Addiction Blog

Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom who are studying laboratory rats have linked impulsive behavior to cocaine addiction. In the addiction field, it has been unclear to many scientists which came first, the impulsive behavior or the cocaine addiction leading to impulsivity.

Now, the researchers believe the behavior comes first. The researchers separated out two groups. The first was the impulsive group and the second was the thrill seeking group. The thrill seeking group sampled the cocaine first, but quickly lost interest thereafter. The impulsive group was slower to sample cocaine, but also was the group that became addicted.

With the pressure of school exams looming, more students are taking cognitive performance enhancing drugs in order to pass tests. According to the Academy of Medical Sciences, more kids are dipping into their parents and grandparents medicine cabinets to take prescription medication normally meant to treat Alzheimer’s Disease and ADHD.

Because of test examination pressure, students are looking to enhance memory and boost alertness with these drugs. No longer is caffeine the drug of choice for many students as other cognitive performance enhancing drugs (which can be likened to sports performance enhancing drugs) are now taking the forefront.

Researchers from John Moores University in Liverpool, UK have concluded that over 50-percent of the city’s youth have taken cocaine. Liverpool was one of nine European cities named in the report and the site of the most prevalent use of drugs and alcohol.

The findings suggested that those from ages 16 to 35 turn to drugs and alcohol as a cultural norm aimed at enhancing their sex lives. There were 1,341 youngsters surveyed led by the University’s Professor Mark Bellis.

Even though there were protests from some groups that Liverpool was unfairly targeted by the survey, these same groups also acknowledged there is indeed a significant cocaine problem in the city due to its prevalence and availability.

Tonight, at 6:30 pm on most stations, the documentary “Crystal Darkness” will appear with a message about methamphetamines: don’t do it. The documentary will air on all English and Spanish TV stations.

Because meth production inside the United States has slowed down, but continues to flow across the border from Mexico, Arizona continues to be a hotbed for meth abuse. In 2007, about 8-percent of those who checked into drug and alcohol treatment centers stated that meth was their drug of choice.

While law enforcement officials have found it difficult to pin down the pervasiveness of meth because of how it is reported in the state, government officials are also aware that methamphetamines are like no other drug as far as addictive qualities and the rewiring of brain function.

In a case that has outraged the citizens of Fort Worth, Texas a baby boy was given a fatal overdose of cocaine. The 14-month-old J.C. Luna was given cocaine sometime in-between his mother dropping him off with the babysitter, according to police.

The parents and babysitter and their homes were tested for cocaine and the tests came back negative. J. C. survived the initial overdose but eventually died from internal injuries. The homicide investigation is still open.

Because of recent clamp-downs by the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) including moving the over the counter drugs used to make meth behind the counter, Mexico has emerged as the number one source for the drug. According to the World Drug Report, there are now 12 million meth addicts in the United States.

The DEA has seized approximately 6,000 U. S. meth labs in the past couple of years, opening up an opportunity for Mexican drug cartels to export the drug. Mexican authorities have also been working to keep the precursor drugs unavailable in the pharmacies. The major problem, however, is that the drug lords are finding ways to import the chemicals used to make meth that thwart the authorities’ efforts.

Researchers at China’s Peking University have discovered 396 genes linked to addiction. These so-called “addiction genes” are linked to pathways for substance abuse problems involving alcohol, cocaine, opium and nicotine.

According to the director Wei Liping, “The research provides a more complete picture of drug addiction, as genetic factors contribute to about 60 percent of the vulnerability to drug addiction.” By identifying genes and pathways to addiction, researchers are able to more accurate development treatment methods.

There is a blog post at the Real Mental Health website that lists celebrities who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I’m not sure the list is 100-percent accurate, since to the best of my knowledge, Britney Spears, who is on the list has never been officially diagnosed as such.

Be that as it may, I know factually that other stars who are on the list have been diagnosed. What I find interesting is the number of celebrities who appear both on this list and the famous addicts list that we have on this website. Names like Robert Downey Jr., Carrie Fisher, Patrick Kennedy, Ozzy Osbourne and Darryl Strawberry have made their way onto both lists.

It’s no secret that when people go into drug and alcohol rehab, that they many times will have a dual-diagnosis. What is interesting, though is to see just how often serious mental illnesses will lead a person into substance abuse problems in order to try to self-medicate to dull the pain of the illness.

Two researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas have been testing a vaccine for cocaine addiction. The new cocaine vaccine uses antibodies that attach to the drug and prohibit the cocaine from passing the blood-brain barrier.

Because the cocaine cannot be absorbed and passed to the brain tissue no high is experienced by the addict. Dr. Tom Kosten and his wife, Therese, a psychologist and neuroscientist respectively have been working on the cocaine vaccine for the past 10 years. If approved by the FDA, the vaccine is expected to be used in conjunction with other cognitive and behavioral therapies.

Tara Conner now has a year of sobriety under her belt, so last year’s Miss USA is moving onto the next step, which is to write a book about her rehab experience. If you’ll remember, Donald Trump was gracious enough to give Tara Conner a second chance before he terminated her from her crown.

Going into a succeeding in drug and alcohol rehab center was required by the Donald for this forgiveness to fully take place. Now, Tara Conner, who turned 22-years-old on December 13 is writing a memoir about her experiences at the Caron Foundation rehab center including kicking the cocaine habit.