Basis Of Drug Addiction Research Articles

Prenatal Hypoxia Affects Nicotine Consumption and Withdrawal in Adult Rats via Impairment of the Glutamate System in the Brain.

The role of damaging factors in the prenatal period as a basis for drug addiction in offspring is of great interest. In this study, we aim at deciphering the effects and possible mechanisms of prenatal severe hypoxia (PSH) on predisposition to nicotine addiction in adult rats. In PSH rats, we found an increasing tendency to nicotine consumption in the two-bottle choice test. After 2weeks of chronic treatment with nicotine via osmotic minipump (9mg/kg per day), we assessed the symptoms of withdrawal in the conditioned place aversion test after mecamylamine (an antagonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, nAChR) treatment. We showed that the mecamylamine-precipitated withdrawal aversion was stronger in the PSH group than in the control group. This suggests that PSH acts as a predisposing factor for developing nicotine addiction in adulthood. PSH rats also demonstrated an increased level of phosphorylated DARPP-32 protein (known as the relay for dopamine and glutamate signaling) at 34 threonine (pThr34DARPP-32) in relation to its total amount in the nucleus accumbens of the striatum (NAc). Meanwhile, no changes in both the content of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway and the first type of dopamine receptors (DAR1) in NAc were found. The increased rate of DARPP-32 phosphorylation in adult PSH rats might result from excessive glutamatergic stimulation of the dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) caused by activation of presynaptic nAChR by nicotine. This hypothesis is supported by the observed increase in VGluT2-positive terminals to Nurr1-positive neuronal bodies in VTA in PSH animals. Thus, the altered glutamate signaling phenotype might play a significant role in the development of PSH-related nicotine addiction.

Genomic analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase gene sequence variations and its association with D-9- tetrahydrocannabinol dependence in addicts

Purpose: To elucidate the genetic basis of drug addiction by conducting a genetic analysis of TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) gene and the novel polymorphisms that might help in understanding addiction and its molecular basis.
 Methods: Forty-two subjects were recruited into three groups for this study. DNA was isolated from the individuals. PCR amplification of TH gene was carried out and amplicons were sequenced. Genomic characterization of TH gene provided five polymorphic loci – TH 1, TH 2, TH 3, TH 4 and TH 5 which were found among all the groups.
 Results: According to Shannon’s diversity index, the studied population was between 0.0762 and 0.6032. Heterozygosity index depicted that TH 1 locus was less heterozygous (0.3288), followed by TH 5 (0.3152). TH 1 (0.1462) was the least heterozygous. Genotypic analysis predicted that among these five loci, TH 4 (p = 0.039898) and TH 2 (p = 0.851716) were non-significant (p > 0.05) and obeyed Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) law. There are few genetic changes in the studied population that can statistically be associated with drug addiction. Still, their genotypic distribution in the gene pool was very low.
 Conclusion: On the basis of these findings, drug addiction in the studied population is more likely a social issue rather than a genetic one.
 Keywords: Tyrosine hydroxylase, SNP, Drug dependence

FORMING A PERSON OF A JUVENILE OFFENDER WHO COMMIT CRIMES WITH PARTICULAR CRUELTY

Having traced the criminalization process for minors, it can be argued that more and more violent offenses have the extreme form of cruelty. It is proved that the most stable and significant part of violent crimes include deliberate murder, deliberate infliction of grave and moderate injury to health, robberies, forced robberies, forced rape, hooliganism, beatings, torture, etc. Such criminal acts constituting the criminological significant group are distinguished, primarily by such criteria as the method of action of an offender, the form of guilt and the object of the attack. The structure of juvenile delinquency is characterized mostly by mercenary, mercenary-violent and violent types of crimes. The crimes committed by young people are more impudent and aggressive compared to general crime. The number of crimes committed on the basis of drug addiction and alcoholism is especially increasing. It is stated that juvenile delinquency is usually of a group nature. It is established that the investigation of the causes of the crimes will not be complete without studying the causes and conditions of the personality of the offender. After all, the causes of the commission of crimes that directly induce or push a person to choose the wrongful conduct in a particular situation, are, so to speak, subjective, that is, inseparably linked with the subject of the crime. The main determinants of the formation of the identity of a juvenile offender who commit crimes with particular cruelty include: the negative impact of the family as a potential factor in the formation of the personality of a juvenile offender; child homelessness and neglect; unorganized leisure; alcoholization and narcosis of children's environment; manifestations of bullying among minors, etc. It is proved that the mechanism of influence of factors on crime is rather complex and, therefore, the influence of each of them can only be arbitrary, since the positive or negative impact of any aspect of social life depends on a specific combination of factors. The impact of criminogenic factors, and sometimes their consequences, lmanifests in the fact that they objectively contribute to crime.

COMPARING SOCIO – ECONOMIC STATUE, SENSATION -SEEKING AND PERSONALITY TRAITS OF ADDICTS AND NON-ADDICTS IN THE CITY OF IZEH

The aim of this study is to evaluate the socio-economic and personality factors and sensation-seeking and drug addiction in the Ize city. The sample is consisted of 18 individuals that were divided on the basis of drug addiction and normal in both groups (9 people with addiction and 9 normal people). This is a causal-comparative study. The research tool was a questionnaire MMPI short form questionnaire and Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale. Hypotheses include: 1. Between psychological and personality characteristics (hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychopathy, paranoia, mental weakness, schizophrenia and Hypomania) in addicted and normal people, there is a significant difference. 2. Between sensation seeking of addicted and normal people, there is a significant difference. 3. Between socio-economic status of addicted and normal people, there is a significant difference. To test the hypotheses of t test, independent groups were used. The study results showed that between psychological characteristics of addicted and normal people, there is a significant difference in the level of p <5 %.

Integración e interacciones entre los tratamientos farmacológicos y psicológicos de las adicciones: una revisión.

The main therapies applied to treat substance abuse or addictions are pharmacotherapy and psychological therapies, with few interventions that combine these two types of therapies. The aim of the present study is to review and to summarize the main results of research devoted to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined action of these therapies, as compared to the effectiveness of each type of treatment administered alone. The results show that the combined application of pharmacological and psychological treatments has a greater therapeutic effect and relapse prevention, thus overcoming some of the limitations of these two types of treatments when administrated alone. span&gt;. The results showed no significant differences in life quality or severity of psychological adjustment among patients on the basis of drug addiction. The differences appear to be linked to the concomitance of psychopathology on Axis I, because for those who do not have a quality of life higher and better psychological adjustment. This indicates that the presence of Axis I psychopathology, in patients with personality disorders, increases the difficulty associated with treating these patients. In terms of family dynamics has been shown that while the attachment has a negative impact on quality of life of these patients, family resources the better. It seems that the perceived quality of life in patients with personality disorders, drug or mental health consumers, is determined by the concomitant presence of other psychopathology on Axis I. This concomitant should be targeted for therapeutic intervention.

Drogodependientes vs. usuarios de salud mental con trastornos de personalidad: su relación con la calidad de vida, la psicopatología en Eje I, el ajuste psicológico y dinámica familiar

The aim of this study was to analyze some variables of great relevance in the treatment of personality disorders such as quality of life, the severity level of psychological adjustment, the concomitant Axis I psychopathology and perception of family dynamics of these patients. The sample is composed of 68 patients with a personality disorder of which 57.4% are drug addicts undergoing treatment in an outpatient drug addiction center and 42.6% are users of a mental health clinic has not addictive disorders. The results showed no significant differences in life quality or severity of psychological adjustment among patients on the basis of drug addiction. The differences appear to be linked to the concomitance of psychopathology on Axis I, because for those who do not have a quality of life higher and better psychological adjustment. This indicates that the presence of Axis I psychopathology, in patients with personality disorders, increases the difficulty associated with treating these patients. In terms of family dynamics has been shown that while the attachment has a negative impact on quality of life of these patients, family resources the better. It seems that the perceived quality of life in patients with personality disorders, drug or mental health consumers, is determined by the concomitant presence of other psychopathology on Axis I. This concomitant should be targeted for therapeutic intervention.

A Review of Computer-Based Interventions Used in the Assessment, Treatment, and Research of Drug Addiction

Computer-based interventions are cost-efficient methods that may result in greater access to drug addiction treatment. We review recent findings from our laboratory where computer-based interventions have produced outcomes that are comparable to therapist-delivered interventions. We also examine how computer-based interventions targeting substance abuse disorders relate to cognitive functioning. This review will suggest that not only are computer-based interventions cost-efficient and accessible but that they are also effective methods for the motivation, engagement, and treatment of drug-dependent individuals. Moreover, computer-based interventions are compatible with a recently proposed biological mechanism implicated as the basis for drug addiction.

Electrophysiological correlates of abused drugs

The addictive consequences of abused substances depend upon activation of neurons in reward centers of the brain. Investigations aimed at determining the underlying basis for substance abuse have resulted in breakthroughs related to drug actions on normal neural processes; for example, the singular role of dopamine as the basis for drug addiction has been revised to include effects that, with other transmitter systems, produce changes in target neuronal firing that are different from those previously assumed, including "reward value" at the neuronal and systems levels and changes in the significance of pursued stimuli as a function of motivational state, context, effort, salience, and cognitive demand. Studies comparing these factors directly show differences between the actions of abused substances and less potent food-related rewards. Characterization of the change in reward-encoding processes for drug and natural rewards has provided insight into how abused substances gain control over behavior. This report explores how abused drugs alter neuron firing in reward-sensitive brain regions and how those alterations effect drug-seeking activity in animals and humans.

Long-lasting ibogaine protection against NMDA-induced convulsions in mice.

Ibogaine, a putative antiaddictive drug, is remarkable in its apparent ability to downgrade withdrawal symptoms and drug craving for extended periods of time after a single dose. Ibogaine acts as a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, while NMDA has been implicated in long lasting changes in neuronal function and in the physiological basis of drug addiction. The purpose of this study was to verify if persistent changes in NMDA receptors could be shown in vivo and in vitro after a single administration of ibogaine. The time course of ibogaine effects were examined on NMDA-induced seizures and [3H] MK-801 binding to cortical membranes in mice 30 min, 24, 48, and 72 h post treatment. Ibogaine (80 mg/kg, ip) was effective in inhibiting convulsions induced by NMDA at 24 and 72 hours post administration. Likewise, [3H] MK-801 binding was significantly decreased at 24 and 72 h post ibogaine. No significant differences from controls were found at 30 min or 48 h post ibogaine. This long lasting and complex pattern of modulation of NMDA receptors prompted by a single dose of ibogaine may be associated to its antiaddictive properties.

Advances in molecular biology of neurotransmitter transporters

Despite decades of anatomic, kinetic, and pharmacologic analyses of neurotransmitter transport across neuronal and glial plasma membranes, the identification of specific gene products responsiible for neurotransmitter uptake has lagged noticeably behind the elucidation of receptor and ion channel molecules. Within the past year, however, this situation has changed dramatically with the cloning of complementary DNAs encoding amino acid (GABA) and monoarmine (norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin) transportes. In particular, the cloning of highly related cocaine and antidepressant-sensitive norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin transportes provides clues to structural diversification likely to underline differential drug sensitivity and provides new tools for the study of the bilological basis for drug addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders.