MedWorm: Methamphetamine

Addicted to Drugs? Blame It on Brain Anatomy

Psychology Today Addiction Center — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:30:36 +0100

How easy is it for you to turn down another piece of chocolate, another line of cocaine or just one more beer before driving home? The ease with which you make your decision when faced with such risky choices is greatly influenced by the genes and unique brain anatomy that you inherited from your parents. read more (Source: Psychology Today Addiction Center)

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Does Alexithymia Explain Variation in Cue-Elicited Craving Reported by Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals?

American Journal on Addictions — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:16:56 +0100

This study examined the possibility that alexithymia, a personality attribute characterized by a difficulty identifying and describing emotions, may contribute to the impoverished cue-elicited craving experienced by some addicts. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that alexithymia, as measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), would be inversely related to the magnitude of cue-elicited craving obtained in a cue reactivity protocol. Forty methamphetamine-dependent individuals completed the TAS and provided craving ratings for methamphetamine after presentation of methamphetamine-associated cues. Thirteen participants (32%) reported no methamphetamine cue-elicited craving. Contrary to expectation, TAS factor 1 (a measure of difficulty identifying feelings) scores were positively as...

Anthrax-killing foam proves effective in meth lab cleanup

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(DOE/Sandia National Laboratories) Sandia's decontamination foam, developed more than a decade ago and used to decontaminate federal office buildings and mailrooms during the 2001 anthrax attacks, is now being used to decontaminate illegal methamphetamine labs. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Reducing widespread pipe sharing and risky sex among crystal methamphetamine smokers in Toronto: do safer smoking kits have a potential role to play?

Harm Reduction Journal — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Changing pipe sharing behaviours may be difficult because many participants considered sharing to be integral to the social experience of smoking crystal methamphetamine. Within the context of a broader health promotion and prevention program, pilot testing of safer smoking kits as part of a broader safer smoking program to initiate discussion and education on the risks associated with sharing pipes and unprotected sex for some communities (e.g., homeless/homeless/street-involved youth) is worth pursuing. (Source: Harm Reduction Journal)

Death from MDPV-associated excited delirium

The Poison Review — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:05:42 +0100

3.5 out of 5 stars Death Following Recreational Use of Designer Drug “Bath Salts” Containing 3,4,-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). Murray BL et al. J Med Toxicol 2012 Jan 20 [Epub ahead of print} Abstract This very interesting case report describes a 40-year-old male who developed excited delirium syndrome after snorting and injecting a "bath salt" product later found to contain the synthetic cathinone MDPV, as well as trimethoprim. As Takeuchi et al point out in their superb review of the topic, excited delirium presents with a typical sequence of events: [Excited delirium] describe[s] almost the exact same sequence of events: delirium with agitation (fear, panic, shouting, violence and hyperactivity), sudden cessation of struggle, respiratory arrest and death. In the maj...

How Stimulants Work To Control Hyperactivity

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

It has long been known that psychostimulant drugs have the paradoxical effect of reducing hyperactivity. [Psychostimulant drugs include methylphenidate - known by the trade names Ritalin, Concerta, and Methylin - and methamphetamine]. Since the mid-1950s, millions of children and adults have been prescribed stimulant medications to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But for more than seven decades, since the first experiment that gave an amphetamine drug to children diagnosed with behavioral problems, scientists have not known how stimulants work to control hyperactivity... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Effects of Neonatal Methamphetamine and Thioperamide Exposure on Spatial Memory Retention and Circadian Activity Later in Life.

Behavioural Brain Research — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we assessed whether neonatal exposure to MA or THIO also affects cognition in adolescence. As these effects might be associated with alterations in circadian activity, we also assessed circadian activity in a subgroup of neonatally exposed mice. Sex-dependent treatment effects were seen in the water maze. While THIO-, but not MA-, treated female mice showed hippocampus-dependent spatial memory retention in the first probe trial, MA-, but not THIO-treated female mice showed spatial memory retention in the probe trial following reversal training. In contrast, MA- and THIO-treated male mice showed spatial memory retention in both probe trials. When sensorimotor gating was assessed, MA-treated male mice showed greater pre-pulse inhibition than MA-treated female mice. Regardless ...

A Review of the Literature on Event-Level Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

AIDS and Behavior — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:11:14 +0100

Abstract In the United States, there continues to be high incidence of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM), who represent 57% of new infections in 2009. While many studies report associations between non-injection substance use and sexual risk behavior among MSM, overall results are mixed. Summarizing these studies is difficult because researchers have used a variety of assessment periods for substance use and sexual behavior. We review the scientific literature on event-level measures, which assess substance use and sexual risk behavior immediately before or during a sexual encounter and provide the most precise link between these two behaviors. From January 2009 through March 2010, we searched four databases: Ovid (MEDLINE and PsycINFO), Web of Knowledge,...

The acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and methamphetamine on driving: A simulator study.

Accident; Analysis and Prevention. — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:26:06 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study have for the first time illustrated how both MDMA and methamphetamine effect driving performance, and provide support for legislation regarding testing for the presence of illicit drugs in impaired or injured drivers as deterrents for driving under the influence of illicit drugs. PMID: 22269534 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Accident; Analysis and Prevention.)

Behavioral inhibition in mice bred for high vs. low levels of methamphetamine consumption or sensitization

Psychopharmacology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:36:27 +0100

Conclusions These data suggest a shared, but complex, genetic association between inhibition processes, general levels of operant responding, and MA sensitization or consumption. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-13DOI 10.1007/s00213-012-2650-zAuthors Travis M. Moschak, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience L470, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USAKatherine A. Stang, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience L470, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USATamara J. Phillips, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience L470, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USASuzanne H. Mitchell, Department...

Agmatine attenuates methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in rats.

European Journal of Pharmacology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study examined the effects of agmatine on the rewarding effects of methamphetamine in rats using a conditioned place preference paradigm. Methamphetamine (0.1-1.0mg/kg) dose-dependently increased the time spent in methamphetamine-paired side (place preference). Agmatine, at doses that did not produce place preference or aversion (10-32mg/kg), significantly decreased the development of methamphetamine-induced place preference when agmatine was administered in combination with methamphetamine during place conditioning. Agmatine also significantly decreased the expression of methamphetamine-induced place preference when an acute injection of agmatine was given immediately before test session. These doses of agmatine do not alter the motor activity in rats, suggesting that the observed at...

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Effect of vitamin C deficiency during postnatal development on adult behavior: functional phenotype of Gulo(−/−) knockout mice

Genes, Brain and Behavior — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Organisms using oxygen for aerobic respiration require antioxidants to balance the production of reactive oxygen species during metabolic processes. Various species – including humans and other primates – suffer mutations in the GULO gene encoding L‐gulono‐γ‐lactone oxidase; GULO is the rate‐limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of ascorbate, an important cellular antioxidant. Animals lacking the ability to synthesize vitamin C develop scurvy without dietary supplementation. The Gulo(−/−) knockout (KO) mouse requires oral supplemental vitamin C; without this supplementation the animal dies with a scorbutic condition within several weeks. Vitamin C is known to be most abundant in the brain, where it is believed to play important roles in neuroprotection, neurotransmission and...

Meth360 Information Kit

Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:13:26 +0100

Collection of fact sheets containing information on these methamphetamine topic areas: facts about meth, effects on users, effects on communities, families & prevention, intervention & treatment, and communities & prevention. -- Partnership for a Drug-Free America (Source: Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center)

Visual memory in methamphetamine-dependent individuals: deficient strategic control of encoding and retrieval.

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: These visual memory findings are commensurate with studies reporting deficient strategic verbal encoding and retrieval in MA users that are posited to reflect the vulnerability of frontostriatal circuits to the neurotoxic effects of MA. Potential clinical implications of these visual memory deficits are discussed. PMID: 22311530 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry)

The effects of low-dose methamphetamine pretreatment on endoplasmic reticulum stress and methamphetamine neurotoxicity in the rat midbrain

Legal Medicine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we examined the effects of low-dose METH administration for 5d on GRP78 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), both of which are induced under ER stress, and METH neurotoxicity in the rat midbrain. We showed that 1mg/kg of METH induced an increase in GRP78 protein and mRNA expression 1d after the last injection, but had no effect on the levels of CHOP, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), or GFAP. Secondly, we evaluated the induction of ER stress and the extent of METH neurotoxicity in the midbrain of animals pretreated with METH. In animals pretreated with saline, we observed elevated CHOP levels, together with decreased TH levels and increased GFAP levels, indicative of METH neurotoxicity, after neurotoxic METH administration, while there was no significant change in GRP78 levels. In ...

The acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and methamphetamine on driving: A simulator study. - Stough C, Downey LA, King R, Papafotiou K, Swann P, Ogden E.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:32:08 +0100

OBJECTIVES: Illicit drugs such as MDMA and methamphetamine are commonly abused drugs that have also been observed to be prevalent in drivers injured in road accidents. Their exact effect on driving and driving behavior has yet to be thoroughly investigated... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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Sigma-1 receptors: Potential Targets for the Treatment of Substance Abuse.

Current Pharmaceutical Design — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Robson MJ, Noorbakhsh B, Seminerio MJ, Matsumoto RR Abstract Drug abuse is currently a large economic and societal burden in countries around the globe. Many drugs of abuse currently lack adequate therapies aimed at treating both the addiction and negative complications often associated with their use. Sigma-1 receptors were discovered over 30 years ago and have recently become targets for the development of pharmacotherapies aimed at treating substance abuse and addiction. In vivo preclinical studies have revealed that sigma receptor ligands are able to ameliorate select behavioral effects of many drugs of abuse including cocaine, methamphetamine, ethanol and nicotine. In addition, recent studies have begun to elucidate the mechanisms by which sigma-1 receptors modulate t...

The glial cell modulators, ibudilast and its amino analog, AV1013, attenuate methamphetamine locomotor activity and its sensitization in mice.

European Journal of Pharmacology — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Snider SE, Vunck SA, van den Oord EJ, Adkins DE, McClay JL, Beardsley PM Abstract Over 800,000 Americans abuse the psychomotor stimulant, methamphetamine, yet its abuse is without an approved medication. Methamphetamine induces hypermotor activity, and sensitization to this effect is suggested to represent aspects of the addiction process. Methamphetamine's regulation of 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels may be partially responsible for its behavioral effects, and compounds that inhibit phosphodiesterase (PDE), the enzyme that degrades cAMP, can alter methamphetamine-induced behaviors. Methamphetamine also activates glial cells and causes a subsequent increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Modulation of glial cell activation is associated with chang...

Microfluidic chip based nano liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of abused drugs and metabolites in human hair.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, the developed sample preparation method coupled with the nano-HPLC-Chip-MS/MS method was able to reveal the presence of drugs in hairs from the drug abusers, with the enhanced sensitivity, compared with the conventional HPLC-MS/MS. PMID: 22281681 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry)

Potential Target Identified For Anti-Craving Medications

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

Scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have identified a potential target for the development of anti-craving medications for people with addictions to stimulants such as methamphetamine. The discovery centres on a brain receptor related to the chemical dopamine, which has a complex role in addictive behaviours... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Juvenile but not adult methamphetamine exposure improves performance in the Morris Water Maze in male rats.

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Moenk M, Matuszewich L Abstract Early exposure to psychostimulants has been found to lead to long-lasting effects on cognitive processes. Our lab has previously reported that juvenile male rats administered methamphetamine showed improved performance in a spatial navigation task when tested in adulthood (McFadden and Matuszewich, 2007). What is not known, however, is if these effects are specific to the developing rat, or if a similar methamphetamine protocol given to adult rats would lead to an equally beneficial long-term change in spatial cognition. In the current study, male rats were given 1 daily injection of 2mg/kg methamphetamine or saline for 15 days during either preadolescence (PD20-34) or adulthood (PD70-84). Approximately 45 days after treatment, all rats then...

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CAMH discovery identifies potential target for anti-craving medications

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) Scientists at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health have identified a potential target for the development of anti-craving medications for people with addictions to stimulants such as methamphetamine. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Methamphetamine-induced dopamine terminal deficits in the nucleus accumbens are exacerbated by reward-associated cues and attenuated by CB1 receptor antagonism.

Neuropharmacology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Loewinger GC, Beckert MV, Tejeda HA, Cheer JF Abstract Methamphetamine (METH) exposure is primarily associated with deleterious effects to dopaminergic neurons. While several studies have implicated the endocannabinoid system in METH's locomotor, rewarding and neurochemical effects, a role for this signaling system in METH's effects on dopamine terminal dynamics has not been elucidated. Given that CB1 receptor blockade reduces the acute potentiation of phasic extracellular dopamine release from other psychomotor stimulant drugs and that the degree of acute METH-induced increases in extracellular dopamine levels is related to the severity of dopamine depletion, we predicted that pretreatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant would reduce METH-induced alterations a...

Crude new meth recipe overburdening some U.S. hospitals

CTV Health — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:25:54 +0100

A crude new method of making methamphetamine poses a risk even to Americans who never get anywhere near the drug: It is filling hospitals with thousands of uninsured burn patients requiring millions of dollars in advanced treatment -- a burden so costly that it's contributing to the closure of some burn units. (Source: CTV Health)

Serotonin Syndrome Associated With MDPV Use: A Case Report. - Mugele J, Nanagas KA, Tormoehlen LM.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:05:52 +0100

We describe a case of a woman who developed clinical findings consistent with serotonin syndrome after insufflation of 3,4-methylenedioxypyr... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

A genetic animal model of differential sensitivity to methamphetamine reinforcement.

Neuropharmacology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shabani S, Dobbs LK, Ford MM, Mark GP, Finn DA, Phillips TJ Abstract Sensitivity to reinforcement from methamphetamine (MA) likely influences risk for MA addiction, and genetic differences are one source of individual variation. Generation of two sets of selectively bred mouse lines for high and low MA drinking has shown that genetic factors influence MA intake, and pronounced differences in sensitivity to rewarding and aversive effects of MA play a significant role. Further validation of these lines as a unique genetic model relevant to MA addiction was obtained using operant methods to study MA reinforcement. High and low MA drinking line mice were used to test the hypotheses that: 1) oral and intracerebroventricular (ICV) MA serve as behavioral reinforcers, and 2) MA ex...

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Drunk versus drugged: How different are the drivers?

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:46:52 +0100

Conclusions: The most impaired clients were less likely to be referred to treatment from the justice system, and the differences in drug and alcohol offenders show the need to tailor approaches with education and treatment programs. More attention should be given to the needs of drivers impaired through use of prescription drugs such as the opiates and sedatives, as well as female drivers, and the role of acculturation should be recognized in programs for Hispanic drivers. In addition, specific programs should be targeted to young cannabis abusers and underage offenders. All first-time DUI arrestees should be assessed for their levels of impairment. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Reciprocal inhibitory effects of intravenous d-methamphetamine self-administration and wheel activity in rats

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:46:52 +0100

Conclusions: These data show that METH self-administration is reduced by exercise if initiated from the start of self-administration and that prior METH self-administration experience interferes with the value of exercise as a reinforcer. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Commentary on Ling et al. (2012): The PROMETA™ treatment does not reduce methamphetamine use

Addiction — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:43:11 +0100

(Source: Addiction)

The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:48:44 +0100

AbstractNo Increased Risk of Serious Cardiovascular Events with ADHD Drugs in Children or AdultsZolpidem Safe for Long‐Term Use in Physically and Mentally Healthy PatientsMirtazapine Reduces Methamphetamine Use and Sexual Risk Behavior in Men Who Have Sex with MenMaintenance Treatment of Bipolar I DisorderWhy Psychiatrists Should Treat SmokingIncreased Risks of Suicidal Behavior and Depression with Varenicline in Smoking CessationMortality in Antipsychotic‐Induced Neuroleptic Malignant SyndromeDelirium Following Addition of Adjunctive Quetiapine/Valproate in BPRecommendations Unchanged on ADHD DrugsSSRIs in Pregnancy: No Change in RecommendationsNew ApprovalsSafety Labeling Changes (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)

Implementation and Evaluation of a Harm-Reduction Model for Clinical Care of Substance Using Pregnant Women

Harm Reduction Journal — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Methamphetamine use during pregnancy doesn't exist is isolation. It is often combined with a multitude of other adverse circumstances, including poverty, interpersonal violence, psychiatric comorbidity, polysubstance use, nutritional deficiencies, inadequate health care and stressful life experiences. A comprehensive harm reduction model of perinatal care, which aims to ameliorate some of these difficulties for substance-using women without mandating abstinence, provides exceptional birth outcomes and can be implemented with limited resources. (Source: Harm Reduction Journal)

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Impaired Cognitive Performance in Subjects with Methamphetamine Dependence during Exposure to Neutral versus Methamphetamine-Related Cues.

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions and Significance: Methamphetamine-dependent individuals exhibit cognitive performance deficits that are more pronounced during exposure to methamphetamine-related cues. Interventions that reduce cue reactivity may have utility in the treatment of methamphetamine dependence. PMID: 22257306 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

Foreword

Disease a Month — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:33:36 +0100

Methamphetamine has a typical history of an illicit drug in that it actually was initially developed several decades ago to treat a variety of maladies ranging from weight loss to asthma to Parkinson's disease. As a sympathomimetic amine related to ephedrine and amphetamine with central nervous system stimulant properties, the illegal manufacture and use of methamphetamine exploded (first in the Midwestern USA, due to easy access to anhydrous ammonia) by the mid-1990s. Today, methamphetamine abuse is no longer a regional issue (confined by socioeconomic demographics), but an international problem with increasing potency (and availability) and has become a major concern that every primary care physician (whether urban or rural) must address. Dr. David Vearrier and colleagues from Drexel Uni...

Methamphetamine: History, Pathophysiology, Adverse Health Effects, Current Trends, and Hazards Associated with the Clandestine Manufacture of Methamphetamine

Disease a Month — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:33:36 +0100

Developed as an amphetamine derivative, methamphetamine quickly became a popular medication during the 1940s and 1950s, prescribed for a variety of indications. Extensive diversion of methamphetamine during the 1960s and an increasing awareness of the adverse health effects associated with methamphetamine led to the withdrawal of most of the indications for licit methamphetamine use and declines in legal production of the drug. However, the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine increased to meet the demand for methamphetamine, and methamphetamine abuse has increased with variable geographic penetrance over the last 30 years. (Source: Disease a Month)

Treatments for Methamphetamine Abuse: A Literature Review for the Clinician

Journal of Pharmacy Practice — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The objective of this article is to critically review the literature of METH treatment options. Preclinical research and human research with compounds not yet available commercially in the United States will not be included. A literature review was conducted for research on pharmacological treatments for METH use and addiction. Trial information on the use of sertraline, bupropion, mirtazapine, modafinil, dextroamphetamine, ondansetron, risperidone, aripiprazole, baclofen, and gabapentin was reviewed. Aripiprazole trials appeared in the reviewed literature more frequently than the other medications. Based on the findings of this review, no single medication demonstrated consistent efficacy and each trial contained a variety of methodological limitations. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practi...

Determination of methamphetamine in neonatal hair and meconium samples: estimation of fetal drug abuse during pregnancy

Forensic Toxicology — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:49:27 +0100

Abstract Determination of methamphetamine (MP) and its metabolite amphetamine (AP) in hair and meconium samples from a neonate was performed to estimate the fetal abuse of MP during pregnancy. Five hundred micrograms of the neonate’s hair spiked with 1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine (internal standard) were used for the determination. After digestion with 1 M NaOH for 20 min, the resultant was extracted with heptane and the organic layer was evaporated and labeled with 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. The MP in 10 mg of the neonate’s meconium was determined using the standard addition method. The determination of MP and AP in the hair was performed by a semi-micro-HPLC–peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence method. The hair sample (tota...

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Why Is Obesity So Hard to Defeat?

Psychology Today Food and Diet Center — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:15:30 +0100

We are all well aware that eating diets high in fat and sugar leads to obesity. Somehow, the solution should be just as easy. Unfortunately, these diets actually change how the brain functions. This is how.read more (Source: Psychology Today Food and Diet Center)

Monoclonal antibodies as pharmacokinetic antagonists for the treatment of (+)-methamphetamine addiction.

CNS and Neurological Disorders Drug Targets — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Owens SM, Atchley WT, Hambuchen MD, Peterson EC, Gentry WB Abstract Developing specific medications to treat (+)-methamphetamine (METH) addiction is a difficult challenge because METH has multiple sites of action that are intertwined with normal neurological function. As a result, no small molecule medication for the treatment of METH addiction has made it through the FDA clinical trials process. With the invention of a new generation of protein-based therapies, it is now possible to consider treating drug addiction by an entirely different approach. This new approach is based on the discovery of very high affinity anti-METH monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are non-addictive and antagonize METH effects from the blood stream without entering the brain. Due to a very long...

ADHD Animal Model Characterization: Transcriptomics and Proteomics Analyses

Springer protocols feed by Neuroscience — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Mechanisms underlying behavioral abnormalities of patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) disorder are still unknown. It is worth clarifying alterations in the brain of animal models for ADHD. The animals with neonatal treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and congenic wiggling (Wig) rats show motor hyperactivities during a period of darkness at 4 weeks of age. In rats with 6-OHDA lesions, subcutaneous injection of methamphetamine attenuates hyperactivity, the reverse of its effect in Wig rats. To understand mechanisms underlying such behavioral abnormalities, transcriptomics and proteomics analyses may provide novel information in brain research. The expression of genes and proteins in brain regions can be measured by DNA microarray and two-dimensional gel electr...

Psychiatric Implications of Adolescent Methamphetamine Exposures. - Auten JD, Matteucci MJ, Gaspary MJ, Combs DJ, Clark RF.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:09:00 +0100

OBJECTIVES: Methamphetamine abuse has reached epidemic proportions during the last decade. Abuse among adolescents is linked to increased rates of depression and suicidal ideation. Sources suggest that there is an increase rate of suicide attempts in the m... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Mental health disorders in children of non-drug-abusing parents: A sample from a rural community devastated by methamphetamine. - Asanbe CB, Hall C, Bolden C.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:09:00 +0100

A representative sample of 58 preschoolers (aged 4 and 5) and 78 school-age children (aged 8 and 9) from methamphetamine-producing (MP) and non-producing (NP) homes was drawn from a rural county in Tennessee, for two separate studies. The researchers asses... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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Interaction of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Methamphetamine During Metabolism by In Vitro Human Metabolic Enzymes and in Rats - Kuwayama K, Tsujikawa K, Miyaguchi H, Kanamori T, Iwata YT, Inoue H.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:09:00 +0100

Illicit amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) tablets commonly contain one or more active ingredients, which have hallucinogenic and/or stimulant effects. Because components such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (MA) in ATS tablet... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Methamphetamine-using parents: the relationship between parental role strain and depressive symptoms. - Semple SJ, Strathdee SA, Zians J, Patterson TL.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

ABSTRACT. Objective: The methamphetamine epidemic in the United States involves a large number of men and women with dependent-age children. However, we know little about the parenting strains experienced by methamphetamine-using mothers and fathers and th... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Possible effectiveness of intervention using a self-teaching workbook in adolescent drug abusers detained in a juvenile classification home. - Matsumoto T, Chiba Y, Imamura F, Kobayashi O, Wada K.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the possible effectiveness of the juvenile version of the Serigaya Methamphetamine Relapse Prevention Program (SMARPP-Jr.) self-teaching workbook we developed for relapse prevention of drug a... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Role of sigma receptors in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. - Kaushal N, Matsumoto RR.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused substance world over. Currently, there is no effective pharmacotherapy to treat its effects. This necessitates identification of potential novel therapeutic targets. METH interacts with sigma (σ) receptors at phys... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Drug Interactions between Common Illicit Drugs and Prescription Therapies.

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Although the use of illicit drugs is widespread, there are little experimental or clinical data regarding the effects of these agents on common prescription therapies. Scientific Significance: Potential drug interactions between illicit drugs and prescription drugs are described and evaluated on the Drug Interaction Probability Scale by Horn and Hansten. PMID: 22221229 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

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More Than Other Drugs, Injected Meth Is Associated With An Increased Risk Of Attempted Suicide

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

The dire physical and mental health effects of injecting methamphetamine are well known, but there's been little research about suicidal behavior and injecting meth. In a recent study, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the University of British Columbia found that drug users who inject methamphetamine had an 80% greater risk of attempting suicide than drug users who inject other substances... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A Comparison of Rural and Urban Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Users' Lifetime and Recent Drug Use.

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that, in this sample, nonmedical prescription opioid use is dissimilar among rural and urban drug users. Additional research is needed to better understand the individual, social, and structural level factors contributing to the burden of nonmedical opioid use, particularly in rural populations, with the aim of developing tailored substance abuse treatment and prevention. PMID: 22211586 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

Meth Users Much More Likely to Try Suicide

MedlinePlus Health News — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0100

Study found 80 percent higher risk compared to users of other IV drugs Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Methamphetamine, Suicide (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Methamphetamine has changed the profile of patients utilizing psychiatric emergency services in Iran - Zarghami M.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:51:29 +0100

There is increasing evidence of rapidly growing serious, pervasive, and expensive methamphetamine problems in Iran in recent years-a malicious social phenomenon with widespread psychological, familial and economic adversities-which contribute to theft, mur... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Injected meth linked to suicide attempts

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:47:53 +0100

NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Drug users who inject methamphetamine had an 80 percent greater risk of attempting suicide than users of other drugs, U.S. and Canadian researchers say. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

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Levels of Neural Progenitors in the Hippocampus Predicts Memory Impairment and Relapse to Drug Seeking as a Function of Excessive Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Neuropsychopharmacology — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Patrick Recinto, Anjali Rose H Samant, Gustavo Chavez, Airee Kim, Clara J Yuan, Matthew Soleiman, Yanabel Grant, Scott Edwards, Sunmee Wee, George F Koob, Olivier George & Chitra D Mandyam Keywords: addiction & substance abuse; plasticity; psychostimulants; animal models; BrdU; neurogenesis (Source: Neuropsychopharmacology)

Interaction of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Methamphetamine During Metabolism by In Vitro Human Metabolic Enzymes and in Rats*

Journal of Forensic Sciences — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kuwayama K, Tsujikawa K, Miyaguchi H, Kanamori T, Iwata YT, Inoue H Abstract Illicit amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) tablets commonly contain one or more active ingredients, which have hallucinogenic and/or stimulant effects. Because components such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (MA) in ATS tablets have similar chemical structures, they could be metabolized by common metabolic enzymes. To investigate potential metabolic interactions of ATS tablet components, we studied the in vitro metabolism of MDMA and MA using human metabolic enzymes. MDMA and MA were mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and mutually inhibited the production of their main metabolites. In vivo experiments were also performed using intravenous administr...

Protective effects of the antioxidant sulforaphane on behavioral changes and neurotoxicity in mice after the administration of methamphetamine

Psychopharmacology — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:34:09 +0100

Conclusion It is therefore likely that SFN can be a useful drug for the treatment of signs associated with METH abuse in humans. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-9DOI 10.1007/s00213-011-2619-3Authors Hongxian Chen, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670 JapanJin Wu, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670 JapanJichun Zhang, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670 JapanYuko Fujita, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670 JapanTama...

Reinstatement of methamphetamine seeking in male and female rats treated with modafinil and allopregnanolone

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:11:56 +0100

Conclusions: These results support previous findings that females are more susceptible to stimulant abuse compared to males, and ALLO effectively reduced METH-primed reinstatement in females. Further, results illustrate the utility of MOD as a potential agent for prevention of relapse to METH use in both males and females. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

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Male injection drug users try new drugs following U.S. deportation to Tijuana, Mexico

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:10:51 +0100

Conclusions: Trying new drugs following U.S. deportation may be related to the unique contexts and stressors experienced by drug-abusing migrants as they attempt to reestablish their lives in Mexico. Findings imply an unmet need for health and social programs to alleviate pre- and post-deportation stressors faced by undocumented and return migrants in the U.S.-Mexico context. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Modafinil for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:10:45 +0100

Conclusions: Although these data suggest that modafinil, plus group behavioral therapy, was not effective for decreasing methamphetamine use, the study is probably inconclusive because of inadequate compliance with taking medication. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Increased risk of Parkinson's disease in individuals hospitalized with conditions related to the use of methamphetamine or other amphetamine-type drugs

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:09:53 +0100

Conclusion: These data provide evidence that meth/amphetamine users have above-normal risk for developing PD. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Melatonin as a Neuroprotective Agent in the Rodent Models of Parkinson’s Disease: Is it All Set to Irrefutable Clinical Translation?

Molecular Neurobiology — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:54:18 +0100

This article presents an update on the usage and applications of melatonin in PD models along with incongruous observations. The impending implications in the clinics, success, limitations, and future prospective have also been discussed in this article. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-14DOI 10.1007/s12035-011-8225-xAuthors Naveen Kumar Singhal, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Post Box 80, Lucknow, 226 001 UP, IndiaGarima Srivastava, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Post Box 80, Lucknow, 226 001 UP, IndiaSonal Agrawal, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mahatma Gandhi Marg...

More than other drugs, injected meth is associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) The dire physical and mental health effects of injecting methamphetamine are well known, but there's been little research about suicidal behavior and injecting meth. In a recent study, researchers found that drug users who inject methamphetamine had an 80 percent greater risk of attempting suicide than drug users who inject other substances. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

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Distinct roles of dopamine D3 receptors in modulating methamphetamine‐induced behavioral sensitization and ultrastructural plasticity in the shell of the nucleus accumbens

Journal of Neuroscience Research — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractPersistent changes in behavior and psychological function that occur as a consequence of exposure to drugs of abuse are thought to be mediated by the structural plasticity of specific neural circuits such as the brain's dopamine (DA) system. Changes in dendritic morphology in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) accompany drug‐induced enduring behavioral and molecular changes, yet ultrastructural changes in synapses following repeated exposure to drugs have not been well studied. The current study examines the role of DA D3 receptors in modulating locomotor activity induced by both acute and repeated methamphetamine (METH) administration and accompanying ultrastructural plasticity in the shell of NAc in mice. We found that D3 receptor mutant (D3−/−) mice exhibited attenuated acute loc...

Mephedrone, an Abused Psychoactive Component of “Bath Salts” and Methamphetamine Congener, Does not Cause Neurotoxicity to Dopamine Nerve Endings of the Striatum

Journal of Neurochemistry — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMephedrone (4‐methylmethcathinone) is a β‐ketoamphetamine with close structural analogy to substituted amphetamines and cathinone derivatives. Abuse of mephedrone has increased dramatically in recent years and has become a significant public health problem in the US and Europe. Unfortunately, very little information is available on the pharmacological and neurochemical actions of mephedrone. In light of the proven abuse potential of mephedrone and considering its similarity to methamphetamine and methcathinone, it is particularly important to know if mephedrone shares with these agents an ability to cause damage to dopamine nerve endings of the striatum. Accordingly, we treated mice with a binge‐like regimen of mephedrone (4X 20 or 40 mg/kg) and examined the striatum for evi...

Mephedrone, an abused psychoactive component of ‘bath salts’ and methamphetamine congener, does not cause neurotoxicity to dopamine nerve endings of the striatum

Journal of Neurochemistry — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

J. Neurochem. (2012) 10.1111/j.1471‐4159.2011.07632.xAbstractMephedrone (4‐methylmethcathinone) is a β‐ketoamphetamine with close structural analogy to substituted amphetamines and cathinone derivatives. Abuse of mephedrone has increased dramatically in recent years and has become a significant public health problem in the United States and Europe. Unfortunately, very little information is available on the pharmacological and neurochemical actions of mephedrone. In light of the proven abuse potential of mephedrone and considering its similarity to methamphetamine and methcathinone, it is particularly important to know if mephedrone shares with these agents an ability to cause damage to dopamine nerve endings of the striatum. Accordingly, we treated mice with a binge‐like regimen o...

A Systematic Review of Behavioral and Treatment Outcome Studies Among HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Abuse Crystal Methamphetamine

AIDS Patient Care and STDs — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:51:32 +0100

AIDS Patient Care and STDs Jan 2012, Vol. 26, No. 1: 36-52. (Source: AIDS Patient Care and STDs)

Mesopontine rostromedial tegmental nucleus neurons projecting to the dorsal raphe and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus: psychostimulant-elicited Fos expression and collateralization.

Brain Structure and Function — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lavezzi HN, Parsley KP, Zahm DS Abstract The mesopontine rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) is a GABAergic structure in the ventral midbrain and rostral pons that, when activated, inhibits dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra compacta. Additional strong outputs from the RMTg to the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus pars dissipata, dorsal raphe nucleus, and the pontomedullary gigantocellular reticular formation were identified by anterograde tracing. RMTg neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area express the immediate early gene Fos upon psychostimulant administration. The present study was undertaken to determine if neurons in the RMTg that project to the additional structures listed above also express Fos upon psychostimulant ...

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Comparison of intranasal methamphetamine and d-amphetamine self-administration by humans. - Kirkpatrick MG, Gunderson EW, Johanson CE, Levin FR, Foltin RW, Hart CL.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:35:12 +0100

This study compared intranasal methamphetamine- and d-amphetamine self-administration and characterized the mood, performance, and physiolo... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Inhibitory effects of dopamine on spinal synaptic transmission via D1‐like receptors in neonatal rats

British Journal of Pharmacology — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:43:54 +0100

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest that dopamine at lower concentrations preferentially inhibits sVRP, which is mediated via D1‐like and unidentified receptors. The dopamine‐evoked depression is involved in modulating the spinal functions by the descending dopaminergic pathways. (Source: British Journal of Pharmacology)

Topiramate for the treatment of methamphetamine addiction: a multi‐center placebo‐controlled trial

Addiction — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Topiramate does not appear to promote abstinence in methamphetamine users but can reduce the amount taken and reduce relapse rates in those who are already abstinent. (Source: Addiction)

Woman spends six hours cooking meth inside Walmart before anyone takes notice and calls police

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

When 45-year-old Elizabeth Alisha Greta Halfmoon was finally arrested for trying to set up a methamphetamine lab inside a Tulsa, Okla., Walmart store, she told police that she did not have the money to actually buy the chemicals and mix them on her own property. But... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Dissociable role of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene deletion in methamphetamine self-administration and cue-induced relapsing behavior in mice

Psychopharmacology — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:58:04 +0100

Conclusion TNF-α affects METH self-administration and motivation to self-administer METH but contributes to neither METH-associated cue-induced relapsing behavior nor food reward and food-seeking behavior. TNF-α may be explored for use as a diagnostic biomarker for the early stage of drug addiction. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-10DOI 10.1007/s00213-011-2589-5Authors Yijin Yan, Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 466-8560 JapanAtsumi Nitta, Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 466-8560 JapanTakenao Koseki, Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmace...

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Enantiomeric separation of some common controlled stimulants by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

Electrophoresis — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractCE methods with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) were developed for the enantiomeric separation of the following stimulants: amphetamine (AP), methamphetamine (MA), ephedrine (EP), pseudoephedrine (PE), norephedrine (NE) and norpseudoephedrine (NPE). Acetic acid (pH 2.5 and 2.8) was found to be the optimal background electrolyte for the CE‐C4D system. The chiral selectors, carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (CMBCD), heptakis(2,6‐di‐O‐methyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin (DMBCD) and chiral crown ether (+)‐(18‐crown‐6)‐2,3,11,12‐tetracarboxylic acid (18C6H4), were investigated for their enantioseparation properties in the BGE. The use of either a single or a combination of two chiral selectors was chosen to obtain optimal condition of enantiomeric...

GABA, glutamate, dopamine and serotonin transporters expression on memory formation and amnesia.

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tellez R, Gómez-Víquez L, Meneses A Abstract Notwithstanding several neurotransmission systems are frequently related to memory formation, amnesia and/or therapeutic targets for memory alterations, the role of transporters γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, GAT1), glutamate (neuronal glutamate transporter excitatory amino acid carrier; EACC1), dopamine (DAT) and serotonin (SERT) is poorly understood. Hence, in this paper Western-blot analysis was used to evaluate expression changes on them during memory formation in trained and untrained rats treated with the selective serotonin transporter inhibitor fluoxetine, the amnesic drug d-methamphetamine (METH) and fluoxetine plus METH. Transporters expression was evaluated in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and striatum. Data indic...

Suppression of endogenous PPARγ increases vulnerability to methamphetamine-induced injury in mouse nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway

Psychopharmacology — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:12:04 +0100

Conclusion A deficiency in PPARγ increases vulnerability to high doses of methamphetamine. Endogenous PPARγ may play an important role in reducing methamphetamine toxicity in vivo. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-14DOI 10.1007/s00213-011-2595-7Authors Seong-Jin Yu, National Institute on Drug Abuse, IRP, Neural Protection and Regeneration Section, 251 Bayview Boulevard, 06-721A, Baltimore, MD 21224, USAMikko Airavaara, National Institute on Drug Abuse, IRP, Neural Protection and Regeneration Section, 251 Bayview Boulevard, 06-721A, Baltimore, MD 21224, USAHui Shen, National Institute on Drug Abuse, IRP, Neural Protection and Regeneration Section, 251 Bayview Boulevard, 06-721A, Baltimore, MD 21224, USAJenny Chou, National Institute...

Activation of mu opioid receptors in the striatum differentially augments methamphetamine‐induced gene expression and enhances stereotypic behavior

Journal of Neurochemistry — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

We examined whether activation of these receptors would alter methamphetamine‐induced behaviour and gene expression. Mu opioid receptor activation intensified methamphetamine‐induced stereotypy and gene expression in the striatum, indicating that the mu opioid system can enhance the behavioural and genomic responses to methamphetamine. (Source: Journal of Neurochemistry)

Rapid, simple, and highly sensitive analysis of drugs in biological samples using thin-layer chromatography coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we examined a simple preparation and highly sensitive analysis of drugs in biological samples such as urine, plasma, and organs using thin-layer chromatography coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (TLC/MALDI/MS). When the urine containing 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) without sample dilution was spotted on a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate and was analyzed by TLC/MALDI/MS, the detection limit of the MDMA spot was 0.05 ng/spot. The value was the same as that in aqueous solution spotted on a stainless steel plate. All the 11 psychotropic compounds tested (MDMA, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, methamphetamine, p-hydroxymethamphetamine, amphetamine, ketamine, caffeine, chlorpromazine, tria...

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Oxytocin directly administered into the nucleus accumbens core or subthalamic nucleus attenuates methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference.

Behavioural Brain Research — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Baracz SJ, Rourke PI, Pardey MC, Hunt GE, McGregor IS, Cornish JL Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXY) may modulate reward-related behavioural responses to methamphetamine (METH) administration. Limited research has examined the effect of OXY on METH-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and little is known about the neural mechanisms involved. A Fos immunohistochemistry study recently demonstrated that peripheral OXY administration reduced METH-induced Fos expression within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core and subthalamic nucleus (STh) in rats. The current study aimed to (i) investigate the effect of systemically administered OXY on METH-induced CPP, (ii) determine the effectiveness of a single-trial CPP procedure with METH, i...

Evaluation of the hydrolytic activity of a long-acting mutant bacterial cocaine in the presence of commonly co-administered drugs

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:57:52 +0100

Conclusions: DM-CocE does not display significant drug interactions, with the exception of diazepam, which may warrant further study as DM-CocE progresses towards a clinically used pharmacotherapy for cocaine toxicity. Alternate benzodiazepines, e.g., midazolam could be used to avoid this potential interaction. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Quantitative assessment of time dependent drug-use trends by the analysis of drugs and related metabolites in raw sewage

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:57:51 +0100

Conclusions: This result is consistent with both an extended excretion half-life and a pattern of use that is more evenly balanced across all days of the week. Comprehensive investigation in to the scale and kinetics of drug flow in a sewage stream can therefore provide valuable information, not only in terms of the volume of drug consumed, but also in terms of identifying differing usage-patterns over daily and weekly time-scales. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Physiological and subjective effects of acute intranasal methamphetamine during extended-release alprazolam maintenance

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:57:51 +0100

Conclusions: The present results demonstrate that methamphetamine use during alprazolam XR treatment would not pose a significant safety risk. Given the potential of GABAA positive modulators to manage certain aspects of stimulant abuse and dependence (i.e., drug-induced seizures, anxiety and stress), but the relatively small impact on the acute abuse-related effects of methamphetamine observed here, additional research with GABAA positive modulators is warranted, but should consider their use as an adjunct component of combination behavioral and/or drug treatment. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Age and sex effects levels of choline compounds in the anterior cingulate cortex of adolescent methamphetamine users

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:57:51 +0100

Conclusions: The altered age-appropriate levels of ACC CHO and poorer executive function in male methamphetamine users suggest methamphetamine abuse may interfere with brain maturation. These periadolescents did not have the abnormal neuronal markers previously reported in adult methamphetamine users, suggesting that neuronal abnormalities may be the result of long-term use or interference in normal cortical maturation, emphasizing the need for early intervention for young methamphetamine users. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

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Demand for Substance Abuse Treatment Related to Use of Crystal Methamphetamine in Ontario: an Observational Study

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:48:23 +0100

We examined MA admissions at addiction treatment agencies to determine if a service gap existed. In 2006, all addiction treatment agencies (n = 124) in Ontario, Canada were invited to complete an on-line survey. The provincial database provided admissions data for 2006–2008. Amongst participants (n = 100), 53% reported an increase in clients with MA problems between 2004 and 2005. Nine percent considered MA to be a significant problem and 60% indicated that MA was a minor problem or not a problem in 2005. Forty-seven percent of participants said that MA problems were more common among males and 60% of MA clients were aged 16–24. Most (89%) agencies integrated MA clients into regular programs and 73% had not considered developing specialized MA programs. MA admissions peake...

Frequent methamphetamine injection predicts emergency department utilization among street-involved youth

Public Health — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Street-involved youth who frequently inject MA appear to be at increased risk of ED utilization. The integration of MA-specific addiction treatment services within emergency care settings for high-risk youth is recommended. (Source: Public Health)

Activation of MU opioid receptors in the striatum differentially augments Methamphetamine‐Induced gene expression and enhances Stereotypic behavior.

Journal of Neurochemistry — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMu opioid receptors are densely expressed in the patch compartment of striatum and contribute to methamphetamine‐induced patch‐enhanced gene expression and stereotypy. In order to further elucidate the role of mu opioid receptor activation in these phenomena, we examined whether activation of mu opioid receptors would enhance methamphetamine‐induced stereotypy and prodynorphin, c‐fos, arc and zif/268 expression in the patch and/or matrix compartments of striatum, as well as the impact of mu opioid receptor activation on the relationship between patch‐enhanced gene expression and stereotypy. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were intrastriatally infused with D‐Ala(2)‐N‐Me‐Phe(4),Gly(5)‐ol]enkephalin (DAMGO; 1 μg/μl), treated with methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) and sacrif...

Implementation of the methamphetamine production prevention act of 2008. Final rule.

Fed Regist — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract In October 2008, the President signed the Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2008 (MPPA), which clarifies the information entry and signature requirements for electronic logbook systems permitted for the retail sale of scheduled listed chemical products. On March 23, 2010, DEA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement the provisions of the MPPA and make its regulations consistent with the new requirements. This action finalizes without change the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on March 23, 2010. The Final Rule will make it easier for regulated sellers to maintain electronic logbooks by allowing greater flexibility as to how information may be captured. PMID: 22145189 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Fed Regist)

Prefrontal hypoactivation during cognitive control in early abstinent methamphetamine-dependent subjects

Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:08:27 +0100

Abstract: Individuals who abuse methamphetamine (MA) perform at levels below those of healthy controls on tests that require cognitive control. As cognitive control deficits may influence the success of treatment for addiction, we sought to help clarify the neural correlates of this deficit. MA-dependent (n=10, abstinent 4–7days) and control subjects (n=18) performed a color-word Stroop task, which requires cognitive control, during functional MRI (fMRI). The task included a condition in which participants were required to respond to one stimulus dimension while ignoring another conflicting dimension, and another condition without conflict. We compared the groups on performance and neural activation in the two conditions. MA-dependent subjects made more errors and responded more slowly t...

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Methamphetamine self‐administration acutely decreases monoaminergic transporter function

Synapse — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, the present manuscript is the first to describe transporter function and METH/AMPH levels after self‐administration in rodents. These data provide a foundation to investigate complex questions including how the response of dopaminergic systems to METH self‐administration contributes to contingent‐related processes such as dependence. Synapse, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. (Source: Synapse)

Is Cognitive Functioning Impaired in Methamphetamine Users? A Critical Review. - Hart CL, Marvin CB, Silver R, Smith EE.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:42:13 +0100

This article addresses an important g... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Infusion Combo No Help in Meth Addiction (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Pediatrics — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:03:27 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- A combination therapy was no better than placebo at reducing methamphetamine abuse, researchers found. (Source: MedPage Today Pediatrics)

Cannabis body packers

The Poison Review — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:38:00 +0100

3 out of 5 stars Cannabis body packing: Two case reports. Spadari M et al. Clin Toxicol 2011;49:862-864. Abstract Cases of body packing usually involve ingestion of packets containing heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Although packers who ingest cannabis packets are dealing with a much less dangerous drug, they are still susceptible to serious adverse effects. This French paper presents two case reports: A 26-year=old man came to the emergency department after swallowing 50 condoms filled with cannabis two days before. On exam he was drowsy but had stable vital signs. An abdominal x-ray showed multiple drug packets in the colon. After he was given sorbitol as a cathartic, the patient eliminated all the packets and was discharged on the third hospital day. A 45-year-old man presente...

Methamphetamine Use Linked to SchizophreniaMethamphetamine Use Linked to Schizophrenia

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:22:15 +0100

Heavy use of methamphetamines may lead to a subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia in patients with no history of psychiatric disorders. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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PROMETAT, A Controversial Methamphetamine Treatment Program, Is Found To Be Ineffective In New Study

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:00:00 +0100

A recent study has found that PROMETAT, a popular but controversial treatment for methamphetamine addiction, is no more effective than placebo in reducing methamphetamine use, keeping users in treatment, or reducing cravings for methamphetamine. The study was funded by Hythiam, the company that owns the PROMETAT protocol, and is published online in the scientific journal Addiction. Methamphetamine, also known as meth, crystal meth, or ice, is the second most abused illicit drug in the world (cannabis is first), with 15-16 million regular users... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Antidepressant mirtazapine shows early promise for meth abuse

Modern Medicine — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:01:26 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The antidepressant mirtazapine (Remeron) may help some methamphetamine addicts curb their use of the drug -- at least in the short term, a small trial suggests. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Is Cognitive Functioning Impaired in Methamphetamine Users? A Critical Review

Neuropsychopharmacology — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Is Cognitive Functioning Impaired in Methamphetamine Users? A Critical Review Neuropsychopharmacology advance online publication, November 16, 2011. doi:10.1038/npp.2011.276 Authors: Carl L Hart, Caroline B Marvin, Rae Silver & Edward E Smith Keywords: addiction & substance abuse; psychostimulants; cognition; learning & memory; methamphetamine; amphetamine; impairment (Source: Neuropsychopharmacology)

Antidepressant shows early promise for meth abuse

Reuters: Health — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:05:50 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The antidepressant mirtazapine may help some methamphetamine addicts curb their use of the drug -- at least in the short term, a small trial suggests. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Methpedia

Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:45:57 +0100

Serves as a "one-stop" shop to get information on preventing methamphetamine use across the United States. Offers webinars, training and TA, and state-level statistics and legislation. -- Methpedia (Source: Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center)

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New study finds that PROMETAT, a controversial methamphetamine treatment program, is ineffective

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Wiley-Blackwell) A recent study has found that PROMETAT, a popular but controversial treatment for methamphetamine addiction, is no more effective than placebo in reducing methamphetamine use, keeping users in treatment, or reducing cravings for methamphetamine. The study was funded by Hythiam, the company that owns the PROMETAT protocol, and is published online today in the scientific journal Addiction. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Double‐blind placebo‐controlled evaluation of the PROMETA™ protocol for methamphetamine dependence

Addiction — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The PROMETA protocol, consisting of flumazenil, gabapentin and hydroxyzine, appears to be no more effective than placebo in reducing methamphetamine use, retaining patients in treatment or reducing methamphetamine craving. (Source: Addiction)

Family dysfunction differentially affects alcohol and methamphetamine dependence - Sugaya N, Haraguchi A, Ogai Y, Senoo E, Higuchi S, Umeno M, Aikawa Y, Ikeda K.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:51:22 +0100

We investigated the differential influence of family dysfunction on alcohol and methamphetamine dependence in Japan using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), a useful instrument that multilaterally measures the severity of substance dependence. The partici... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Antidepressant to Cut Meth Use 'Most Promising' Agent to DateAntidepressant to Cut Meth Use 'Most Promising' Agent to Date

Medscape Today Headlines — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:07:46 +0100

A randomized controlled trial suggests adding an antidepressant to counseling may decrease both methamphetamine use and risky sexual behavior. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Effects of alcohol (BAC 0.5‰) and ecstasy (MDMA 100 mg) on simulated driving performance and traffic safety

Psychopharmacology — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:56:11 +0100

Conclusions The dissociation between subjective perceptions and objective performance decrements are important notions for traffic safety since this may affect a driver’s judgement of whether or not it is safe to drive. For example, an intoxicated individual might decide to drive because the feelings of alertness caused by MDMA cloud the impairing effects of other drugs such as alcohol, thereby creating a potentially serious risk for traffic safety. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-14DOI 10.1007/s00213-011-2537-4Authors Janet L. Veldstra, Department of Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the NetherlandsKarel A. Brookhuis, Department of Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Grote...

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Heavy Meth Use Linked to Schizophrenia

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0100

Researchers say the drug may trigger the mental disorder in susceptible peopleSource: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Schizophrenia (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Increased Risk Of Schizophrenia In Heavy Methamphetamine Users

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0100

In the first worldwide study of its kind, scientists from Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found evidence that heavy methamphetamine users might have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. This finding was based on a large study comparing the risk among methamphetamine users not only to a group that did not use drugs, but also to heavy users of other drugs. The report will be published online on Nov. 8, 2011, at AJP in Advance, the advance edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry, the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A Systematic Review of Behavioral and Treatment Outcome Studies Among HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Abuse Crystal Methamphetamine

AIDS Patient Care and STDs — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:02:10 +0100

AIDS Patient Care and STDs , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: AIDS Patient Care and STDs)

Altered Learning and Arc-Regulated Consolidation of Learning in Striatum by Methamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity

Neuropsychopharmacology — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Elissa D Pastuzyn, David E Chapman, Karen S Wilcox & Kristen A Keefe Keywords: learning and memory; dopamine; neuropharmacology; behavioral science; methamphetamine; Arc; striatum; reversal learning; AP5 (Source: Neuropsychopharmacology)

Methamphetamine tied to schizophrenia: What explains link?

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:01:45 +0100

Heavy meth users shown more likely than abusers of other drugs to be diagnosed with severe mental disorder (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

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CAMH study suggests increased risk of schizophrenia in heavy methamphetamine users

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) In the first worldwide study of its kind, scientists from Toronto's Center for Addiction and Mental Health found evidence that heavy methamphetamine users might have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. This finding was based on a large study comparing the risk among methamphetamine users not only to a group that did not use drugs, but also to heavy users of other drugs. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Methamphetamine Use and Schizophrenia: A Population-Based Cohort Study in California.

The American Journal of Psychiatry — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions:Study limitations include difficulty in confirming schizophrenia diagnoses independent of drug intoxication and the possibility of undetected schizophrenia predating drug exposure. The study's findings suggest that individuals with methamphetamine-related disorders have a higher risk of schizophrenia than those with other drug use disorders, with the exception of cannabis use disorders. The elevated risk in methamphetamine users may be explained by shared etiological mechanisms involved in the development of schizophrenia. PMID: 22193527 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Psychiatry)

Mirtazapine to Reduce Methamphetamine Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial [Original Article]

Archives of General Psychiatry — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion The addition of mirtazapine to substance use counseling decreased methamphetamine use among active users and was associated with decreases in sexual risk despite low to moderate medication adherence. Trial Registration clinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00497081 (Source: Archives of General Psychiatry)

A systematic review of methamphetamine precursor regulations - McKetin R, Sutherland R, Bright DA, Norberg MM.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:28:46 +0100

Aims To assess the effectiveness of methamphetamine precursor regulations in reducing illicit methamphetamine supply and use. Methods A systematic review of 12 databases was used to identify studies that had evaluated the impact of... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Comparison of intranasal methamphetamine and d‐amphetamine self‐administration by humans

Addiction — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Methamphetamine and d‐amphetamines appear to produce a similar dose‐related profile of effects in humans, which supports their equivalence for abuse potential. (Source: Addiction)

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Difficulty Accessing Syringes Mediates the Relationship Between Methamphetamine Use and Syringe Sharing Among Young Injection Drug Users

AIDS and Behavior — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:53:35 +0100

This article is currently available as a free download on ingentaconnect (Source: AIDS and Behavior)

Okla. proposal to make cold tablets prescription-only

CTV Health — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:03:10 +0100

Oklahoma authorities have been at the forefront of the nation's battle against methamphetamine, but they will soon have a tough new opponent: a politically connected, well-heeled pharmaceutical industry. (Source: CTV Health)

Trends in primary methamphetamine-related admissions to youth residential substance abuse treatment facilities in Canada, 2005-2006 and 2009-2010.

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our data show a significant national reduction in methamphetamine-related admissions. Other reports show that methamphetamine-related treatment admissions in the United States and Mexico declined sharply during 2005-2008, reportedly in association with Mexico's methamphetamine precursor chemical controls, raising the possibility that the controls may also be associated with the declines reported here. PMID: 22114924 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Journal of Psychiatry)

Akt1 Deficiency Modulates Reward Learning and Reward Prediction Error in Mice

Genes, Brain and Behavior — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study demonstrated a promising avenue for investigating RPE in mutant mice and provided evidence for the potential link from genetic deficiency, to neurobiological abnormalities, to impairment in higher‐order cognitive functioning. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)

Effect of vitamin C deficiency during postnatal development on adult behavior: functional phenotype of Gulo(–/–) knockout mice

Genes, Brain and Behavior — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Organisms using oxygen for aerobic respiration require antioxidants to balance the production of reaction oxygen species during metabolic processes. Various species––including humans and other primates––suffer mutations in the GULO gene encoding L‐gulono‐γ‐lactone oxidase; GULO is the rate‐limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of ascorbate, an important cellular antioxidant. Animals lacking the ability to synthesize vitamin C develop scurvy without dietary supplementation. The Gulo(–/–) knockout mouse requires oral supplemental vitamin C; without this supplementation the animal dies with a scorbutic condition within several weeks. Vitamin C is known to be most abundant in the brain, where it is believed to play important roles in neuroprotection, neurotransmission, and n...

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Injection methamphetamine use is associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide: A prospective cohort study

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:47:16 +0100

Abstract: Background: Methamphetamine (MA) use is a growing public health concern in many settings around the world. While some physical and mental health effects associated with injection MA use have been well described, little is known about the relationship between injecting MA and suicidal behavior. We sought to determine whether MA injection was associated with an increased risk of attempting suicide among a prospective cohort of injection drug users (IDUs) in Vancouver, Canada.Methods: Between 2001 and 2008, eligible participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) completed semi-annual questionnaires that elicited information regarding sociodemographics, drug use patterns, and mental health problems including suicidal behavior. We used Cox proportional hazar...

Trace Amine Associated Receptor 1 Signaling in Activated Lymphocytes

Journal of NeuroImmune Pharmacology — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:12:31 +0100

This study reports TAAR1 expression, signaling and functionality in rhesus monkey lymphocytes. We detected a high level of TAAR1 protein in immortalized rhesus monkey B cell lines and a significant upregulation of TAAR1 protein expression in rhesus monkey lymphocytes following PHA treatment. Through screening a wide range of signaling pathways for their upregulation following TAAR1 activation by its potent agonist methamphetamine, we identified two transcription factors, CREB and NFAT, which are commonly associated with immune activation. Furthermore, we observed a TAAR1-dependent phosphorylation of PKA and PKC following treatment with methamphetamine in transfected HEK293 cells, immortalized rhesus monkey B cells and PHA-activated rhesus monkey lymphocytes. Accordingly, the high lev...

Design considerations for a study to evaluate the impact of smoking cessation treatment on stimulant use outcomes in stimulant-dependent individuals

Contemporary Clinical Trials — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Cigarette smoking is prevalent in cocaine/methamphetamine-dependent patients and associated with significant morbidity and mortality, yet, the provision of smoking cessation treatment in conjunction with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is not standard practice. This is due, in part, to clinician concern that combining smoking cessation treatment with SUD treatment could lead to poorer SUD outcomes. The NIDA Clinical Trials Network is conducting a 10-week, two-group, randomized trial to evaluate the impact of providing smoking cessation treatment (SCT) with SUD treatment as usual (TAU), compared to TAU alone, in smokers who are in outpatient treatment for cocaine or methamphetamine dependence. Approximately 528 participants, recruited from 12 community treatment programs, w...

Genome‐wide association for methamphetamine sensitivity in an advanced intercross mouse line

Genes, Brain and Behavior — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Sensitivity to the locomotor stimulant effects of methamphetamine is a heritable trait that utilizes neurocircuitry also associated with the rewarding effects of drugs. We used the power of a C57BL/6J x DBA/2J F2 intercross (n = 676) and the precision of a C57BL/6J x DBA/2J F8 advanced intercross line (Aap: B6, D2 – G8; or F8 AIL; n = 552) to identify and narrow quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with sensitivity to the locomotor stimulant effects of methamphetamine. We used the program QTLRel to simultaneously map QTL in the F2 and F8 AIL mice. We identified six genome‐wide significant QTLs associated with locomotor activity at baseline and seven genome‐wide significant QTLs associated with methamphetamine induced locomotor activation. The average percent decrease in QTL width...

Distinct Neurochemical Adaptations Within the Nucleus Accumbens Produced by a History of Self-Administered vs Non-Contingently Administered Intravenous Methamphetamine

Neuropsychopharmacology — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kevin D Lominac, Arianne D Sacramento, Karen K Szumlinski & Tod E Kippin Keywords: addiction & substance abuse; glutamate; dopamine; animal models; methamphetamine; nucleus accumbens; self-administration (Source: Neuropsychopharmacology)

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Low striatal dopamine receptor availability linked to caloric intake during abstinence from chronic methamphetamine abuse

Molecular Psychiatry — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: T Zorick, B Lee, M A Mandelkern, T Fong, C Robertson, D G Ghahremani, A K Brown, B Sumerel & E D London (Source: Molecular Psychiatry)

The acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and d-methamphetamine on human cognitive functioning

Psychopharmacology — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:00:09 +0100

Conclusions Further research into the acute effects of amphetamine preparations is necessary to further quantify the acute disruption of aspects of human functioning crucial to complex activities such as attention, selective memory, and psychomotor performance. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-9DOI 10.1007/s00213-011-2532-9Authors Con Stough, Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, AustraliaRebecca King, Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, AustraliaKatherine Papafotiou, Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, AustraliaPhillip Swann, Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swin...

"High on My Own Supply": Correlates of Drug Dealing among Heterosexually Identified Methamphetamine Users.

American Journal on Addictions — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:27:03 +0100

"High on My Own Supply": Correlates of Drug Dealing among Heterosexually Identified Methamphetamine Users. Am J Addict. 2011 Nov;20(6):516-24 Authors: Semple SJ, Strathdee SA, Volkmann T, Zians J, Patterson TL Abstract Although rates of methamphetamine use continue to increase throughout the United States, little is known about the individuals who sell methamphetamine at the street level. This exploratory study examined the prevalence and correlates of drug-dealing behavior in a sample of 404 heterosexually identified methamphetamine users who were participants in a sexual risk reduction intervention in San Diego, California. Twenty-nine percent of participants (N = 116) reported "dealing" methamphetamine in the past 2 months. In a multivariate logistic regression, methamph...

A Novel, Nonbinary Evaluation of Success and Failure Reveals Bupropion Efficacy Versus Methamphetamine Dependence: Reanalysis of a Multisite Trial.

CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: McCann DJ, Li SH Abstract A multisite, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of bupropion for methamphetamine dependence was reanalyzed using a novel, nonbinary method of evaluating success and failure. The original analysis focused on a group response endpoint (the change in percentage of participants with methamphetamine-free urines each week over the course of the trial) and no significant bupropion effect was observed in the total population of study participants. In this reanalysis, individual participants were regarded as treatment success if they achieved multiple weeks of abstinence lasting through the end of the study, and their degree of success was quantified by calculating the number of beyond-threshold weeks of success (NOBWOS). Thus, setting the threshold at...

Profiling of seized methamphetamine putatively synthesized by reductive amination of 1-phenyl-2-propanone

Forensic Toxicology — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:44:42 +0100

We report a case of seized methamphetamine (MA) samples showing unique drug profiles. Conventional drug profiling such as impurity profiling and chiral analysis as well as stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) was performed on seven MA–HCl samples. The results of impurity profiling suggested that the samples were synthesized by reductive amination. The high enantiomeric purities of the samples suggested that the samples were optically resolved. The δ13C and δ15N values gave different grouping patterns from conventional drug profiling. This is the first case report of the use of IRMS with seized MA samples presumptively synthesized by reductive amination. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportPages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s11419-011-0119-0Authors Kenji Tsujikawa, Nat...

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Mephedrone (4‐methylmethcathinone, ‘meow’): acute behavioural effects and distribution of Fos expression in adolescent rats

Addiction Biology — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

ABSTRACTMephedrone (4‐methylmethcathinone) is a novel recreational drug that has rapidly increased in popularity in recent years. Users report mephedrone as having the stimulant‐like qualities of methamphetamine and cocaine, combined with the prosocial, entactogenic effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Anecdotal and case study reports indicate that mephedrone may have the potential to engender compulsive patterns of use as well as toxicity in overdose. However, there have been almost no neuropharmacological investigations of the drug up to this point. Here we examined the effects of two different mephedrone doses [15 and 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (IP)] relative to the well‐known stimulant methamphetamine (2 mg/kg IP) in adolescent rats. Rats were injected, asses...

Effects of exposure to amphetamine derivatives on passive avoidance performance and the central levels of monoamines and their metabolites in mice: Correlations between behavior and neurochemistry

Psychopharmacology — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:06:35 +0100

Conclusions These studies demonstrate that certain amphetamines impair PA performance in mice and that these impairments may be attributable to specific neurochemical depletions. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-14DOI 10.1007/s00213-011-2504-0Authors Kevin Sean Murnane, Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Yerkes Imaging Center, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30322-4250, USAShane Alan Perrine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USABrendan James Finton, Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Yerkes Imaging Center, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 3...

Gestational IV nicotine produces elevated brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system of adolescent rat offspring

Synapse — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:31:50 +0100

AbstractMaternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with enduring psychopathology, such as increased likelihood of substance use, in offspring. Various animal models demonstrate that continuous nicotine exposure produces teratogenic effects in offspring, as well. In this experiment, a novel intravenous (IV) exposure model was used to determine if gestational nicotine (GN) treatment produced alterations in methamphetamine‐induced sensitization and the expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system of adolescent offspring. Dams were injected with IV saline or nicotine (0.05 mg/kg/injection) three times per day on gestational days 8–21. Habituation was measured on postnatal day (PND) 25–27 and baseline activity on PND 28. On PN...

Lithium attenuates methamphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion and behavioral sensitization via modulation of prefrontal monoamine release.

Neuropharmacology — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Ago Y, Tanaka T, Kita Y, Tokumoto H, Takuma K, Matsuda T Abstract Lithium attenuates psychostimulant-induced hyperactivity and behavioral sensitization, but the exact mechanisms are not known. Previous studies show that lithium has neuromodulatory effects on monoamine systems. The present study was aimed to clarify whether prefrontal monoaminergic neurotransmission is involved in the effect of lithium on methamphetamine (METH)-induced behaviors in mice. Lithium attenuated METH-induced hyperactivity and METH-induced increase in extracellular dopamine (DA), but not serotonin (5-HT), levels in the prefrontal cortex. Chronic METH caused behavioral sensitization and enhancement of METH-induced increase in prefrontal 5-HT release (neurochemical sensitization). Co-administration ...

American Indian methamphetamine and other drug use in the Southwestern United States.

Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

To investigate the extent of methamphetamine and other drug use among American Indians (AIs) in the Four Corners region, we developed collaborations with Southwestern tribal entities and treatment programs in and around New Mexico. We held nine focus groups, mostly with Southwestern AI participants (N = 81) from three diverse New Mexico communities to understand community members, treatment providers, and clients/relatives views on methamphetamine. We conducted a telephone survey of staff (N = 100) from agencies across New Mexico to assess perceptions of methamphetamine use among people working with AI populations. We collected and analyzed self-reported drug use data from 300 AI clients/relatives who completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) in the context of treatment at three diverse...

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The science of designer drugs: essential review

The Poison Review — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:07:49 +0100

4 out of 5 stars Clinical toxicology of newer recreational drugs. Hill SL, Thomas SHL Clin Toxicol 2011;49:705-719. Abstract This essential article will probably be of most interest to chemical structure geeks (like me) and academics, but it is the best review I know that gets granular about the pharmacology of the many new designer drugs. The authors did a comprehensive review of published medical literature involving new designer drugs. (Synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cocaine , and GHB are not covered.) They classify these drugs into four categories: piperazines phenethylamines tryptamines piperidines Piperazines are synthetic chemicals that do no exist in nature. Included in this group is BZP, a sympathomimetic stimulant with effects similar to those of amphetamine. BZP inhibi...

Poor response to sertraline in methamphetamine dependence is associated with sustained craving for methamphetamine

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:01:20 +0100

Conclusions: Some MA-abusing individuals treated with SSRIs have sustained craving with an increased propensity to relapse during treatment despite psychosocial treatment interventions. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Drug dealing cessation among a cohort of drug users in Vancouver, Canada

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:01:19 +0100

Discussion: Intensity of drug use and acquisition method were predictive of dealing cessation. Willingness to cease dealing was associated with a range of risky drug-related activities. Interventions to reduce drug dealing should be conceived in tandem with addiction treatment strategies. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Changes in illicit drug consumption patterns in 2009 detected by wastewater analysis

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:01:19 +0100

Abstract: Background: Wastewater analysis can provide estimates of illicit drug (ID) consumption in local communities.Methods: We used repeated raw wastewater analysis in urban wastewater treatment plants to estimate loads of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis consumed daily by the inhabitants of two cities in Northern Italy, Milan and Como, from 2005 to 2009.Results: Daily cocaine loads did not change in Milan from 2005 to 2008 but fell 45% in 2009 (ANOVA, p (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Application of the conditioned taste aversion paradigm to assess discriminative stimulus properties of psychostimulants in rats

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:01:16 +0100

Conclusion: These results suggest that discriminative stimulus properties of psychostimulants can be evaluated using the CTA paradigm. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

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Use of item response theory and latent class analysis to link poly-substance use disorders with addiction severity, HIV risk, and quality of life among opioid-dependent patients in the Clinical Trials Network

Drug and Alcohol Dependence — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:01:14 +0100

Conclusions: A combined application of categorical and dimensional latent approaches may improve the understanding of comorbid SUDs and their associations with other clinical indicators. Abuse of sedatives and methamphetamine may serve as a useful marker for identifying subsets of opioid-dependent individuals with needs for more intensive interventions. (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA ('ecstasy'), MDA and mCPP modulate electrical and cholinergic input in PC12 cells.

Neurotoxicology — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hondebrink L, Meulenbelt J, Rietjens SJ, Meijer M, Westerink RH Abstract Reversal of the dopamine (DA) membrane transporter is the main mechanism through which many drugs of abuse increase DA levels. However, drug-induced modulation of exocytotic DA release by electrical (depolarization) and neurochemical inputs (e.g., acetylcholine (ACh)) may also contribute. We therefore investigated effects of methamphetamine, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) (1-1000μM) on these inputs by measuring drug-induced changes in basal, depolarization- and ACh-evoked intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) using a dopaminergic model (PC12 cells) and Fura 2 calcium imaging. The strongest ...

Managing 'Meth Mouth'Managing 'Meth Mouth'

Medscape Today Headlines — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:11:35 +0100

The dental consequences and treatment of methamphetamine use are illustrated in this case report. Medscape Dentistry & Oral Health (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Possible effectiveness of intervention using a self‐teaching workbook in adolescent drug abusers detained in a juvenile classification home

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Although the self‐teaching workbook is a convenient intervention tool that can increase subject awareness and motivation for treatment, it is likely that continuous community‐based support systems are required to prevent relapse. (Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences)

Delaware bans drugs known as "bath salts"

Reuters: Health — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:22:58 +0100

(Reuters) - Delaware issued an emergency order on Friday banning drugs known as bath salts, powerful stimulants that can mimic the effects of cocaine, LSD or methamphetamine, Governor Jack Markell said. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Brain regions mediating α3β4 nicotinic antagonist effects of 18-MC on nicotine self-administration.

European Journal of Pharmacology — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:11:11 +0100

Authors: Glick SD, Sell EM, McCallum SE, Maisonneuve IM Abstract 18-Methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), a putative anti-addictive agent, has been shown to decrease the self-administration of several drugs of abuse in rats. 18-MC is a potent antagonist at α3β4 nicotinic receptors. Consistent with high densities of α3β4 nicotinic receptors being located in the medial habenula and the interpeduncular nucleus, 18-MC has been shown to act in these regions to decrease both morphine and methamphetamine self-administration. The present study was conducted to determine if 18-MC's effect on nicotine self-administration is mediated by acting in these same brain regions. Because moderate densities of α3β4 receptors occur in the dorsolateral tegmentum, ventral tegmental area, and basolateral amy...

Delaware mulls ban on so-called bath salts

Reuters: Health — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:59:19 +0100

(Reuters) - Delaware is moving to ban so-called bath salts, powerful stimulants that can mimic the effects of cocaine, LSD or methamphetamine, officials said on Thursday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Maintaining class, producing gender: Enhancement discourses about amphetamine in entertainment media

International Journal of Drug Policy — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: In reality, American cultural and political–economic contexts may encourage the use of amphetamine to meet a variety of social expectations and economic needs. However, many policy and prevention efforts surrounding amphetamine use disproportionately target methamphetamine users and women. Because policy and prevention efforts can be influenced as much by social values as by data, it is important to examine the many arenas in which social values are produced and disseminated. (Source: International Journal of Drug Policy)

Running wheel exercise ameliorates methamphetamine‐induced damage to dopamine and serotonin terminals

Synapse — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

AbstractRepeated administration of methamphetamine (mAMPH) to rodents in a single‐day “binge” produces long‐lasting damage to dopaminergic and serotonergic terminals. Because previous research has demonstrated that physical activity can ameliorate nigrostriatal injury, the present study investigated whether voluntary exercise in rats can alter the monoaminergic damage resulting from a neurotoxic mAMPH binge.Adult male rats were allowed constant access to running wheels or kept in non‐wheel cages for 3 weeks, then given a binge dosing regimen of mAMPH or saline. The rats were returned to their original environments for 3 additional weeks post‐mAMPH. [125I]RTI‐55 binding and autoradiography was used to quantify dopamine transporters (DAT), and radioimmunocytochemistry was used ...

Exploratory studies in sensory reinforcement in male rats: Effects of methamphetamine.

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Understanding sensory reinforcement and the effects of stimulant drugs on sensory reinforcers is potentially important for understanding their influence on addiction processes. Experiment 1 explored the reinforcing properties of a visual stimulus and the effects of methamphetamine (METH) on responding maintained by a visual reinforcer (VRF) in male rats. Snout poke responses to the active alternative produced the VRF according to variable interval (VI) schedules of reinforcement, and responses to an inactive alternative had no programmed effect. Experiment 2 explored the effects of METH on choice between the VRF and a water reinforcer (H2ORF) using concurrent VI schedules in male rats. In Experiment 1, response-contingent onset of the VRF produced an increase in both the relative frequency...

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A direct comparison of the behavioral and physiological effects of methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans. - Kirkpatrick MG, Gunderson EW, Perez AY, Haney M, Foltin RW, Hart CL.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:20:07 +0100

RATIONALE: Despite their chemical similarities, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produce differing neurochemical and behavioral responses in animals. In humans, individual studies of methamphetamine and MDMA indicate that the dr... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Injection methamphetamine use is associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide: A prospective cohort study. - Marshall BD, Galea S, Wood E, Kerr T.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:20:07 +0100

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine (MA) use is a growing public health concern in many settings around the world. While some physical and mental health effects associated with injection MA use have been well described, little is known about the relationship betwe... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

The effect of a novel VMAT2 inhibitor, GZ-793A, on methamphetamine reward in rats

Psychopharmacology — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:24:08 +0100

Conclusions These results indicate that VMAT2 is a viable target for pharmacological inhibition of METH reward and that GZ-793A represents a new lead in the discovery of a treatment for METH abuse. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationPages 1-9DOI 10.1007/s00213-011-2488-9Authors Joshua S. Beckmann, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky, 741 S. Limestone, BBSRB, Room B343, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, USAEmily D. Denehy, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky, 741 S. Limestone, BBSRB, Room B343, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, USAGuangrong Zheng, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USAPeter A. Crooks, Department ...

NIDA Avant-Garde-Medications Development Award winners announced

National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:03:00 +0100

Scientists proposing to develop vaccines against methamphetamine and nicotine have been selected to receive NIDA's second Avant-Garde Awards for Innovative Medication Development Research. The two scientists, Dr. Thomas Kosten, of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and Dr. Peter Burkhard, of the University of Connecticut, Storrs, will each receive $500,000 per year for five years to support their research, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)

MedWorm: Methamphetamine

Addicted to Drugs? Blame It on Brain Anatomy

Does Alexithymia Explain Variation in Cue-Elicited Craving Reported by Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals?

Anthrax-killing foam proves effective in meth lab cleanup

Reducing widespread pipe sharing and risky sex among crystal methamphetamine smokers in Toronto: do safer smoking kits have a potential role to play?

Death from MDPV-associated excited delirium

How Stimulants Work To Control Hyperactivity

Effects of Neonatal Methamphetamine and Thioperamide Exposure on Spatial Memory Retention and Circadian Activity Later in Life.

A Review of the Literature on Event-Level Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

The acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and methamphetamine on driving: A simulator study.

Behavioral inhibition in mice bred for high vs. low levels of methamphetamine consumption or sensitization

Agmatine attenuates methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in rats.

Effect of vitamin C deficiency during postnatal development on adult behavior: functional phenotype of Gulo(−/−) knockout mice

Meth360 Information Kit

Visual memory in methamphetamine-dependent individuals: deficient strategic control of encoding and retrieval.

The effects of low-dose methamphetamine pretreatment on endoplasmic reticulum stress and methamphetamine neurotoxicity in the rat midbrain

The acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and methamphetamine on driving: A simulator study. - Stough C, Downey LA, King R, Papafotiou K, Swann P, Ogden E.

Sigma-1 receptors: Potential Targets for the Treatment of Substance Abuse.

The glial cell modulators, ibudilast and its amino analog, AV1013, attenuate methamphetamine locomotor activity and its sensitization in mice.

Microfluidic chip based nano liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of abused drugs and metabolites in human hair.

Potential Target Identified For Anti-Craving Medications

Juvenile but not adult methamphetamine exposure improves performance in the Morris Water Maze in male rats.

CAMH discovery identifies potential target for anti-craving medications

Methamphetamine-induced dopamine terminal deficits in the nucleus accumbens are exacerbated by reward-associated cues and attenuated by CB1 receptor antagonism.

Crude new meth recipe overburdening some U.S. hospitals

Serotonin Syndrome Associated With MDPV Use: A Case Report. - Mugele J, Nanagas KA, Tormoehlen LM.

A genetic animal model of differential sensitivity to methamphetamine reinforcement.

Drunk versus drugged: How different are the drivers?

Reciprocal inhibitory effects of intravenous d-methamphetamine self-administration and wheel activity in rats

Commentary on Ling et al. (2012): The PROMETA™ treatment does not reduce methamphetamine use

Table of Contents

Implementation and Evaluation of a Harm-Reduction Model for Clinical Care of Substance Using Pregnant Women

Impaired Cognitive Performance in Subjects with Methamphetamine Dependence during Exposure to Neutral versus Methamphetamine-Related Cues.

Foreword

Methamphetamine: History, Pathophysiology, Adverse Health Effects, Current Trends, and Hazards Associated with the Clandestine Manufacture of Methamphetamine

Treatments for Methamphetamine Abuse: A Literature Review for the Clinician

Determination of methamphetamine in neonatal hair and meconium samples: estimation of fetal drug abuse during pregnancy

Why Is Obesity So Hard to Defeat?

Monoclonal antibodies as pharmacokinetic antagonists for the treatment of (+)-methamphetamine addiction.

ADHD Animal Model Characterization: Transcriptomics and Proteomics Analyses

Psychiatric Implications of Adolescent Methamphetamine Exposures. - Auten JD, Matteucci MJ, Gaspary MJ, Combs DJ, Clark RF.

Mental health disorders in children of non-drug-abusing parents: A sample from a rural community devastated by methamphetamine. - Asanbe CB, Hall C, Bolden C.

Interaction of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Methamphetamine During Metabolism by In Vitro Human Metabolic Enzymes and in Rats - Kuwayama K, Tsujikawa K, Miyaguchi H, Kanamori T, Iwata YT, Inoue H.

Methamphetamine-using parents: the relationship between parental role strain and depressive symptoms. - Semple SJ, Strathdee SA, Zians J, Patterson TL.

Possible effectiveness of intervention using a self-teaching workbook in adolescent drug abusers detained in a juvenile classification home. - Matsumoto T, Chiba Y, Imamura F, Kobayashi O, Wada K.

Role of sigma receptors in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. - Kaushal N, Matsumoto RR.

Drug Interactions between Common Illicit Drugs and Prescription Therapies.

More Than Other Drugs, Injected Meth Is Associated With An Increased Risk Of Attempted Suicide

A Comparison of Rural and Urban Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Users' Lifetime and Recent Drug Use.

Meth Users Much More Likely to Try Suicide

Methamphetamine has changed the profile of patients utilizing psychiatric emergency services in Iran - Zarghami M.

Injected meth linked to suicide attempts

Levels of Neural Progenitors in the Hippocampus Predicts Memory Impairment and Relapse to Drug Seeking as a Function of Excessive Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Interaction of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Methamphetamine During Metabolism by In Vitro Human Metabolic Enzymes and in Rats*

Protective effects of the antioxidant sulforaphane on behavioral changes and neurotoxicity in mice after the administration of methamphetamine

Reinstatement of methamphetamine seeking in male and female rats treated with modafinil and allopregnanolone

Male injection drug users try new drugs following U.S. deportation to Tijuana, Mexico

Modafinil for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence

Increased risk of Parkinson's disease in individuals hospitalized with conditions related to the use of methamphetamine or other amphetamine-type drugs

Melatonin as a Neuroprotective Agent in the Rodent Models of Parkinson’s Disease: Is it All Set to Irrefutable Clinical Translation?

More than other drugs, injected meth is associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide

Distinct roles of dopamine D3 receptors in modulating methamphetamine‐induced behavioral sensitization and ultrastructural plasticity in the shell of the nucleus accumbens

Mephedrone, an Abused Psychoactive Component of “Bath Salts” and Methamphetamine Congener, Does not Cause Neurotoxicity to Dopamine Nerve Endings of the Striatum

Mephedrone, an abused psychoactive component of ‘bath salts’ and methamphetamine congener, does not cause neurotoxicity to dopamine nerve endings of the striatum

A Systematic Review of Behavioral and Treatment Outcome Studies Among HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Abuse Crystal Methamphetamine

Mesopontine rostromedial tegmental nucleus neurons projecting to the dorsal raphe and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus: psychostimulant-elicited Fos expression and collateralization.

Comparison of intranasal methamphetamine and d-amphetamine self-administration by humans. - Kirkpatrick MG, Gunderson EW, Johanson CE, Levin FR, Foltin RW, Hart CL.

Inhibitory effects of dopamine on spinal synaptic transmission via D1‐like receptors in neonatal rats

Topiramate for the treatment of methamphetamine addiction: a multi‐center placebo‐controlled trial

Woman spends six hours cooking meth inside Walmart before anyone takes notice and calls police

Dissociable role of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene deletion in methamphetamine self-administration and cue-induced relapsing behavior in mice

Enantiomeric separation of some common controlled stimulants by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

GABA, glutamate, dopamine and serotonin transporters expression on memory formation and amnesia.

Suppression of endogenous PPARγ increases vulnerability to methamphetamine-induced injury in mouse nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway

Activation of mu opioid receptors in the striatum differentially augments methamphetamine‐induced gene expression and enhances stereotypic behavior

Rapid, simple, and highly sensitive analysis of drugs in biological samples using thin-layer chromatography coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

Oxytocin directly administered into the nucleus accumbens core or subthalamic nucleus attenuates methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference.

Evaluation of the hydrolytic activity of a long-acting mutant bacterial cocaine in the presence of commonly co-administered drugs

Quantitative assessment of time dependent drug-use trends by the analysis of drugs and related metabolites in raw sewage

Physiological and subjective effects of acute intranasal methamphetamine during extended-release alprazolam maintenance