Report Discusses Co-Occurrence of Drug Abuse and Other Mental Disorders
Describes an updated report on the co-occurrence, or comorbidity, of substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia, and depression.
Study Gives Green Light to Antiretroviral Medications for HIV-Infected Injection Drug Users
Reports finding from a study showing that access to antiretroviral therapies, HAART in particular, can improve the health of HIV-infected patients who have a history of injection drug use.
Test Substance Attenuates Signs of Cocaine Withdrawal in Rats
Reports on several drugs that may ward off depression and anxiety, common withdrawal symptoms from cocaine, based on an animal study.
Recovery May Be Harder for Adolescents, Animal Study Suggests
Reports animal study findings that suggest adolescents' heightened sensitivity to drug reward puts them at enhanced risk of addiction and may also increase their challenges in recovery.
Rats Reared Alone Show ADHD Signs
Describes an animal study showing that rats raised in isolation may prove useful in future studies exploring the neurobiology that links impulsivity and vulnerability to addiction.
Recovery Checkup System Helps Substance Abusers Who Have Mental Disorders
Reports on a posttreatment intervention to support recovery that may be especially beneficial for substance abusers with co-occurring mental disorders.
Rare Glutamate Receptor Proliferates After Cocaine Withdrawal
Reports findings that a rare neuroreceptor may be linked to the intensive cravings cocaine abusers experience during their first weeks of abstinence.
Teens With Unhealthy Weight-Control Behavior Are More Likely to Abuse Drugs
Highlights data on unhealthy eating behaviors, such as fasting or purging, and substance abuse problems among teens.
NIDA's 35th Anniversary: Science Focused on Solutions
Commemorates NIDA’s 35th anniversary and highlights some of the major accomplishments since the Institute’s inception in 1974.
Recognition for NIDA Notes Science Writing
Announces NIDA Notes’ first place 2009 award that salutes superior communications efforts of government agencies.
Substance Abuse and Sexual Risk Show Town-Gown Divide
Compares data on substance abuse and sexual risk among college students and their peers who do not attend college.
Program Aims to Expand Physician Training to Treat Drug Addiction
Describes the American Board of Addiction Medicine’s new program offering certification to physicians in addiction medicine.
Studies Link Family of Genes to Nicotine Addiction
Reports study results suggesting that genes for several acetylcholine receptor proteins influence early smoking responses and the likelihood of nicotine dependence.
Anticipation of Methadone Enhances Brain Reactivity to Heroin Cues
Describes findings of a study revealing that images of heroin preparation and injection can incite craving and excite brain areas associated with reward-seeking even in methadone-maintained patients.
United States Ranks First in Lifetime Use of Three Drugs
Highlights the disproportionately high rate of Americans who have used cocaine at some time during their lives as compared with other nations surveyed.
Smokers Who Quit May Have Genetic Advantage
Describes research providing evidence that genes may influence how successful a person is in quitting smoking and which cessation technique may work best for them.
Methadone Therapy in Prison Benefits Men a Year Out
Describes clinical trial results providing evidence that methadone maintenance to men in prison can pay off in better retention in community treatment and reduced drug abuse following their release.
Patch Delivers Buprenorphine for Heroin Detox
Describes research on the effectiveness of a buprenorphine patch to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms of newly abstinent heroin abusers.
Methamphetamine Turns Helper Cells Into Destroyers
Describes research providing evidence that chronic methamphetamine abuse is associated with increased microglial cell activity in the brain leading to neurodegeneration.
Nicotine Boosts Mood, Brain Dopamine Levels
Highlights findings from a study showing that nicotine triggers a surge in levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain's main reward area for cigarette smokers.
Most People Entering Drug Treatment Have Additional Mental Health Problems
Highlights data on the prevalence of people entering substance abuse treatment programs who also reported having at least one co-occurring mental health problem.
DESPR Identifies Drug Abuse Trends and Seeks Solutions
Discusses the work of NIDA’s Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research, organized to track drug use and provide empirically based information for researchers and service providers.
Naltrexone via Skin Patch Proves Effectiveness of New Technology
Reports on a new device that creates tiny painless punctures in the skin to allow medication to flow evenly from a skin patch into dermal capillaries and the bloodstream.
Extended Cocaine Exposure Impairs Cognitive Function in Rats
Reports an animal study presenting evidence that cocaine causes cognitive deficits that can persist well into abstinence.
Substance Abuse Among Troops, Veterans, and Their Families
Highlights the need for research to assess and find solutions to a potential rise in substance abuse among service men and women, veterans, and their families.
Computer-Based Interventions Promote Drug Abstinence
Discusses the work of researchers who have begun to harness the potential of computers to reinforce and expand upon the well-established benefits of recovery therapy delivered by a counselor.
NIDA Awards Prizes at International Science Fair
Announces the 2009 high school student recipients of the Addiction Science Awards and describes their winning addiction-focused projects.
New Advisory Council Members
Announces the addition of three new members to NIDA’s National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse.
Annual Event Teaches Students Brain Science
Highlights activities held during Brain Awareness Week for students in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, to learn about brain anatomy and function.
R. Christopher Pierce Receives the Waletzky Memorial Award
Announces the recipient of a 2009 award for innovation in research on drug addiction and alcoholism whose research focuses on the cellular changes that occur in response to chronic cocaine abuse.
Antibody Fragment Removes Methamphetamine From the Brain
Reports animal study findings on development of an antibody fragment that rapidly removes methamphetamine from the brain and discusses implications for treatment of overdose.
Lower Rates of Cigarette and Marijuana Smoking Among Exercising Teens
Highlights prevalence rates of cigarette and marijuana smoking among teens who exercise regularly as compared with their less active peers.
Smoking and Drinking Continue to Decline, But Marijuana Stalls in Latest MTF Survey
Highlights trends from a 2008 survey of teenage substance abuse, cigarette smoking and alcohol use and discusses the implications of these changing data.
Methamphetamine Abuse Alters Response to Facial Cues
Highlights research showing methamphetamine abusers may have more difficulty than nonabusers in responding with empathy and self-control to people who are experiencing intense emotions.
Sensory Aspects of Smoking May Counter Bad Mood, Craving
Describes study findings revealing that the act of smoking, apart from actual or expected nicotine delivery, may soothe a smoker's negative mood.
Drug Cues Outside Awareness Rapidly Trigger Brain's Emotion Centers
Describes research showing that cocaine abusers appear to have a rapid neural response to reward cues outside of their awareness, possibly signifying vulnerability to relapse.
Combined Treatments Improve Dual Abstinence
Reports on a study investigating the effectiveness of a combined therapy of disulfiram and naltrexone for people who abuse cocaine and alcohol.
Conferees Discuss Ways to Eliminate Disparities in Care
Presents highlights of a meeting summit to discuss ways to eliminate disparities in care, particularly as they relate to drug abuse and HIV.
Three Scientists Receive Grants for Innovative AIDS Research
Announces the recipients of the inaugural Avant-Garde Award for research to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS in drug abusers, Drs. Julio Montaner, Ileana Cristea, and Jerome Groopman.
NIDA Reprises Online Chat Day
Highlights NIDA’s second annual Chat Day where NIDA scientists and staff responded to drug abuse and addiction questions from teachers and students.
Receptor Complexes Link Dopamine to Long-Term Neuronal Effects
Reports on a discovery of previously unrecognized dopamine receptors in the brain that when triggered by drug abuse lead to potentially long-term neuronal effects.
Program Reduces Girls' Delinquent Behavior
Reports on a study involving adolescent girls who were treated for delinquent behaviors in a well-supervised family setting, referred to as Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care.
Manic Mice Show Heightened Sensitivity to Rewards
Reports on an animal study suggesting that the manic stage of bipolar disorder promotes signs of drug abuse vulnerability by enhancing sensitivity to rewards, both natural and drug-related.
Intervention for Disruptive Children Shows Long-Term Benefits
Reports on research providing evidence that teaching aggressive youngsters social coping skills reduces their chances of becoming substance abusers.
Ethnic Groups Have Contrasting Genetic Risks for Nicotine Addiction
Describes research exploring differences and similarities in the genetic profiles of African-Americans and European-Americans who are heavy smokers.
Suiting Treatment to the Nature of the Disease
Highlights NIDA-sponsored research underway to understand and respond to substance abusers’ needs at all points of care, from the initial presentation for treatment through recovery.
Abstinent Smokers' Nicotinic Receptors Take More Than a Month to Normalize
Describes research revealing that for up to 6 weeks after smokers quit, their brain cells have more nicotine-binding receptors than nonsmokers, which may explain the struggle to quit.
High School Seniors Report Alcohol- or Drug-Impaired Driving Experiences
Examines the incidence of high school seniors’ alcohol- or drug-related driving experiences based on 2001 through 2006 data.
Adolescent Rats Self-Administer More Nicotine Than Adults
Highlights an animal study involving the self-administration of nicotine among adolescent and adult rats to gain understanding of their potential vulnerability to the substance.
New Tracer for Nicotinic Receptors Promises Improved Specificity
Reports on NIDA researchers who developed a new tracer compound that binds readily to nicotine receptors and enhances positron emission tomography images.