{"title":"Breath Holding Predicts Reduced Smoking Intake but Not Quitting","authors":"D. Welch, R. Mcgee","doi":"10.2174/1874941001003010039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941001003010039","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Cigarette smokers who attempt to quit may or may not relapse. Previous research has shown that breath-holding ability predicts successful quitting, and it has been suggested that breath-holding ability may be a marker of tolerance for uncomfortable physiological symptoms. Methods: We measured breath-holding ability and smoking in a large general-population birth cohort from age 21 to age 32. Results: Cross-sectionally, at age 21, breath-holding ability was greater in males who had quit smoking than in either current or non-smokers, while no such differences were observed amongst females. On the other hand, no prospective associations were detected between breath-holding ability and quitting smoking by age 32. Pack years smoked was lower amongst male smokers with better breath-holding ability at age 32. Discussion: While the cross-sectional finding in males was consistent with the hypothesis that those with more tolerance for breath holding would be more successful at quitting, there was no long-term effect to age 32. On the other hand, breath-holding was associated with reduced intake over time in males. A behavioural mechanism whereby longer breath holders smoke less because of a greater tolerance for the physical discomfort associated with intervals between cigarettes is consistent with these findings.","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"3 1","pages":"39-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68096145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reward Seeking as a Predictor of Drug Use in Youth: Effect of Gender and Social Environment","authors":"G. Knyazev","doi":"10.2174/1874941001003010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941001003010001","url":null,"abstract":"Drug use was investigated in 3476 college and university students. The participants also filled out a set of personality questionnaires along with questions about relationships with peers, parents, and boy/girlfriend. Behavioral Activation was the best personality predictor of drug use. Peer and parent support decreased the strength of association between Behavioral Activation and drug use in females, but not in males. On the other hand, drug use in near social environment significantly increased the strength of association between Behavioral Activation and drug use in males, but not in females. This evidence suggests that in predisposed to drug use youth social environment may act both as a protector and a risk factor. The former influence is stronger in females, the latter – in males.","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"3 1","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68096075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Amino Acids in Pathological Gambling and in its Alleviation: Pharmacological Approaches","authors":"R. Gupta","doi":"10.2174/1874941001003010009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941001003010009","url":null,"abstract":"Labelling Pathological gambling (PG) with a tag of Socio-Psychological problem more than medical causes hampers its pharmacological treatment. Because of this, its neurobiology has been studied only a little, limited to abnormalities in the serotonergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems. Besides this; studies on the role of precursors of these neurotransmitters are almost negligible. Higher concentrations of known precursors like tryptophan, tyrosine and phenyl alanine have been reported in the CSF of pathological gamblers. In addition to this, recently many other inhibitory and excitatory amino acids like GABA, taurine, aspartic and glutamic acids have been found to be in much higher concentration, providing a basis for the candidate amino acids in the therapy of PG. Many of these amino acids have beneficial actions in a number of CNS problems. On this basis, as most of these amino acids are non-toxic and natural, such amino acids can be used as supplements /compliments in PG therapy. One of these amino acids, taurine, a sulfur containing amino acid which is now part of various energy drinks, anti-ageing and anti-diabetes formulas, mood enhancers and many more alternative medicine applications, also could exert beneficial actions in alleviating PG. Therapy with amino acids also has its own limitations; hence development of pro-drug derivatives of these amino acids may constitute a new class of therapeutic agent for PG. This review is a blended form of synthesis and synopsis about various amino acids in the context of PG, considering their potential utility and providing a provocative stimulus for scientific thinkers.","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"3 1","pages":"9-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68096089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Potent Effect of Environmental Context on Relapse to Alcohol-Seeking After Extinction.","authors":"Patricia H Janak, Nadia Chaudhri","doi":"10.2174/1874941001003010076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941001003010076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Environments in which the pharmacological effects of alcohol have been experienced become potent triggers for relapse in abstinent humans. Animal models developed to study the effect of environmental contexts on relapse to alcohol-seeking behavior demonstrate that alcohol-seeking is renewed by exposure to an alcohol-associated context, following the extinction of alcohol-seeking in a different context. Hence, contexts in which alcohol conditioning and extinction learning occur can be critical determinants for whether or not alcohol-seeking behavior is observed. This review summarizes preclinical research to date examining the role of alcohol contexts on the reinstatement of extinguished responding for alcohol. Behavioral studies have elucidated factors that are important for eliciting context-dependent relapse, and have uncovered novel interactions between alcohol-seeking driven by discrete alcohol cues in different contexts. Neuropharmacological studies provide substantial evidence for a role of dopaminergic systems in context-dependent reinstatement, and growing support for opioidergic mechanisms as well. Several key limbic brain regions have been identified in the modulation of alcohol-seeking by context, supporting a proposed neural circuit that includes the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, basolateral amygdala, lateral hypothalamus, and the paraventricular thalamus.</p>","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"3 ","pages":"76-87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995923/pdf/nihms222543.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"29514369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephen Magura, Jessaca Spybrook, Andrew Rosenblum, Chunki Fong, Cherie Villano, Howard S Vogel, Thomas Betzler
{"title":"Undiagnosed Drug Misuse among Admissions to Psychiatric Day Treatment and Prediction of Early Exit.","authors":"Stephen Magura, Jessaca Spybrook, Andrew Rosenblum, Chunki Fong, Cherie Villano, Howard S Vogel, Thomas Betzler","doi":"10.2174/1874941001003010102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941001003010102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A challenge for psychiatric treatment programs is to accurately identify individuals with drug misuse problems at admission to treatment. Consecutive new admissions to an urban continuing day treatment (n=229) during 2003-2005 were recruited and their treatment status was determined after one year. At admission, 34% were diagnosed with drug dependence/abuse based on a DSM-IV clinical interview, whereas 69% were found to be misusing drugs based on a research protocol consisting of self-reports of use within the past 30 days and drug toxicologies. Drug misuse as identified by the research protocol predicted a clinically meaningful outcome - early exit from treatment (relative risk = 2.7, p < .01), but DSM-IV diagnosis of drug use disorder was not predictive. These results suggest that psychiatric outpatient programs should consider adding an assessment for drug misuse to a comprehensive clinical assessment at admission to treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"3 ","pages":"102-108"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3527836/pdf/nihms426138.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31143900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Inhibiting Responding During Extinction in Rats Trained to Self-Administer Cocaine.","authors":"Steven D LaRowe, Peter W Kalivas","doi":"10.2174/1874941001003010088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941001003010088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous work has found that N-acetylcysteine inhibits extinction responding in rats trained to self-administer heroin. The current study examined the ability of N-acetylcysteine to inhibit extinction responding in rats trained to self-administer cocaine. Rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.39mg/kg) for 10 to 12 days and were pretreated with either N-acetylcysteine (60mg/kg) or saline beginning on the first day of extinction training and on each extinction training day thereafter. Results indicated that chronically administered N-acetylcysteine reduced lever pressing during extinction sessions. In addition to demonstrating the impact N-acetylcysteine has on lever pressing during extinction, the present study underscores the importance of using responding during extinction as a dependent measure in the development of medications for addictive behaviors.</p>","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"3 ","pages":"88-91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4469342/pdf/nihms666747.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33402929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T. Hillemacher, J. Cramer, A. Hintzen, D. Karagülle, S. Bleich
{"title":"Biomarkers to Predict Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures - A Review of Current Literature","authors":"T. Hillemacher, J. Cramer, A. Hintzen, D. Karagülle, S. Bleich","doi":"10.2174/1874941000902010034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941000902010034","url":null,"abstract":"Alcohol withdrawal seizures are one major complication during detoxification treatment of alcohol dependent patients. Anticonvulsive pharmaceutical treatment can be administered but is associated with side-effects like nausea or hyponatriemia. Recent studies have identified different biomarkers that have been associated with the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures. The aminoacid homocysteine as well as prolactin have been described to be associated with this individual seizure risk. Furthermore, markers of alcohol dependence like carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) have been studied in this context. Also, genetic variants like the apolipoprotein E genotype have been found to be related to the history of withdrawal seizures. Knowledge and critical valuation of these recent findings on biomarkers may help to establish an assessment of the individual risk for withdrawal seizures and therefore may have important clinical implications.","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"2 1","pages":"34-38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68096059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Validity of Street Terms Used to Monitor the Australian Methamphetamine Market","authors":"R. Mcketin, Jennifer McLaren, E. Kelly","doi":"10.2174/1874941000902010030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941000902010030","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: To validate the street terminology used to describe the various forms of methamphetamine used in Australia, namely 'speed' (powder methamphetamine), 'base' (a damp or oily product) and 'crystal meth' or 'ice' (crystalline methamphetamine). Materials and Methodology: Regular methamphetamine users (N = 309) were asked which form of methamphetamine they took on their last use occasion, and this was coded as: (a) speed/powder, (b) base, (c) crystal/ice or (d) other. Participants were then asked to identify which form of methamphetamine they used from an identification sheet that included photographs of each form of the drug. Receiver Operating Characteristics were used to determine the concordance between street terms and photographs of each form of methamphetamine. Results: Street terms identified each respective form of methamphetamine in at least 85% of cases. However, these terms were more accurate in identifying crystalline methamphetamine (specificity 97%, sensitivity 93%) than other forms of the drug (speed/powder: specificity 92%, sensitivity 89%; base: specificity 92%, sensitivity 65%). This typology missed 12% of methamphetamine use occasions. Conclusion: Street terminology can accurately identify crystalline methamphetamine in Australia, but caution is needed when using the terms 'speed' and 'base' to monitor these respective forms of the drug.","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"2 1","pages":"30-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68095998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Delayed Onset Parkinsonism in Alcoholic Patient Following ARDS: Alcoholism could be a Risk Factor","authors":"P. Desaive, B. Dan, C. Kornreich","doi":"10.2174/1874941000902010028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941000902010028","url":null,"abstract":"A case of delayed vascular parkinsonism resulting from an hypoxic insult is reported in a alcoholic patient. Hypoxic events are more frequent in alcoholic patients probably through a mechanism of increased lung vulnerability. When present, hypoxia has more severe neurological consequences in this population, occurring in a context of diminished cerebral blood flow. Alcoholism could be a risk factor for the occurrence of delayed onset parkinsonism following ARDS.","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"2 1","pages":"28-29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68095976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Parrott, J. Broadbear, R. Bruno, L. Degenhardt, Kate Morefield, A. Scholey
{"title":"MDMA: Neurohormonal, Neurocognitive, and Psychobiological Aspects of Recreational Ecstasy","authors":"A. Parrott, J. Broadbear, R. Bruno, L. Degenhardt, Kate Morefield, A. Scholey","doi":"10.2174/1874941000902010024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874941000902010024","url":null,"abstract":"This Ecstasy/MDMA symposium was held at the Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, Tasmania, in September 2008. The Australian government has been funding research into MDMA for many years, and hence there are several Australian groups at the forefront of international research in this field. Included in the studies reported here, were collaborations with universities from other countries. The main focus was on human studies, although animal psychopharmacology findings were also presented. The topics covered within this half-day symposium included Ecstasy dependence, the problems reported by recreational users, the influence of other psychoactive drugs, the Internet as a research tool, the contributory role of neurohormones such as oxytocin and cortisol, and the energetic stress model for recreational Ecstasy/MDMA.","PeriodicalId":89289,"journal":{"name":"The open addiction journal","volume":"2 1","pages":"24-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68095939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}