Archived NIDA Notes Articles

Describes a community focused prevention program that aids towns in lowering rates of delinquency, initiation of alcohol and tobacco use, and binge drinking among middle school students.

Announces three new NIDA National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse members and describes their drug abuse and addiction research experience.

Announces the recipient of an award for online resources in education, Dr. Louisa Stark, who developed two interactive Web sites on genetics.

Reports on an evaluation of the Chief Resident Immersion Training (CRIT) program to assess its effectiveness in improving knowledge, confidence, and preparedness to diagnose, manage, and teach about substance abuse.

Announces the 2010 high school student recipients of the Addiction Science Awards and describes their winning addiction-focused projects.

Describes a study investigating the effectiveness of modafinil in enhancing sleep among cocaine abusers who are currently abstinent.

Reports findings from a survey that revealed that although substance abuse is prevalent in jails and prisons, many correctional facilities do not offer detoxification services or therapies to aid in maintaining abstinence.

Reports on 2009 data indicating a rise in drug abuse in the United States and the factors that may have contributed to this increase.

Reviews research indicating that both parental influence and certain genes interact to influence nicotine addiction and that parental monitoring may play a role in reducing risk.

Announces NIDA’s new director of its intramural research program, Antonello Bonci, M.D., a leading researcher in neuropsychopharmacology.

Reports on the objectives and activities of the Neuroscience Consortium and their impact on Institute drug abuse research programs and initiatives.

Reports research to study the effectiveness of an intensive case management program to aid female substance abusers who receive welfare in staying off drugs and finding employment.

Describes results from an animal study involving deep brain stimulation that holds promise as a therapy for severe cocaine addiction.

Explores research findings on the value of motivational incentives to promote and reinforce abstinence from substances of abuse and encourage healthy behaviors.

Describes findings from two randomized clinical trials showing that treatment with multidimensional family therapy resulted in fewer drug-related problems than treatment with cognitive behavior therapy.

Reports on a study of close to 400 Washington State men that found that those who use marijuana may increase their risk for developing testicular cancer.

Describes a study that examined the effectiveness of combining two therapies for drug abuse addiction: methadone treatment and therapeutic communities, two approaches that are rarely combined.

Discusses rates of substance use or abuse among mothers with at-home children and the factors that may contribute to the abuse.

Reports on the results of a clinical trial that tested the effectiveness of a cocaine vaccine designed as a therapy for cocaine abuse and plans underway for a new study of 300 patients to confirm these results.

Discusses 2009 prevalence rates of cigarette, alcohol, prescription drug, and illicit drug use among adolescents and discusses trends in use over time.

Reports on a school-centered program for social and emotional development that was credited with reducing rates of substance abuse, violent behavior, and voluntary sexual activity among primary school children.

Describes research results reporting that people who favor novelty have lower-than-average availability of a receptor that inhibits dopamine's release from neurons, which likely stimulates the activity of reward circuits.

Describes study findings revealing that cocaine abusers who maintain high levels of a certain receptor in their brain during early abstinence relapse sooner than abusers whose levels drop.

Reports study findings that show young people who have gotten into trouble with the criminal justice system report high rates of sexual behaviors that increase risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Presents a summary of a study that followed individuals who entered mental health crisis or substance abuse detoxification residential centers in San Francisco and the types of treatment they received.

Describes a study of smokers' brain function while they watched antismoking PSAs and findings suggesting that calmer ads may be more effective.

Reports on two studies that demonstrate the promise of treating addiction with medications that alleviate drug-induced alterations in signaling by the neurotransmitter glutamate.

Reports on research investigating whether certain medications might strengthen patients' understanding and memory retention.

Reports on two studies showing a high prevalence of HIV infection and more rapid progression to disability and death among drug abusers.

Reports evidence that a cocaine-induced change in the structure of brain cells represents an adaptive response that may limit the drug’s impact.

Recognizes the 2010 Distinguished University Professor awardee, Dr. Kathleen T. Brady, who studies co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders and their treatment.

Recognizes four scientists for the 2009 Avant-Garde Award for HIV research, an award intended to stimulate groundbreaking research for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in drug abusers.

Announces the 2009 International Prize, awarded by the French Institute of Health and Medical Research, to NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow.

Describes an eight-module web-based curricula that introduces addition research to graduate students of nursing, dentistry, and medicine.

Announces the recipient of a 2009 award for innovation in research on drug addiction and alcoholism and with a focus on the changes that occur in the brain after exposure to drugs.

Reports on a study investigating the benefits of extended opioid maintenance therapy that included drug counseling and 12 weeks of therapy with buprenorphine and naloxone.

Describes a voucher-based reinforcement therapy trial with pregnant smokers to determine its effectiveness in enhancing abstinence rates.

Highlights new video clips on NIDA's Web site for teens that explore the dangers of drug abuse and that address questions from youth and their parents on the topic.

Describes a literature analysis reporting on the prevalence of people with bipolar disorder who also have a substance use disorder and discusses the genetic link that may contribute to this comorbidity.

Reports on a study of cocaine abusers revealing that the Stroop test may predict which cocaine abusers are likely to drop out of therapy.

Describes an animal study reporting that peer interaction enhances adolescent rats’ drug reward and discusses the impact of these findings to future research on drug reward in social context.

Reports teen drug abuse based on 2006-2007 data from a national survey on drug use and health and compares differences by gender.

Reports trends in onset of injection drug use to infection with hepatitis C virus in developed countries and notes the influence of prevention efforts.

Highlights NIDA’s research portfolio to identify the genes and genetic processes responsible for a person’s vulnerability to drug abuse.

Describes a toolkit that guides doctors in assessing a patient’s risk of developing an addiction problem, advising patients on the effects of substance abuse, and arranging for referrals.

Presents research findings on a study to test the effectiveness of a classroom activity designed to instill appropriate behavior during children’s first 2 years of school.

Remembers Dr. James A. Inciardi, founder and co-director of the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies and professor at the University of Delaware, who died on November 23, 2009.

Describes a book and online tutorial for young investigators of addiction science that provides tips for publishing their studies in scholarly journals.

Announces the appointment of Dr. Phil Skolnick as NIDA’s director of the Division of Pharmacotherapies and Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse.

Describes a study of participants who had both substance abuse and bipolar disorder to investigate the potential benefits of integrated group therapy for this population.