Drug and Alcohol Rehab Blog
Monday, March 15, 2010
Study Says Marijuana Ineffective in Treating Alzheimer Patients
The reputed benefits of medical marijuana in assuaging or reversing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are being questioned by a new study. The study, published earlier this month in the journal Current Alzheimer Research, was conducted by scientists at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.
Scientists started the study hoping to support recent research indicating that marijuana might be an effective ally in battling Alzheimer’s. Not only were researchers unable to confirm earlier indications that marijuana might aid in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, but they also discovered some detrimental effects connected with using the drug as a treatment.
"As scientists, we begin every study hoping to be able to confirm beneficial effects of potential therapies, and we hoped to confirm this for the use of medical marijuana in treating Alzheimer's disease," lead researcher Dr. Weihong Song said in an article on ScienceDaily. "But we didn't see any benefit at all. Instead, our study pointed to some detrimental effects. "
Scientists started the study hoping to support recent research indicating that marijuana might be an effective ally in battling Alzheimer’s. Not only were researchers unable to confirm earlier indications that marijuana might aid in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, but they also discovered some detrimental effects connected with using the drug as a treatment.
"As scientists, we begin every study hoping to be able to confirm beneficial effects of potential therapies, and we hoped to confirm this for the use of medical marijuana in treating Alzheimer's disease," lead researcher Dr. Weihong Song said in an article on ScienceDaily. "But we didn't see any benefit at all. Instead, our study pointed to some detrimental effects. "
Labels: medical marijuana
posted by Drug-Rehab.com at 3:48 AM
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Drug and Alcohol Rehab Blog
Friday, March 12, 2010
Lack of Sleep Linked to Teen Drug Use
A new study has established a link between sleep deprivation and teen drug use. According to researchers at the University of San Diego and Harvard University, teens who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to use illegal drugs.
The study authors commented: "Adolescents are embedded in complex social networks and are especially vulnerable to peer effects -- possibly not only with respect to drugs, but also with respect to sleep."
(Source: news.yahoo.com)
- For the study, the researchers tracked the drug use and sleep patterns of more than 8,000 teens.
- The researchers found that social networks significantly influenced both sleep patterns and drug use among study participants.
- For example, teens with a friend who sleeps less than seven hours per night are 11 percent more likely to sleep less than seven hours per night.
- In addition, teens with a friend who sleeps less than seven hours per night are 19 percent more likely to use marijuana.
The study authors commented: "Adolescents are embedded in complex social networks and are especially vulnerable to peer effects -- possibly not only with respect to drugs, but also with respect to sleep."
(Source: news.yahoo.com)
Labels: drugs, sleep deprivation
posted by Drug-Rehab.com at 5:43 AM
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Drug and Alcohol Rehab Blog
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
New Hope for Addiction Treatment: Growing New Nerve Cells in the Brain
In a recent study, researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center found that blocking neurogenesis -- the normal growth of new nerve cells in the brain -- made rodents more vulnerable to addiction and relapse.
Researchers are hoping that the opposite effect -- facilitating neurogenesis -- may improve addiction treatment and relapse prevention in humans.
"More research will be needed to test this hypothesis, but treatments that increase adult neurogenesis may prevent addiction before it starts, which would be especially important for patients treated with potentially addictive medications," said Dr. Amelia Eisch, associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study.
The study, which is the first to link addiction with neurogenesis in a specific part of the brain, appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Researchers are hoping that the opposite effect -- facilitating neurogenesis -- may improve addiction treatment and relapse prevention in humans.
"More research will be needed to test this hypothesis, but treatments that increase adult neurogenesis may prevent addiction before it starts, which would be especially important for patients treated with potentially addictive medications," said Dr. Amelia Eisch, associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study.
The study, which is the first to link addiction with neurogenesis in a specific part of the brain, appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Labels: addiction, brain_chemistry, relapse
posted by Drug-Rehab.com at 11:19 PM
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Drug and Alcohol Rehab Blog
Monday, March 8, 2010
Marijuana Use Increases Among Older Adults
According to data from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), marijuana use among older adults is increasing as baby boomers age.
"When you think about people who are 50 and older, you don't generally think of them as using illicit drugs," Pete Delany, SAMHSA's director of applied studies, said in a Feb. 22 Associated Press article. "As a nation, it's important to us to say, 'It's not just young people using drugs, it's older people using drugs.'"
- The number of older adults reporting marijuana use in the prior year increased from 1.9 percent to 2.9 percent between 2002 and 2008.
- The most significant increase occurred among 55- to 59-year-olds; in 2002, approximately 1.6 percent of respondents reported prior-year use of marijuana, compared with 5.1 percent in 2008.
"When you think about people who are 50 and older, you don't generally think of them as using illicit drugs," Pete Delany, SAMHSA's director of applied studies, said in a Feb. 22 Associated Press article. "As a nation, it's important to us to say, 'It's not just young people using drugs, it's older people using drugs.'"
Labels: baby boomers, marijuana
posted by Drug-Rehab.com at 11:14 PM
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Drug and Alcohol Rehab Blog
Friday, March 5, 2010
Growing New Nerve Cells in the Brain -- A New Hope for Addiction Treatment
In a recent study, researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center found that blocking neurogenesis -- the normal growth of new nerve cells in the brain -- made rodents more vulnerable to addiction and relapse. Researchers are hoping that the opposite effect -- facilitating neurogenesis -- may help treat addiction and relapse in humans.
Dr. Amelia Eisch, associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study, commented on the findings: "More research will be needed to test this hypothesis, but treatments that increase adult neurogenesis may prevent addiction before it starts, which would be especially important for patients treated with potentially addictive medications."
She continued, "Additionally, treatments that increase adult neurogenesis during abstinence might prevent relapse. If we can create and implement therapies that prevent addiction from happening in the first place, we can improve the length and quality of life for millions of drug abusers, and all those affected by an abuser's behavior."
The study, which is the first to link addiction with neurogenesis in a specific part of the brain, appears in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Dr. Amelia Eisch, associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study, commented on the findings: "More research will be needed to test this hypothesis, but treatments that increase adult neurogenesis may prevent addiction before it starts, which would be especially important for patients treated with potentially addictive medications."
She continued, "Additionally, treatments that increase adult neurogenesis during abstinence might prevent relapse. If we can create and implement therapies that prevent addiction from happening in the first place, we can improve the length and quality of life for millions of drug abusers, and all those affected by an abuser's behavior."
The study, which is the first to link addiction with neurogenesis in a specific part of the brain, appears in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: addiction treatment, brain_chemistry
posted by Drug-Rehab.com at 8:21 AM
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Drug and Alcohol Rehab Blog
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Marijuana Ineffective in Treating Alzheimer Patients, Study Finds
The reputed benefits of marijuana in assuaging or reversing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are being questioned by a new study. The study, published earlier this month in the journal Current Alzheimer Research, was conducted by scientists at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.
Scientists started the study hoping to support recent research indicating that marijuana might be an effective ally in battling Alzheimer's. Not only were researchers unable to confirm earlier indications that marijuana might aid in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, but they also discovered some detrimental effects connected with using the drug as a treatment.
Lead researcher Dr. Weihong Song, Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's disease and a professor of psychiatry in the UBC Faculty of Medicine, commented on the findings: "As scientists, we begin every study hoping to be able to confirm beneficial effects of potential therapies, and we hoped to confirm this for the use of medical marijuana in treating Alzheimer's disease. But we didn't see any benefit at all.
"Instead, our study pointed to some detrimental effects. Our study shows that [cannabinoids have] no biological or behavioural effect on the established Alzheimer's disease model. More studies should be done before we place much hope in marijuana's benefits for Alzheimer's patients."
(Source: sciencedaily.com)
Scientists started the study hoping to support recent research indicating that marijuana might be an effective ally in battling Alzheimer's. Not only were researchers unable to confirm earlier indications that marijuana might aid in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, but they also discovered some detrimental effects connected with using the drug as a treatment.
Lead researcher Dr. Weihong Song, Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's disease and a professor of psychiatry in the UBC Faculty of Medicine, commented on the findings: "As scientists, we begin every study hoping to be able to confirm beneficial effects of potential therapies, and we hoped to confirm this for the use of medical marijuana in treating Alzheimer's disease. But we didn't see any benefit at all.
"Instead, our study pointed to some detrimental effects. Our study shows that [cannabinoids have] no biological or behavioural effect on the established Alzheimer's disease model. More studies should be done before we place much hope in marijuana's benefits for Alzheimer's patients."
(Source: sciencedaily.com)
Labels: alzheimer's disease, marijuana
posted by Drug-Rehab.com at 8:17 AM
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Drug and Alcohol Rehab Blog
Monday, March 1, 2010
Marijuana Use Increases Among Older Adults
According to data from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), marijuana use among older adults is increasing as baby boomers age.
The number of older adults reporting marijuana use in the prior year increased from 1.9 percent to 2.9 percent between 2002 and 2008. The most significant increase occurred among 55- to 59-year-olds; in 2002, approximately 1.6 percent of respondents reported prior-year use of marijuana, compared with 5.1 percent in 2008.
Approximately 78 million American adults are included in the baby boomer generation. The group is comprised of adults who came of age in the 1960s and 1970s, when recreational drug use first became widespread in American culture. For many boomers, marijuana never carried the stigma that it did for other generations.
Pete Delany, director of applied studies at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, commented on drug use by older generations: "When you think about people who are 50 and older, you don't generally think of them as using illicit drugs -- the occasional Hunter Thompson or the kind of hippie-dippie guy that gets a lot of press maybe. As a nation, it's important to us to say, 'It's not just young people using drugs, it's older people using drugs.'"
(Source: nctimes.com)
The number of older adults reporting marijuana use in the prior year increased from 1.9 percent to 2.9 percent between 2002 and 2008. The most significant increase occurred among 55- to 59-year-olds; in 2002, approximately 1.6 percent of respondents reported prior-year use of marijuana, compared with 5.1 percent in 2008.
Approximately 78 million American adults are included in the baby boomer generation. The group is comprised of adults who came of age in the 1960s and 1970s, when recreational drug use first became widespread in American culture. For many boomers, marijuana never carried the stigma that it did for other generations.
Pete Delany, director of applied studies at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, commented on drug use by older generations: "When you think about people who are 50 and older, you don't generally think of them as using illicit drugs -- the occasional Hunter Thompson or the kind of hippie-dippie guy that gets a lot of press maybe. As a nation, it's important to us to say, 'It's not just young people using drugs, it's older people using drugs.'"
(Source: nctimes.com)
Labels: baby boomers, marijuana
posted by Drug-Rehab.com at 8:15 AM
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