Sex Divide Seen in Mechanism that Produces Persistent Pain Nature This preclinical report is highly suggestive, but it is extremely important to note that the results may not generalize to humans. As an example of this concern, the same journal issue contains another animal study
whose potentially useful conclusions, if translated unguardedly to human intervention, could yield adverse consequences. Different immune cells regulate pain sensitization in male and female mice, according to research published on 29 June in Nature Neuroscience. The surprising biological divide may explain why some clinical trials of pain drugs have failed, and highlights shortcomings in the way that many researchers design their experiments…
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FROM JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
Serum Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Magnesium Levels in Iranian Drug Users: A Case Control Study Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) The changes in concentration of trace elements have effects on many organ systems, including the immune system. There have been conflicting reports on serum trace element levels in heroin users. This study was carried out to compare serum trace element concentrations in opium, heroin, and methamphetamine users. It showed decreased in serum concentration of iron and increase in serum copper in drug users when compared with controls. [Zinc, copper, and iron have mutually interfering effects on absorption, while hypermagnesemia yields hypocalcemia and may induce cardiac arrest.]
Cheap, Synthetic 'Flakka' Dethroning Cocaine on Florida Drug Scene Medscape For decades, South Florida has battled drug traffickers who ship boatloads of cocaine from South America. Now the region is dealing with a new epidemic - cheap, synthetic drugs that arrive from China through the mail. Readers may wish to view the NIDA summary on cathinones (“bath salts”) for a conceptual overview of effects and chemistry of this agent.
CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to help Get Ready for ICD-10 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services This press release from CMS describes the informational efforts extant or in development for the profession, in making the ICD-9 to ICD-10 conversion. The actual information may be found at http://www.roadto10.org/ and at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/ama-wire/blog/ICD-10/1. The sound-bite summary? “Three months before implementation!”
Primary Care Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Illicit Drug and Nonmedical Pharmaceutical Use in Children and Adolescents U.S. Preventive Services Task Force With a target population of children and adolescents younger than age 18 years who have not been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, this guideline aims to summarize the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation and supporting scientific evidence on behavioral interventions for illicit drug use and to update the 2008 USPSTF recommendations on screening for illicit drug use.
The Apéritif Effect: Alcohol's Effects on the Brain's Response to Food Aromas in Women Obesity A functional MRI (fMRI) study examined alcohol regional effects in stimulating food consumption, N=35, all female subjects. Consuming alcohol prior to a meal (an apéritif) increases food consumption. This greater food consumption may result from increased activity in brain regions that mediate reward and regulate feeding behavior. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we evaluated the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response to the food aromas of either roast beef or Italian meat sauce following pharmacokinetically controlled intravenous infusion of alcohol.
The Relative Risk of Fatal Poisoning by Methadone or Buprenorphine Within the Wider Population of England and Wales British Medical Journal The authors’ analysis of the relative safety of buprenorphine and methadone for opioid substitution treatment reveals that buprenorphine is six times safer than methadone with regard to overdose death risk among the general population. Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of prescribing methadone, and tighter regulations are needed to prevent its inappropriate prescription and consequent diversion, e.g., for long-term pain management.
Activating Positive Memory Engrams Suppresses Depression-Like Behavior Nature This mouse study is suggestive of combined procedural-behavioral strategies employable in managing mood dysregulation. Stress is considered a potent environmental risk factor for many behavioral abnormalities, including anxiety and mood disorders. Animal models can exhibit limited but quantifiable behavioral impairments resulting from chronic stress, including deficits in motivation, abnormal responses to behavioural challenges, and anhedonia…
The Effects of Naltrexone on Subjective Response to Methamphetamine in a Clinical Sample: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Laboratory Study Neuropsychopharmacology This important article describes a human study (N=30) involving a modest dose of naltrexone (NTX), yielding successful attenuation of cued craving and reduction in subjective response to methamphetamine (MA). MA use disorder is a serious psychiatric condition for which there are no FDA-approved medications, despite over 15 years of focused clinical trials. NTX is an opioid receptor antagonist with demonstrated efficacy, albeit moderate, for the treatment of alcoholism and opioid dependence. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that NTX may be useful for the treatment of MA use disorder.
Action Requested: Support The TREAT Act ASAM The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act would immediately expand patient access to effective addiction treatment by increasing the number of patients a provider is initially allowed to treat per year and removing the patient cap after one year for qualified physicians. Reception to the proposed legislation has not been universally favorable, as it does raise concerns of diversion; but an assessment of relative risks favors the actions. The TREAT Act is supported by ASAM, and this article includes links to the ASAM testimony.
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