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Monthly Archives: July 2009

Urine and Plasma Pharmacokinetics of Lofexidine after Oral Delivery in Opiate-Dependent Patients.

Conclusion: Although preliminary due to the limited number of subjects, these findings are the first to document lofexidine urine pharmacokinetics in opiate addicts using a highly sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric analysis. PMID: 19637105 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

The Anticonvulsant Zonisamide Reduces Ethanol Self-Administration by Risky Drinkers.

Conclusion: These results indicate that a single dose of zonisamide reduces urge to drink and the quantity of ethanol self-administered by risky drinkers during their second hour of access to alcohol. Scientific Significance: Zonisamide may help individuals drinking at risky levels reduce their intake of alcohol. PMID: 19637104 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

Substance Use, Childhood Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Risk Behavior among Women in Methadone Treatment.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that CSA is related to unprotected sexual occasions depending on drug type and severity of use. Scientific Significance: Women with CSA using cocaine are at particularly high risk for having unprotected sex and should be specifically targeted for HIV prevention interventions

Medical versus Spiritual Orientations: Differential Patient Views toward Recovery.

Conclusions: Patients may have differing perceptions regarding routes to recovery based on preferences for professional services or spiritual resources. PMID: 19637102 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

Patient and Provider Attitudes towards Monitored Naltrexone Treatment of Alcohol Dependence in Schizophrenia.

Conclusions: Most participants with schizophrenia liked participating in a clinical trial of directly observed naltrexone treatment for alcohol dependence, and found incentives for attendance, frequent staff contact and monitoring of drinking, and motivational counseling to be the most helpful.

Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors among Male and Female HIV-Seronegative Heterosexual Methamphetamine Users.

Conclusion: These differences suggest the importance of crafting gender-specific intervention messages, and they may contribute to identifying individuals at risk for initiating MA use. Scientific Significance: Our findings contribute to our knowledge of gender differences in behaviors and effects of MA use among heterosexuals. Future studies would benefit from collection of longitudinal data (to assess causal relationships) and use of a control group (to distinguish correlates of MA use from those of drug use in general)

Time-Dependent Neuroendocrine Alterations and Drug Craving during the First Month of Abstinence in Heroin Addicts.

Conclusions: Abnormal alterations in the neuroendocrine system, including levels of cortisol, ACTH and beta-EP persist throughout the first month of abstinence. These results suggest that neuroendocrine system dysfunctions in heroin abusers is independent of the acute and protracted withdrawal syndromes, and may thus contribute to relapse to heroin use.

Does Taking Steps to Control One’s Drug Use Predict Entry into Treatment?

Conclusions and Scientific Significance: These findings suggest that practicing behaviors to control one’s drug use may be a beneficial strategy for getting ready for treatment. PMID: 19579093 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

Treatment Entry among Individuals on a Waiting List for Methadone Maintenance.

Conclusions: Additional research is needed on the relationship between motivation and treatment entry.

Decreased Amygdala Activation during Risk Taking in Non-Dependent Habitual Alcohol Users: A Preliminary fMRI Study of the Stop Signal Task.

Conclusions and Significance: Altered amygdala activation during risk taking may be a key neural process underlying early habitual alcohol use and a potential marker mediating transition to alcohol dependence. PMID: 19579091 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)