Substance Abuse

Is personalized medicine for alcoholism attainable? (Full text requires subscription or purchase.)

"As drinking intensity increased, individuals demonstrated a significant decrease in attention and executive function (which is involved with planning and selecting appropriate actions based on a selective stimulus)."

""We have found a gene that protects against alcoholism, and on top of that, has a very strong effect," said senior study author Kirk Wilhelmsen, M.D., Ph.D., professor of genetics at UNC. "But alcoholism is a very complex disease, and there are lots of complicated reasons why people drink. This may be just one of the reasons.""

A review of evidence supporting CBT effectiveness for sa treatment.

Greater dopamine release measured in men than women in a research sample involving the administration of alcohol

"approved Vivitrol to treat and prevent relapse after patients with opioid addiction have undergone detoxification" article describes side effects and extent of opioid addication in the US

Two researchers recognized by the Institute of Medicine for their work on the biological components of addiction. " "The work of Eric Nestler and Charles O'Brien has shaped our understanding of addiction as a disease rather than a weakness of character," said Institute of Medicine President Harvey V. Fineberg. "It is highly appropriate to recognize both these accomplished scientists, whose respective work on the biological mechanisms of addiction and the clinical and policy sides of substance abuse complement each other so well. Their research has led to new ways to understand and treat addiction and to preventrelapses of disorders that affect millions of people and their loved ones." "

from the abstract: "Of critical importance in advancing performance measures for use of SUD pharmacotherapy is the recognition that different measurement approaches may be needed in the public and private sectors and will be determined by the availability of different data collection and monitoring systems. In 2009, the Washington Circle convened a panel of nationally recognized insurers, purchasers, providers, policy makers, and researchers to address this topic. The charge of the panel was to identify opportunities and challenges in advancing use of SUD pharmacotherapy performance measures across a range of systems. This article summarizes those findings by identifying a number of critical themes related to advancing SUD pharmacotherapy performance measures, highlighting examples from the field, and recommending actions for policy makers." (Full text requires subscription or purchase)

A special issue on pharmacotherapy treatments of alcohol dependence (access requires subscription or purchase)

Data analysis from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

"This study examined the admission characteristics associated with failure to complete residential substance abuse treatment among male adolescents. Of 160 admissions, 48 (30%) completed treatment. Having commercial health insurance (P= .005), having a family history of a substance use disorder (P= .05), and living with only one biological parent (P= .015) were admission characteristics associated with non-completion. Those reporting a history of physical or sexual abuse also appeared to be at risk for non-completion (P= .014); none of these participants completed the treatment. Interventions that improve residential substance abuse treatment retention for adolescents are needed." (subscription or purchase required for full text)

A literature review (subscription required)

A thesis reports self-reporting of 92 AA members in Baton Rouge on their altruistic and service activities. "No statistically significant relationship between altruism and recovery from alcohol dependence emerged."

Study participants attending AA were observed over five three-month intervals for depressive symptoms and relapse. Positive outcomes were observed in the population concurrent with greater AA attendance. (Full text restricted to subscribers.)

"Our findings show that glutamate signaling through mGluR5 located on dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons is necessary for incentive learning processes that contribute to cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking and which may underpin relapse in drug addiction." (Full text restricted to subscribers)

Examines 69 treatment sites over a two-year period to explore coordination of substance abuse care and integration with referral services.

"The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of individual, court, and community factors to the referral of youth from the juvenile courts to substance abuse treatment. We were particularly interested in the role rurality may play in referral and whether there were disparities in referral between urban and rural areas. In Tennessee, the juvenile courts and the public behavioral health service system network are organized primarily at the county level, so county is the level of community focus for this analysis."

NIH votes 12-3 to combine two research institutes. Researchers are divided on the issue.

Experiments with rats challenge Redish's computational model stating that expectation of reward from an addictive substance does not decrease with diminished returns. (Abstract freely available; full text requires purchase or subscription.)

"This study provides first evidence, that repeated withdrawal from alcohol might be associated with reduced brain plasticity as indicated by a delay of recovery from impairment of attention/executive function. However, little evidence was found for a direct influence of cognitive impairment on treatment success. " Abstract freely available; full text requires purchase or a subscription.