Recreational Drugs And Memory Lapses
Have you ever forgotten to post an important letter or let an appointment slip your mind? A new study from UK researchers suggests that for those who regularly use ecstasy or other recreational drugs, this kind of memory lapse is more common. Their research, which uncovered potential links between memory deficits and cocaine for the first time, appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE. Florentia Hadjiefthyvoulou, John Fisk, and Nikola Bridges from the University of Central Lancashire and Catharine Montgomery from Liverpool John Moores University wanted to delve deeper into the link between deficits in prospective memory (remembering to remember, or remembering to perform an intended action) and drug use.
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners And The National Institute On Drug Abuse Plan To Initiate U.S. Phase II b Clinical Trial For Cocaine Addiction
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (NasdaqCM: CPRX) announced that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to conduct a U.S. Phase II(b) clinical trial evaluating CPP-109, Catalyst's formulation of vigabatrin, for the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is anticipated that NIDA, under their agreement with Veteran's Administration Cooperative Studies Program, will provide substantial resources for the trial and that Catalyst will contribute approximately $2.5 million in resources as part of the estimated $10 million trial cost. "We believe that support from NIDA further validates our enthusiasm of the potential for CPP-109 to help solve the global problem of cocaine addiction, " said Patrick J.
RCN Calls For Mandatory Code On Alcohol Labelling, Wales
The Royal College of Nursing welcomed the launch of a UK-wide consultation on the labelling of alcohol. Tina Donnelly, Director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales said: "Alcohol is destroying our nation's health on a short term and long term basis. We are shocked that the drinks industry has failed to take action on alcohol labelling." "The Welsh Assembly Government launched Working Together to reduce harm - the strategy for substance misuse 2008-2018. The RCN fully supports the implementation of the accompanying action plan including the steps to improve health services for those with alcohol problems and improve public education." "RCN Wales also believes the Welsh Assembly Government should seek the powers to reduce licensing hours, regulate printed advertising material and control the accessibility of alcohol itself.
Obama Administration Issues Rules Requiring Parity In Treatment Of Mental, Substance Use Disorders
The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders. "The rules we are issuing today will, for the first time, help assure that those diagnosed with these debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disorders will not suffer needless or arbitrary limits on their care, " said Secretary Sebelius. "I applaud the long-standing and bipartisan effort that made these important new protections possible." "Today's rules will bring needed relief to families faced with meeting the cost of obtaining mental health and substance abuse services, " said U.
UBC Researcher Finds Improved Uptake Of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
A comprehensive population-based study, conducted by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) and presented at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in San Francisco, shows that expanded highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) coverage was associated with a 50% decrease in new yearly HIV infections among injection drug users. These results were temporally related to an outreach effort specifically targeting injection drug users. In addition, increased HAART coverage was associated with a decrease in the community HIV plasma viral load in British Columbia. Providing HAART treatment to HIV-infected drug users has been strongly debated by researchers and clinicians.
Drinkaware Response To DCSF Half-term Crackdown On Underage Drinking, UK
Reacting to a Government campaign which aims to educate and support young people to make sensible decisions about alcohol, especially during the school holidays, Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, says: "For young people, boredom and drinking alcohol often goes hand in hand - nearly one in 10 young people aged 16 and 17 (8 per cent) drink at least once a week just because they are bored*. During school holidays and half term young people can find themselves with nothing to do, so it is very important that parents remind teenagers they can have fun without alcohol. Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's attitudes towards alcohol, often without even realising it.
Alcohol, Energy Drinks Add Up To Higher Intoxication Levels, Increased Driving Risk
Energy drinks, favored among young people for the beverages' caffeine jolt, also play a lead role in several popular alcoholic drinks, such as Red Bull and vodka. But combining alcohol and energy drinks may create a dangerous mix, according to University of Florida research. In a study of college-aged adults exiting bars, patrons who consumed energy drinks mixed with alcohol had a threefold increased risk of leaving a bar highly intoxicated and were four times more likely to intend to drive after drinking than bar patrons who drank alcohol only. The study appears in the April issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors. "Previous laboratory research suggests that when caffeine is mixed with alcohol it overcomes the sedating effects of alcohol and people may perceive that they are less intoxicated than they really are, " said the study's lead researcher Dennis Thombs, an associate professor in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions' department of behavioral science and community health.
New Proposed Changes Posted For Leading Manual Of Mental Disorders
The American Psychiatric Association today released the proposed draft diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The draft criteria represent content changes under consideration for DSM, which is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health and other health professionals, and is used for diagnostic and research purposes. "These draft criteria represent a decade of work by the APA in reviewing and revising DSM, " said APA President Alan Schatzberg, M.D. "But it is important to note that DSM-5 is still very much a work in progress - and these proposed revisions are by no means final.
Government Of Canada Works With Nova Scotia To Help Prevent Young People From Using Illicit Drugs
Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, announced today the Government of Canada's support for a project that will help prevent rural youth in Nova Scotia from taking illicit drugs. Greg Kerr made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "The Government of Canada is proud to be working with provinces and communities across the country to help prevent illicit drug use among youth, " said Minister Aglukkaq. "This project will provide communities in Nova Scotia with the tools they need to educate young people about the negative consequences of using drugs." The project Young people and drugs: Scenes through the smoke screen will help the Tri-County Women's Centre and its partners develop, implement and promote activities aimed at preventing illicit drug use among rural community youth.
Government Of Canada Invests In Research To Help Prevent Violence
Three new regional research centres that will study violence and ways to prevent it will receive almost $6 million over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, made the announcement at a national roundtable that brought together leading Canadian researchers on violence, gender and health research. "Violence is a major public health and human rights problem in Canada and around the world, " said Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq. "By funding these innovative research centres, we hope to make strides in eliminating violence in our society and help Canadians overcome the devastating effects of violence on physical and mental health .