelings is more activated in men than women during video-game play.

Daily alcohol use causes changes in sexual behavior, new study reveals

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

A team of researchers at Penn Sate has used an animal model to reveal, for the first time, a physiological basis for the effect of alcohol on male sexual behavior, including increased sexual arousal and decreased sexual inhibition. The research, which will be published on 2 January 2008 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE, resulted in four novel findings with broad importance for further addiction research. It is the first study to characterize the effects of chronic alcohol exposure in fruit flies. Physiological evidence supporting various theories about the effect of alcoholic drinks has been lacking, so our now having a suitable animal model makes it possible to conduct much-needed laboratory research on this issue, explains research-team-leader Kyung-An Han, associate professor of biology and a neuroscientist at Penn State. Information from this research can serve as a baseline for similar studies in other animals, including humans.

Cognitive, genetic clues identified in imaging study of alcohol addiction

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

People with clinical addictions know first-hand the ravages the disease can take on almost every aspect of their lives. So why do they continue addictive behaviors, even after a period of peaceable abstinence

Research reveals secrets of alcohol's effect on brain cells

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 7, 2007) -- Alcohol triggers the activation of a variety of genes that can influence the health and activity of brain cells, and new research from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City sheds light on how that process occurs.

New research review shows that your family doctor may be the key to quitting smoking

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

Scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are defining the most effective ways to treat tobacco dependence, and in an article released in the November issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) they highlight the surprisingly significant role that the health practitioner can play in helping people quit smoking. Many people's attempts to quit are unsuccessful, so effective interventions are critical for the 4.5 million smokers in Canada alone.

NSF grant funds research on risky decision-making in pre-teens

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Iowa have secured a $396,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study risky decision-making among pre-teens.

Cocaine abuse blunts sensitivity to monetary reward

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

SAN DIEGO, CA - New measurements of brain activity in individuals addicted to cocaine confirm that addicted individuals have compromised sensitivity to monetary rewards.

D-cycloserine reduces cocaine-seeking behavior in 'addicted' mice

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

SAN DIEGO, CA - Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory provide further evidence that a drug known as D-cycloserine could play a role in helping to extinguish the craving behaviors associated with drug addiction. Their study found that mice treated with D-cycloserine were less likely to spend time in an environment where they had previously been trained to expect cocaine than mice treated with a placebo.

Hold your horses

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

For those who suffer with the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease, Deep Brain Stimulation offers relief from the tremors and rigidity that can't be controlled by medicine. A particularly troublesome downside, though, is that these patients often exhibit compulsive behaviors that healthy people, and even those taking medication for Parkinson's, can easily manage.

Decision-makers seek internal balance, not balanced alternatives

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine suggests that psychiatrists may need to approach the treatment of psychiatric patients from a new direction � by understanding that such individuals� behavior and decision-making are based on an attempt to reach an inner equilibrium.

Gauging parent knowledge about teens' substance use

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- New research results from the University at Buffalo�s Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) suggest that most parents are aware of and accurately evaluate the extent of their teenager�s cigarette smoking, marijuana use, drinking and overall substance use.

Age affects motivation for quitting smoking

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Chicago, IL, October 22, 2007) � A new study shows that obstacles to smoking cessation and motives for quitting smoking vary with age. The study presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), found that smokers over age 65 reported quitting smoking due to physician pressure and stress due to a major health problem, while smokers under age 65 reported cigarette cost and tobacco odor as reasons for quitting.

Carbon monoxide test helps doctors determine patients' smoking status

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Chicago, IL, October 22, 2007) � Pulse cooximeters have long been used to identify and measure the levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in the blood of patients or firefighters. But new research, presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), indicates that the device has another use� it can quickly, inexpensively, and noninvasively identify a person who smokes. The study argues that if smokers know their blood CO levels, they may be more prone to quit or more likely to never start in the first place.

Insulin's brain impact links drugs and diabetes

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Insulin, long known as an important regulator of blood glucose levels, now has a newly appreciated role in the brain.

Why it is impossible for some to 'just say no'

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Drug abuse, crime and obesity are but a few of the problems our nation faces, but they all have one thing in common�people�s failure to control their behavior in the face of temptation. While the ability to control and restrain our impulses is one of the defining features of the human animal, its failure is one of the central problems of human society. So, why do we so often lack this crucial ability

The 'arms' race: Adult steroid users seek muscles, not medals

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The majority of non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users are not cheating athletes or risk-taking teenagers. According to a recent survey, containing the largest sample to date and published in the online open access publication, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the typical male user is about 30 years old, well-educated, and earning an above-average income in a white-collar occupation. The majority did not use steroids during adolescence and were not motivated by athletic competition or sports performance.

Vanderbilt nets brain gene research center

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Neuroscientists at Vanderbilt University are stepping into the national limelight with the establishment of a Silvio O. Conte Center for Neuroscience Research.

On-screen smoking in movies linked to young adult smoking behavior

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

New study findings show that exposure to on-screen smoking in movies has a strong correlation with beginning to smoke or becoming established smokers among young adults 18-25, a critical age group for lifelong smoking behavior.

Scripps research study reveals mechanism behind nicotine dependency

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The research is being published the week of October 1, 2007, in an advance, online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Mixing large doses of both acetaminophen painkiller and caffeine may increase risk of liver damage

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 2007 -- Consuming large amounts of caffeine while taking acetaminophen, one of the most widely used painkillers in the United States, could potentially cause liver damage, according to a preliminary laboratory study reported in the Oct. 15 print issue of ACS� Chemical Research in Toxicology, a monthly journal. The toxic interaction could occur not only from drinking caffeinated beverages while taking the painkiller but also from using large amounts of medications that intentionally combine caffeine and acetaminophen for the treatment of migraine headaches, menstrual discomfort and other conditions, the researchers say.

Study reveals possible genetic risk for fetal alcohol disorders

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

MADISON - New research in primates suggests that infants and children who carry a certain gene variant may be more vulnerable to the ill effects of fetal alcohol exposure.

Family history of alcoholism affects response to drug used to treat heavy drinking

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Philadelphia, PA, September 19, 2007 � Naltrexone is one of four oral medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of alcoholism. A recent large multicenter research study of alcohol dependence supported by the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), the COMBINE Study, suggested that naltrexone produced a modest but significant benefit but another FDA-approved medication, acamprosate, was ineffective. Perhaps consistent with its modest effects in COMBINE, naltrexone is not widely prescribed in the treatment of alcoholism. Yet, clinicians report that naltrexone may have significant benefits for individual patients. To make naltrexone a more useful medication, it would be important to begin to identify groups of patients who might be more or less likely to show a significant clinical benefit from naltrexone prescription and to understand the causes of differential naltrexone efficacy. A new study that will appear in the September 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry suggests that alcohol dependent individuals with a family history of alcohol dependence may be more likely than alcohol dependent individuals without a family history of alcohol dependence to reduce their drinking in the laboratory when prescribed naltrexone.

AAAS to develop science-based teaching tools on underage alcohol use

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Efforts to halt underage drinking often focus on peer pressure and the prevention of risky behaviors, but the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is undertaking a new federally funded project to give middle-school children a science-based understanding of what can happen to them if they use alcohol.

Involving parents in therapy doubles success rates for bulimia treatment

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

In the first randomized controlled trial for adolescent bulimia nervosa to be completed in the US, researchers show that mobilizing parents to help an adolescent overcome the disorder can double the percentage of teens who were able to abstain from binge eating and purging after six months.

Passive smoking increases sleep disturbance among pregnant women

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

WESTCHESTER, Ill. � Pregnant women exposed to passive smoking are more likely to have sleep disturbances such as subjective insufficient sleep, difficulty in initiating sleep, short sleep duration, and snoring loudly or breathing uncomfortably, according to a study published in the September 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

Secondhand smoke is a health threat to pets

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

It has been in the news for years about how secondhand smoke is a health threat to nonsmokers. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that secondhand smoke is attributed with killing thousands of adult nonsmokers annually.

Girls who begin dieting twice as likely to start smoking

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. � Starting to diet seems to double the odds a teenage girl will begin smoking, a University of Florida study has found.

Methamphetamine study suggests increased risk for HIV transmission

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. � New findings that one in 20 North Carolina men who have sex with men (MSM) reported using crystal methamphetamine during the previous month suggests increased risk for spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD), according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.

New report on smoking shows who's quitting, who's not

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Quitting smoking is not easy, but thousands of New Yorkers succeed at it every year. Who�s trying to kick the habit, and who�s succeeding In a new report titled Who�s Still Smoking, the Health Department sheds light on both questions. The report, based on a large survey of New York City adults, shows that two thirds of the city�s smokers � almost 800,000 adults � tried to quit in the past year, but only 17% of those succeeded. Data from the survey identify emotional distress and binge drinking as possible obstacles to quitting, and finds that less than a fifth of New York City smokers are using nicotine replacement therapy � even though it doubles the chances of success. The report is available online at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/survey/survey-2007smoking.pdf.

Mailman School of Public Health study examines link between racial discrimination and substance use

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

In one of the first studies to focus on the relationship between racial discrimination and health risk behaviors, researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with colleagues from the Universities of Minnesota, Alabama (Birmingham), and California (San Francisco), and Harvard University found African Americans experiencing racial discrimination were more likely to report current tobacco use or recent alcohol consumption and lifetime use of marijuana and cocaine.

Pitt study finds inequality in tobacco advertising

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 20 � Compared with Caucasians, African-Americans are exposed to more pro-tobacco advertising, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study published in this month�s Public Health Reports.

Tel Aviv University redefines 'Internet addiction' and sets new standards for treatment

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Is your first craving in the morning for your computer mouse? Do you obsessively check email in the middle of the night?

Exposure to smoking-cessation product ads helps smokers quit

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

July 23, 2007 -- The more magazine ads smokers see for the nicotine patch and other quit-smoking aids, the more likely they are to try to quit smoking and be successful -- even without buying the products, finds a new Cornell study.

Improvement following ADHD treatment sustained in most children

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Most children treated in a variety of ways for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed sustained improvement after three years in a major follow-up study funded by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Yet increased risk for behavioral problems, including delinquency and substance use, remained higher than normal.

Want to quit smoking? Therapy and willpower can help

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:15:12 PST

Kiel -, July 18 - Smoking bans in public places have recently come into effect in several European countries, and Germany is set to join their ranks next month.

The end of barroom brawls

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The link between alcohol and aggression is well known. Whats not so clear is just why drunks get belligerent. What is it about the brain-on-alcohol that makes fighting seem like a good idea And do all intoxicated people get more aggressive Or does it depend on the circumstances

The end of barroom brawls -- Study shows alcohol can reduce aggression

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Interventions during hospital stays can help motivate smokers to quit

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Hospitalized patients make a great captive audience for smoking cessation efforts, according to a new systematic review.

Tobacco industry efforts to derail effective anti-smoking campaigns

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Anti-smoking ads that reveal the tobacco industrys deceptive practices have been aggressively quashed through various methods found Temple University Assistant Professor Jennifer K. Ibrahim, co-author of an analysis in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Smokers lose more muscle in old age: study

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:39:28 PST

London, July 10 - Latest research by scientists in Britain indicates that besides causing cancer, heart attacks and strokes, smoking also affects muscles.

More muscle for the argument to give up smoking

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have got more bad news for smokers. Not only does it cause cancer, heart attacks and strokes but smokers will also lose more muscle mass in old age than a non-smoker. The effect of this predisposes smokers to an accelerated decline in physical function and loss of independence.

Smoking associated with lower Parkinson's disease risk

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A pooled analysis of data from previous studies suggests that cigarette smoking appears to be associated with a reduced risk for developing Parkinsons disease, with long-term and current smokers at the lowest risk, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

New heart disease risk score will help minimize health inequalities

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new score for predicting the risk of heart disease gives a more accurate measure of how many UK adults are at risk of developing the disease and which adults are most likely to benefit from treatment.

SNAP -- patches and stop

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

1050 pregnant women are being recruited for the most extensive trial of its kind to establish the effect of using nicotine patches during pregnancy. The £1.3m clinical trial Smoking, Nicotine and Pregnancy (SNAP) trial will investigate whether nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is safe, effective and cost-effective for mums-to-be who want to give up smoking. It will also study the effect on the behaviour and development of the child.

Gene variations directly link inflammation to an increased risk for lung cancer

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Variations in two genes related to inflammation may be a major risk factor for developing lung cancer, according to a team of scientists from the National Cancer Institute and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The effect of these genes is especially strong among heavy smokers, suggesting that the inflammatory response is important in modulating the damage caused by tobacco smoke.

Inhaling from just 1 cigarette can lead to nicotine addiction

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

WORCESTER, Mass. -- A new study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine shows that 10 percent of youth who become hooked on cigarettes are addicted within two days of first inhaling from a cigarette, and 25 percent are addicted within a month. The study found that adolescents who smoke even just a few cigarettes per month suffer withdrawal symptoms when deprived of nicotine, a startling finding that is contrary to long-held beliefs that only people with established smoking habits of at least five cigarettes per day experience such symptoms.

Almost one-third of adults report having some form of alcohol use problem during their lifetime

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

About 30 percent of Americans report having some form of alcohol use disorder at some point in their lifetimes, including 17.8 percent with alcohol abuse and 12.5 percent with alcohol dependence, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Alcohol survey reveals 'lost decade' between ages of disorder onset and treatment

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

At some time during their lives, more than 30 percent of U.S. adults surveyed in 2001-2002 had met current diagnostic criteria[i] for an alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to an article in the current issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Many of those persons never received treatment, and many others did not receive treatment until well after AUD onset.

Workers in no-smoking restaurants show lower carcinogen levels

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Recent research on the dangers of secondhand smoke could help clear the air about the value of no-smoking laws governing bars and eateries.

Researchers identify alcoholism subtypes

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Analyses of a national sample of individuals with alcohol dependence (alcoholism) reveal five distinct subtypes of the disease, according to a new study by scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Young smokers want to quit, but don't seek proven treatment

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Despite tried and true methods to quit smoking, young adults do not take advantage of these proven smoking cessation treatments that can double their chances of quitting, University of Illinois at Chicago public health researchers report.

Mothers' second-hand smoke exposure linked to psychological problems for kids

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Children whose mothers were exposed to second-hand smoke while they were pregnant have more symptoms of serious psychological problems compared to the offspring of women who had no prenatal exposure to smoke, according to a new University of Washington study.

Outdoor alcohol ads boost kids' urge to drink

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In the world depicted in an alcohol billboard, bikini-clad babes clutch icy bottles, frothy beer flows over frosty mugs and the slogan reads, Life is good. Ads like these may target adults, but children are getting the message too, a University of Florida and University of Minnesota study shows.

SSRI antidepressants do not pose major birth defect risk

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Boston, MA -- Researchers from Boston Universitys Slone Epidemiology Center have found that certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressants do not appear to increase the risk for most kinds of birth defects. The findings, to be published in the June 28, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that individual SSRIs may increase the risk for some specific defects, but these are rare and the absolute risks are small.

Scripps research study links chronic methamphetamine abuse and cardiovascular disease

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The study is being published the week of June 25 in an advanced online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

FDA approves Novartis Consumer Health Inc.'s over-the-counter THRIVE gum for cessation of smoking

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Parsippany, New Jersey, June 22, 2007 -- Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval of ThriveTM (Nicotine Polacrilex Gum USP) 2mg and ThriveTM (Nicotine Polacrilex Gum USP) 4mg to help smokers quit smoking in 12 weeks. The unexpectedly bold, mint-flavored nicotine replacement gum will be available as an over-the-counter (OTC) product nationwide beginning in late 2007 to help smokers double their chances of kicking the habit.

Children of smokers have more than 5 times higher levels of a nicotine toxin

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Children who have at least one parent who smokes have 5.5 times higher levels of cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine, in their urine, according to a study by researchers from Warwick Medical School at the the University of Warwick, and the University of Leicester, published online ahead of print in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Drug warning prompts treatment changes for those infected with hepatitis B and HIV

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Cross-resistance alarms raised earlier this year by Johns Hopkins researchers about a widely used antiviral therapy for hepatitis B liver infections have prompted swift treatment revisions by the drugs maker and governmental agencies.

Does stimulant treatment for ADHD increase risk of drug abuse?

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY -- Parents, doctors, and others have wondered whether common treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inadvertently predispose adolescents to future drug abuse. The answer may depend on the age at which treatment is started and how long it lasts, say the authors of a new brain-imaging and behavioral study conducted in animals at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. The results appear in the June 5, 2007 online issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

When it comes to delinquency boys are exposed to more risk, less protection

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers trying to understand why high school-age boys are involved in serious delinquency more often than girls have found that males are exposed to higher levels of risk factors and lower amounts of protective factors.

Smokers given more help to quit since GP performance pay introduced

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Smokers have been getting more support for quitting, and the numbers ofsmokers have reduced, since the introduction of performance-relatedincentives for UK general practitioners, according to new researchpublished today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

In utero exposure to smoking increases ADHD risk

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Women smokers who become pregnant have long been encouraged to reduce or eliminate their nicotine intake. A new study being published in the June 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry provides further reason to do so, as it presents new evidence that in utero exposure to smoking is associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) problems in genetically susceptible children.

Low doses of ecstasy associated with decline in verbal memory

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Even low doses of Ecstasy may be associated with a decline in language-related memory, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Researchers call for investigation into links between khat use and psychiatric disorders

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers investigating the evidence for a potential causal link between khat use and mental illness - in the first ever systematic review of the topic - have called for improved research on the stimulant plant, and its possible association with psychiatric disorders.

Drug company funding of drug trials greatly influences outcome

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

In head-to-head trials of two drugs, the one deemed better appears to depend largely on who is funding the study, according to an analysis of nearly 200 statin-drug comparisons carried out between 1999 and 2005.

Cigarette smoke alters DNA in sperm, genetic damage could pass to offspring

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The science has long been clear that smoking causes cancer, but new research shows that children could inherit genetic damage from a father who smokes.

MU study finds binge drinking among college students impaires decision-making ability

Fri, 25 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

People addicted to alcohol and young adults who are heavy drinkers, but not considered alcoholics, have something in common: they possess poor decision-making skills, according to psychologists at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The findings are based on research examining binge drinking and heavy alcohol use among college students.

Limiting eligibility for medical studies can omit women and African-Americans

Thu, 24 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

STANFORD, Calif. - A new analysis has found that many alcohol treatment studies are designed in ways that inadvertently omit women and African-Americans from participation. The Stanford University School of Medicine researcher who led the effort said the findings should remind all scientists that strict study eligibility criteria can have unintended, negative consequences.

Choice is a key element in success for smokers who want to quit

Thu, 24 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Smokers who have a say in how they quit are more likely to try kicking the habit and are more successful, according to new research at the University of Rochester.

Moderate drinking lowers women's risk of heart attack

Wed, 23 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Women who regularly enjoy an alcoholic drink or two have a significantly lower risk of having a non-fatal heart attack than women who are life-time abstainers, epidemiologists at the University at Buffalo have shown.

Persistent smokers may have higher risk to become depressed than never smokers

Mon, 21 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Based on a Finnish study, persistent smokers may have higher risk to become depressed in comparison to never smokers. Also those smokers who quit have an elevated risk of depressive symptoms in short run. However, in long run this risk declines to the level of never smokers. In other words, both completely smoke-free life style and successful smoking cessation in long run seem to protect from depressive symptoms.

'Might have been' key in evaluating behavior

Mon, 14 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

HOUSTON (May 14, 2007) What might have been or fictive learning affects the brain and plays an important role in the choices individuals make and may play a role in addiction, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers and others in a report that appears online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

License to sin -- Asking people to think about vice increases their likelihood of giving in

Thu, 10 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new study by researchers from Duke, USC, and UPenn is the first to explore how questioning can affect our behavior when we have mixed feelings about an issue. The study, forthcoming in the June issue of the Journal of Consumer Research, found that asking people questions, like how many times they expect to give in to a temptation they know they should resist, increases how many times they will actually give in to it.

US movies expose youth to billions of smoking images

Mon, 07 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

HANOVER, NH Two new studies by Dartmouth Medical School pediatrician researchers underscore the significant impact that movies have in influencing teens to smoke. The studies show that movies deliver billions of smoking impressions to American teens; and that even teens outside the U.S. are affected by smoking images in films distributed internationally by American studios.

More than 10 percent of adults abuse or become dependent on drugs during their lifetime

Mon, 07 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Approximately 10.3 percent of U.S. adults appear to have problems with drug use or abuse during their lives, including 2.6 percent who become drug dependent at some point, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

RAND study finds alcohol advertising and marketing associated with adolescent drinking

Thu, 03 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Children's exposure to alcohol advertising during early adolescence appears to influence both beer drinking and their intentions to drink a year later, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

Why losing money may be more painful than you think

Tue, 01 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Losing money may be intrinsically linked with fear and pain in the brain, scientists have discovered. In a Wellcome Trust study published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers have shown that during a gambling task, losing money activated an area of the brain involved in responding to fear and pain.

Doctors ill equipped to confront parent smoking

Tue, 01 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

With the growing concerns of childrens exposure to secondhand smoke, it has become more critical than ever to involve health care providers such as pediatricians in educating parents about the potential hazardous health consequences.

Sleep deprivation can threaten competent decision-making

Tue, 01 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

WESTCHESTER, Ill. -- Gambling is a risky activity that can potentially result in the loss of a significant amount of money. A study published in the May 1st issue of the journal SLEEP finds that sleep deprivation can adversely affect a persons decision-making at a gambling table by elevating the expectation of gains and making light of ones losses following risky decisions.

Delayed treatment of childhood-onset bipolar disorder results in negative outcome in adults

Tue, 01 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

In bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, a person experiences mood changes that fluctuate between periods of abnormally high energy and extreme depression. Bipolar disorder is estimated to affect approximately 1-3% of adults, but also can affect children and adolescents. Untreated, this disorder is associated with greater risk of drug and alcohol addiction, of interpersonal relationship difficulties, of school and, later, work problems, of engaging in risky behaviors, and of suicide. A study published in the May issue of The Journal of Pediatrics shows that childhood-onset bipolar disorder is more common than believed and often goes unrecognized and untreated for long periods of time, leading to lower quality of life and greater difficulty in treatment.

Simple screening can help decrease teen risk behaviors

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

Providence, RI -- Research shows that adolescents who engage in one form of risky behavior, like drug or alcohol use, are likely to engage in other risky behaviors like self-harm, or having unprotected sex, but often times these behaviors are not discussed during a medical or mental health exam. Now, a new study shows that a simple and brief screening measure called the adolescent risk inventory (ARI) can quickly identify the broad range of risk behaviors found among adolescents.

Help comes in the mail for drinkers

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 12:22:30 PST

Mailing a simple information pamphlet to interested drinkers in the general population reduced binge drinking by 10 per cent, and is a promising public health approach to reduce the health and social problems associated with heavy drinking, shows a new study led by the University of Alberta.

Chronically ill prisoners can face great healthcare problems

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

People with chronic illnesses can experience great difficulties in prison, but people such as drug addicts and the homeless may find their healthcare improves, according to a study in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Morphine makes lasting -- and surprising -- change in the brain

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- Morphine, as little as a single dose, blocks the brains ability to strengthen connections at inhibitory synapses, according to new Brown University research published in Nature.

Mailman School of Public Health study shows smoking common during pregnancy

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

While pregnancy may be considered an effective motivator for smoking cessation, results of a new study by researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health indicate that pregnant U.S. women commonly smoke, placing themselves and their unborn children at risk for health and developmental complications. The research also finds a significant association between cigarette use, nicotine dependence, and the presence of mental disorders among pregnant women.

Brief physician interventions have impact on problem drinking

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

Five minutes of straight talk between doctors and problem drinkers could help reduce the toll of alcohol-related injuries, violence and accidents.

Study links breast cancer risk to epigenetic changes related to race, smoking and birth size

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

LOS ANGELES -- Women can encounter environmental factors that increase their risk of breast cancer at various periods of their physical development, beginning before birth and extending until menopause. These non-inherited, or epigenetic, changes in DNA can correlate with risk factors for breast cancer, according to research being presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.