Mount Sinai researchers discover why cocaine is so addictive

Mount Sinai researchers have discovered how cocaine corrupts the brain and becomes addictive. These findings—the first to connect activation of specific neurons to alterations in cocaine reward—were published in Science on October 15. The results may help researchers in developing new ways of treating those addicted to the drug.

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Why the craving for cocaine won’t go away

Now researchers at Linkoping University in Sweden and their colleagues can point to a specific molecule in the brain as a possible target for treatment to prevent relapses

People who have used cocaine run a great risk of becoming addicted, even after long drug-free periods. Now researchers at Linköping University and their colleagues can point to a specific molecule in the brain as a possible target for treatment to prevent relapses.

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First-of-its-kind study shows supervised injection facilities can help people quit drugs

BC-CfE study finds links between insite use, addiction treatment and stopping injection drug use

A study led by researchers at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) at St. Paul’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia has found that supervised injection facilities such as Vancouver’s Insite connect clients with addiction treatment, which in turn resulted in greater likelihood of stopping injection drug use for at least six months.

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Brain mechanism linked to relapse after cocaine withdrawal

Addictive drugs are known to induce changes in the brain’s reward circuits that may underlie drug craving and relapse after long periods of abstinence. Now, new research, published by Cell Press in the September 9 issue of the journal Neuron, uncovers a specific neural mechanism that may be linked to persistent drug-seeking behavior and could help to guide strategies for development of new therapies for cocaine addiction.

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Ritalin improves brain function, task performance in cocaine abusers

Results suggest further study of potential role in addiction treatment

UPTON, NY — A brain-scanning study at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, conducted with collaborators from Stony Brook University, reveals that an oral dose of methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, improves impaired brain function and enhances cognitive performance in people who are addicted to cocaine. The study — to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of September 6, 2010 — suggests that methylphenidate, combined with cognitive interventions, may have a role in facilitating recovery from drug addiction.

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Biochemical pathway may link addiction, compulsive eating

Ezlopitant, a compound known to suppress craving for alcohol in humans, was shown to decrease consumption of sweetened water by rodents in a study by researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, which is affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco.

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Experimental treatments for cocaine addiction may prevent relapse

Doctors have used the drug disulfiram to help patients stay sober for several decades. It interferes with the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol, giving a fierce hangover to someone who consumes even a small amount of alcohol.

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Scripps Research scientists uncover possible cocaine addiction trigger

Protein linked to mental retardation may be controlling factor in drug’s effect in the brain

JUPITER, FL, August 10, 2010 – Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have identified a protein that may act as the trigger controlling the addictive impact of cocaine in the brain. The findings may one day lead to new therapies to treat addiction.

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Potential novel genetic pathway for alcoholism

A novel mutation found in a mouse gene might provide new insights into the genetic roots of alcoholism in humans, according to a study led by researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center and the University of California, San Francisco. The study is published August 12th in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.

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Chemical system in brain behaves differently in cocaine addicts, UT Southwestern scientists find

DALLAS – Aug. 10, 2010 – UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a chemical system in the brain that reacts differently in cocaine addicts, findings that could result in new treatment options for individuals addicted to the drug.

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