Drug and alcohol dependence
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Oct 2013
Differential effects of methadone and buprenorphine on the response of D2/D3 dopamine receptors in adolescent mice.
There is a lack of studies that examine the effects of opioid maintenance drugs on the developing adolescent brain, limiting the ability of physicians to conduct a science-based risk assessment on the appropriateness of these treatments for that age group. Our recent observations indicate higher potential risks in repeated exposure to morphine during adolescence, specifically to the D2/D3 dopamine receptors' signaling. Disturbances in dopaminergic signaling could have broader implications for long-term mental health. Thus, this study examined whether buprenorphine and methadone differentially alter the responses of the D2/D3 dopamine receptors in adolescents. ⋯ This study suggests that exposure to various opioids carries differential probabilities of altering the highly sensitive neurochemistry of adolescent brains. Methadone exposure disturbs the D2-like receptor's response, indicating a potential risk in administering methadone to adolescents (either for the treatment of opioid dependency/abuse or for pain management). In contrast, buprenorphine appears to have a significantly lower effect on the behavioral sensitivity of D2/D3 dopamine receptors in adolescents.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Oct 2013
ReviewMind-body practices: an alternative, drug-free treatment for smoking cessation? A systematic review of the literature.
The limited success of current smoking cessation therapies encourages research into new treatment strategies. Mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation have the potential to aid smoking cessation and become an alternative drug-free treatment option. The aim of this article is to assess the efficacy of yoga and other meditation-based interventions for smoking cessation, to identify the challenges of clinical trials applying mind-body treatments, and to outline directions for future research on these types of therapies to assist in smoking cessation. ⋯ The literature supports yoga and meditation-based therapies as candidates to assist smoking cessation. However, the small number of studies available and associated methodological problems require more clinical trials with larger sample sizes and carefully monitored interventions to determine rigorously if yoga and meditation are effective treatments.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Oct 2013
The relationship between age and risky injecting behaviours among a sample of Australian people who inject drugs.
Limited evidence suggests that younger people who inject drugs (PWID) engage in high-risk injecting behaviours. This study aims to better understand the relationships between age and risky injecting behaviours. ⋯ Older PWID report significantly lower levels of high-risk injecting practices than younger PWID. Although they make up a small proportion of the current PWID population, younger PWID remain an important group for prevention and harm reduction.
-
Very little is known about medical marijuana users. The present study provides descriptive information on adults seeking medical marijuana and compares individuals seeking medical marijuana for the first time with those renewing their medical marijuana card on measures of substance use, pain and functioning. ⋯ Study results indicate that differences exist between first time and returning medical marijuana patients. Longitudinal data are needed to characterize trajectories of substance use and functioning in these two groups.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Oct 2013
Observational StudyNeighborhood of residence and risk of initiation into injection drug use among street-involved youth in a Canadian setting.
While research has suggested that exposure to environments where drug use is prevalent may be a key determinant of drug-related risk, little is known regarding the impact of such exposure on the initiation of illicit injection drug use. We assessed whether neighborhood of residence predicted rates of injecting initiation among a cohort of street-involved youth in Vancouver, British Columbia. ⋯ These results suggest neighborhood of residence affects the risk of initiation into injection drug use among street-involved youth. The development of prevention interventions should target high-risk neighborhoods where risk of initiating into injecting drug use may be greatest.