Drug Facts in Media

Scientists have identified a potential pathway to pain relief that neither triggers addiction nor causes hallucinations.

Marijuana (cannabis) is well known for giving people the 'munchies.' Not only does it make people want to eat more, but it also makes them crave the tastiest, most high-calorie foods. Now a new study shows that well-studied nematode worms (C. elegans) react to those chemicals known as cannabinoids in precisely the same way.

A previous study confirmed that chronic use of cannabis may greatly impact male fertility and reproductive outcomes in nonhuman primates -- but it was unclear whether the effects are permanent. Now, new research has confirmed that discontinuing use of THC can at least partly reverse these effects, according to a new study.

By combing through genomic data of over 1 million people of European or African descent, scientists have identified genes commonly inherited across addiction disorders, regardless of the substance being used. This dataset -- one of largest and most diverse of its kind -- may help reveal new treatment targets across multiple substance use disorders, including for people diagnosed with more than one. The findings also reinforce the role of the dopamine system in addiction, by showing that the combination of genes underlying addiction disorders was also associated with regulation of dopamine signaling.

Hair analysis could be the key to understanding adolescent drug usage, as a new study uncovers almost double the number of children were found to be using substances than those who admitted to in a US survey.

Psychostimulants interacting with the dopamine transporter are found in the therapy of neuro-psychiatric disorders, such as ADHD or depression, as well as on the illicit drug market. In order to better understand their exact mode of action and undesirable effects, a research team has been working on the question of why different substances in this group of substances have different effects: According to their results the answer lies in the respective binding time of the substances to the dopamine transporter. This study has just been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).