A review of preclinical research demonstrating that drug and non-drug reinforcers differentially affect behavior.
Authors: Kearns DN, Gomez-Serrano MA, Tunstall BJ
Abstract
This review describes and summarizes current preclinical research revealing important differences between drug and non-drug reinforcers in terms of their effects on behavior. Despite research showing that drugs are not especially strong reinforcers in animals, a number of other behavioral differences potentially relevant to addiction have been reported in studies that have compared drug and non-drug reinforcers. Several of these effects appear only after long-term access to drugs. These include an escalation of drug intake, an increased persistence...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Substance-induced psychoses: a critical review of the literature.
Authors: Fiorentini A, Volonteri LS, Dragogna F, Rovera C, Maffini M, Mauri MC, Altamura CA
Abstract
Substances with psychotomimetic properties such as cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens and cannabis are widespread, and their use or abuse can provoke psychotic reactions resembling a primary psychotic disease. The recent escalating use of methamphetamine throughout the world and its association with psychotic symptoms in regular users has fuelled concerns. The use of cannabis and cocaine by young people has considerably increased over recent years, and age at first use has dramatically decreased. There is...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Recent advances in understanding the personality underpinnings of impulsive behavior and their role in risk for addictive behaviors.
Authors: Birkley EL, Smith GT
Abstract
Impulsivity has been a widely explored construct, particularly as a personality-based risk factor for addictive behaviors. The authors review evidence that (a) there is no single impulsivity trait; rather, there are at least five different personality traits that dispose individuals to rash or impulsive action; (b) the five traits predict different behaviors longitudinally; for example, the emotion-based urgency traits predict problematic involvement in several risky behaviors and sensation seeking instead predicts the frequency of engaging in such behaviors; (c) the ...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Evidence-based pharmacological treatment of substance use disorders and pathological gambling.
Authors: van den Brink W
Abstract
This review summarizes our current knowledge of the pharmacological treatment of substance use disorders and pathological gambling using data mainly from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses regarding these randomized controlled trials. The review is restricted to the selection of first and second line pharmacological treatments for smoking, alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, cocaine dependence, cannabis dependence and pathological gambling. It is concluded that great progress has been made in the last three decades and that currently evidence-based pharmacol...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Recreational drug misuse and stroke.
Authors: Yeung M, Bhalla A, Birns J
Abstract
Stroke is the third commonest cause of death and single largest cause of adult disability worldwide. Whilst the majority of strokes in older individuals are due to large or small vessel arterial disease or cardiac disease in association with classical vascular risk factors, strokes occurring in younger individuals may have atypical etiologies. Recreational substance misuse is on the increase worldwide, particularly in young adults in developed countries with commonly used substances including cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and other opiates, marijuana and gammahy...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Increasing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) content in herbal cannabis over time: systematic review and meta-analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the analysis suggest that there has been a recent and consistent increase in cannabis potency worldwide.
PMID: 22150622 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews)
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Authors: Galli JA, Sawaya RA, Friedenberg FK
Abstract
Coinciding with the increasing rates of cannabis abuse has been the recognition of a new clinical condition known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is characterized by chronic cannabis use, cyclic episodes of nausea and vomiting, and frequent hot bathing. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome occurs by an unknown mechanism. Despite the well-established anti-emetic properties of marijuana, there is increasing evidence of its paradoxical effects on the gastrointestinal tract and CNS. Tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and ca...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Alcoholism, personality, and religion/spirituality: an integrative review.
Authors: Haber JR, Koenig LB, Jacob T
Abstract
A review of the literature on the relationships between alcoholism, personality, and religion identified patterns that may help explain the inverse association between alcoholism and religion/spirituality (R/S). Personality plays a central role in two etiological models of alcoholism. The personality traits of high behavioral undercontrol (low Agreeableness and low Conscientiousness) and high negative affect (high Neuroticism) are both significantly related to higher alcohol use. Religiosity is also correlated with these traits, but in the opposite direction (...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Food and addiction: implications and relevance to eating disorders and obesity.
Authors: Avena NM
PMID: 22150717 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews)
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Editorial: US students' alcohol consumption: a downward trend, but increased concerns.
Authors: Verster JC
PMID: 22217335 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews)
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
The efficacy of stepped care models involving psychosocial treatment of alcohol use disorders and nicotine dependence: a systematic review of the literature.
Authors: Jaehne A, Loessl B, Frick K, Berner M, Hulse G, Balmford J
Abstract
Of particular interest in the psychosocial treatment of addictions is determining how much therapy is required to bring about behaviour change. Stepped care approaches, where non-responders to a less intensive therapy receive a more intensive intervention, aim to only provide intensive assistance to those who need it, thereby allocating therapeutic resources more efficiently. This paper provides a systematic review of stepped care models involving different levels of psychosocial intervention for the treatment of alcohol use disor...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Buprenorphine-mediated transition from opioid agonist to antagonist treatment: state of the art and new perspectives.
Authors: Mannelli P, Peindl KS, Lee T, Bhatia KS, Wu LT
Abstract
Constant refinement of opioid dependence (OD) therapies is a condition to promote treatment access and delivery. Among other applications, the partial opioid agonist buprenorphine has been studied to improve evidence-based interventions for the transfer of patients from opioid agonist to antagonist medications. This paper summarizes PubMed-searched clinical investigations and conference papers on the transition from methadone maintenance to buprenorphine and from buprenorphine to naltrexone, discussing challenges and advances. The majority of...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Clinical and forensic signs related to cocaine abuse.
Authors: Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Carvalho F, Duarte JA, Proença JB, Santos A, Magalhães T
Abstract
Good laboratory practice in toxicological analysis requires pre-analytical steps for collection of detailed information related to the suspected poisoning episodes, including biological and non-biological circumstantial evidences, which should be carefully scrutinized. This procedure provides great help to unveil the suspected cause of poisoning, to select the appropriate and correct samples to be analyzed and can facilitate the decision about the analytical techniques to perform. This implies a good knowledge o...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Cocaine and acute vascular diseases.
Authors: De Giorgi A, Fabbian F, Pala M, Bonetti F, Babini I, Bagnaresi I, Manfredini F, Portaluppi F, Mikhailidis DP, Manfredini R
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most widely used drugs of abuse. Chest pain is the most common side effect requiring emergency visits after cocaine use. Vasoconstriction and platelet activation are the main effects of cocaine in the vasculature. In this brief review, we consider the most important clinical effects of cocaine abuse on the heart, brain and kidney. Symptoms related to cocaine toxicity such as myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, aortic dis...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
Romantic relationships and alcohol use.
Authors: Fischer JL, Wiersma JD
Abstract
The focus of this review is on the associations of alcohol use and aspects of romantic relationships. The review covers concepts and methods, partner drinking associations, effects of relationships on drinking, and drinking effects on relationships. Several conclusions were reached. People are attracted to similarly drinking others. With greater relationship commitment there is greater desistance from drinking. Across time and relationship commitment levels, socialization influences vary by gender. A thread throughout the review was the identification of congruent a...
Source: Current Drug Abuse Reviews - November 14, 2014 Category: Addiction Tags: Curr Drug Abuse Rev Source Type: research
