Drugs Information
Addiction Advisor .co.uk provide free medical information, research articles and news on drug and alcohol addictions to help inform professionals. Below are a selection of news articles, academic research papers and information articles relating to drugs.
When we think about drug abuse, we rarely consider it as a disease. However, more and more research is being produced that states that addiction is a disease (Chandler, Fletcher, & Volkow, 2009), and that if we are able to discover ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
People have always assumed a link between addiction and crime. It is relatively understandable why people jump to this conclusion, in the case of illicit drugs, the mere action is in fact a crime. However it is not just illeg ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
Addiction can be a progressive illness; it can change in line with our culture and social situations. People are beginning to experience addictions in new ways and are becoming addicted to new things as ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
Recent news shows that a television company in the US is trading treatment opportunities for the chance to document addicts at their weakest moment (ABC News, 2008). The success of this endeavor could be a sign that in many cases a ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
When we consider those suffering from addiction, we may often think of disheveled individuals who will do anything in order to obtain their next 'fix', and we may feel sorry for that individual or anger towards them and how they are hurt ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
We are often told that prevention is better than a cure, and this is certainly true in the case of addiction. But while health services run campaigns that desperately try to impact on people the negative effects drugs have on your ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
With the rise in new drugs becoming increasingly available, and the persistence of more mainstream drugs being accessible, it is quickly becoming apparent that provisions need to be available for people who are dependent on these drugs, ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
It is difficult to imagine a world without substance misuse. It seems to be around us wherever we turn, it can impact our lives directly where we lose people we care about because of it; or we can be subject to abuse by someone who ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
Those who are suffering with an addiction can find it extremely difficult to take the steps necessary to halt their dependence on drugs or alcohol. As is often mentioned, the first step is admitting you have a problem, and while th ...
Article published on 02/02/2012 by Addiction Advisor
Aftercare is a vital part of any treatment programme, and should be engaged with immediately following discharge from rehab. The following research investigates the impact that fellowship meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Na ...
Article published on 25/01/2012 by Addiction Advisor
Drug treatment is usually a challenging but necessary step for those who suffer from addiction.
Addiction is unique to each person, and effective drugs rehab treatment will aim to address the specific needs of the individual. A n ...
Article published on 25/01/2012 by Addiction Advisor
Addiction is typically viewed as an illness prone to relapse and the need for re-engagement with a detox program. Therefore, it is important to establish relapse triggers so that individuals may maintain their abstinence in the long-term ...
Article published on 25/01/2012 by Addiction Advisor
The trends in drug use have varied over recent years, and can be reflective of a number of things including culture, cost and accessibility of different types of drugs. The DrugScope Street Drug Trends Survey (2009) found that more peopl ...
Article published on 25/01/2012 by Addiction Advisor
There are many different types of treatment available for heroin addiction, ranging from residential rehab centers UK to community based detox maintenance programmes. During treatment there ar ...
Article published on 06/12/2011 by Addiction Advisor
The impact of a heroin addiction both on the individual’s health and lifestyle, including social issues around criminal activities have led to a range of treatment options being explored. Alongside residential treatment at ...
Article published on 06/12/2011 by Addiction Advisor
As well as being highly addictive and damaging to social and financial facets of life, injecting drugs also poses the very serious threat of acquired diseases. Hepatitis B and HIV pose some of the greatest risks to intravenous drug users ...
Article published on 06/12/2011 by Addiction Advisor
In order to increase detoxification access for heroin users, and minimise frequent relapse typical to heroin dependent users, it is important to consult and recognise the views of those attempting to access a heroin detox.
Resear ...
Article published on 06/12/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Recent policy changes have begun to try to incorporate approaches that are more person-centred and individualised (Best et al., 2010). With more emphasis on the recovery approach being made in community settings concerns have been raised ...
Article published on 06/12/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral infection that is common among injecting drug users. In Ireland, as in other developed countries, injecting drug use accounts for most Hepatitis C infections, with prevalence rates of 62%-81%. Therefore ...
Article published on 06/12/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Alcohol Addiction
The number of patients admitted to hospital suffering from alcohol addiction has topped one million for the first time, according to figures from the NHS informati ...
Article published on 04/08/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Alcohol Problems
In 2008, UK statistics revealed that nearly three quarters of the men and over a half of the women interviewed had drunk at least one alcoholic beverage over the previous week. Of these, 11% of men and 6 ...
Article published on 04/08/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Alcoholism and the NHS
A recent article in Drink and Drug News details the cost that alcohol abuse is having upon NHS. The charity, Alcohol Concern, have detailed in their late ...
Article published on 04/08/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Drug Treatment Centres
According to the National Treatment Agency (NTA) for Substance Misuse, approximately 3.8 million people throughout England and Wales use at least one illegal substance each year. Further, class A d ...
Article published on 04/08/2011 by Addiction Advisor
How to help a drug addict
One of the main issues relating to drug dependence is the possibility of relapse. Alongside the therapeutic and psychological programmes addressing this risk within treatment for drug dependency ...
Article published on 04/08/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Info in Cannabis
The risks of smoking cannabis are becoming more highlighted with ever increasing build up of evidence from studies that investigate the associated risks of cannabis usage. Despite this, common misconcept ...
Article published on 04/08/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Private Alcohol Rehab London
An article in the London Evening Standard has described how London's only women-only treatment centre
aimed at he ...
Article published on 04/08/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
In December 2010, the Home Office released its new Drug Strategy outlining the government's approach to tackling drugs and addressing alcohol dependence: Drug Strategy 2010: Reducing demand, r ...
Article published on 14/07/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Rehabilitation – Does it work?
According to Addiction Today, the National Treatment Agency (NTA) for substance misuse has been pessimistic about the success rates of rehabilitation. Studies have indicated that even those ...
Article published on 14/07/2011 by Addiction Advisor
DRUG REHAB CENTRES
Generally there is a distinct lack of research into drug rehabilitation centres in the UK and it is assumed that this is because there is a lack of research interest and funding in this area. That said, the r ...
Article published on 14/07/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Drug treatment centers- are they effective?
Abstaining from mind altering substances is one of the many aims of individuals entering drug treatment centres. This goal requires not just the absence of the drug of choice that th ...
Article published on 14/07/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Region of the brain activated during drugs relapse
US scientists have identified an area ...
Article published on 18/03/2011 by Addiction Advisor
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell has announced changes to classification and penalties. The government decided to reclassify cannabis from Class C to Class B because repeated cannabis use can, as the independent Advisory Council on the Mi ...
Article published on 18/01/2009 by Addiction Advisor
The Drug and Alcohol Review has released a special issue on the use of new technologies in the treatment of drug problems. The issue highlights the use of mobile phones, the internet and computers to treat drug use problems."We ...
Article published on 16/01/2009 by Addiction Advisor
About 11% of the 4 million babies born in the US each year have been exposed to alcohol or illicit drugs in the womb, according to a June 2006 report by the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare. If removed from the home by c ...
Article published on 13/01/2009 by Addiction Advisor
DrugScope has welcomed the publication of the All Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group's (APPDMG) findings from its inquiry into dependence and addiction to over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Based on evidence gathered f ...
Article published on 06/01/2009 by Addiction Advisor
New legislation that has come into effect this month will introduce tougher penalties on businesses that breach health and safety regulations. According to Concateno, Europe's leading drug testing company, the new legislation adds a further ...
Article published on 05/01/2009 by Addiction Advisor
DrugScope recently welcomed the publication of new figures from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) on the numbers of young people who have received specialist support for drug and alcohol misuse. Until now, reliable da ...
Article published on 04/01/2009 by Addiction Advisor
An investigation by DrugScope's Druglink magazine has revealed concerning trends in the use of the Class C drug ketamine, with users taking higher doses of the drug and more people injecting the substance. Some drug services are also report ...
Article published on 03/01/2009 by Addiction Advisor
There are signs that the ongoing decline in teen marijuana use in recent years has stalled; however the downward trend in cigarette and alcohol use continues, according to the 2008 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey. Results were announced ...
Article published on 28/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
New technology could help prevent addicts from giving in to temptation.This is the conclusion of Frank Ryan, from Birkbeck College who spoke recently at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society's Division of Clinical ...
Article published on 27/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Since 1975 the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. Survey participants report their drug use behaviours across three time periods: life ...
Article published on 27/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
In a committee opinion issued recently, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has called for ob-gyns to ask all of their patients about drug and alcohol use and to help women get the help they need. Although time co ...
Article published on 24/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Rewarding and stressful signals don't seem to have much in common. But researchers studying diseases ranging from drug addiction to anxiety disorders are finding that the brain's reward and stress signalling circuits are intertwined in comp ...
Article published on 21/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
New data indicates that 2.3 million people who participate in self-help groups for alcohol or illicit drug use currently abstain from use of these substances. Based on a nationwide survey conducted by the United States' Substance Abuse and ...
Article published on 20/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The latest Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) report - drawn from a sample of hospital emergency departments across the Nation - indicates that more than 1.7 million visits for treatment were associated with some form of substance misuse or ...
Article published on 19/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
In a new report published online in the January issue of Addiction, researchers question whether current licensing policies have contributed to a rise in the phenomenon of "pre-drinking" amongst young people. "Pre-drinking" or " ...
Article published on 18/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
After serving time, prisoners battling heroin addiction, mental illness and HIV face many challenges as they re-enter society. As part of an effort to make this transition easier on both the prisoner and the community, researchers at the Ya ...
Article published on 16/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new UK Drugs Policy Commission has been published - Working towards recovery, Getting problem drug users into jobs. The review reaches a wide range of conclusions on getting problem drug users 'fit for the job' and addressing employers' c ...
Article published on 10/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Scientists in Oregon and Washington State are reporting the development and successful testing of a new method for determining the extent of illicit drug use in entire communities from water flushed down toilets that enters municipal wastew ...
Article published on 08/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The two overall winners of this year's Tackling Drugs Changing Lives awards were announced by UK Home Office Minister Alan Campbell at an awards ceremony in London recently. Daniel Smyth from the Brent Centre for Young People ...
Article published on 05/12/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) recently published its annual report on drug-related deaths in the UK.Some of the main findings of the report include: Notifications of 1,539 drug-related deaths oc ...
Article published on 30/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new study at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory suggests that vigabatrin (a.k.a. gamma vinyl-GABA, or GVG) blocks drug-seeking behaviour in animals previously trained to associate methamphetamine with a p ...
Article published on 29/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Improving outcomes for service users with complex needs is top of the agenda for a new partnership of charities working around social exclusion. Homeless Link, Clinks, DrugScope and Mind are working together to promote and influ ...
Article published on 25/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Drug abusers are often characterised as being in "denial" - not recognizing the severity of their disorder. Although "denial" is often considered to be a form of deception, emerging research suggests that it may be due to a specific brain d ...
Article published on 20/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
New data indicates that 2.3 million people who participate in self-help groups for alcohol or illicit drug use currently abstain from use of these substances. Based on a nationwide survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health S ...
Article published on 20/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded a researcher at The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy $1.7 million for a nearly five-year study of the long-term adverse effects of the street drug ecstasy. Terrence J. Mo ...
Article published on 19/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Concateno plc, Europe's largest provider of drug and alcohol testing programmes, and Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) have recently announced an innovative handheld drugs-of-abuse detection device.Concateno-Philips ...
Article published on 16/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Adolescents addicted to opioids who received continuing treatment with the combination medication buprenorphine-naloxone had lower rates of testing positive or reporting use of opioids compared to youths who went through a short-term detoxi ...
Article published on 14/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
When given a choice between viewing pictures of cocaine and a variety of other images, cocaine addicted individuals, as compared to healthy, non-addicted research subjects, show a clear preference for the drug-related images. ...
Article published on 07/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
If risk factors for MetaAmphetamine (MA) use could be identified, physicians and other health-care professionals who work with young people may be better equipped to identify MA users, and develop education and prevention programs that coul ...
Article published on 03/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
New research findings suggest that structural abnormalities in the brains of cocaine addicts are related in part to drug use and in part to a predisposition toward addiction. The research, published by Cell Press in the October 9th issue of ...
Article published on 02/11/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Using positron emission tomography (PET) to track tracer doses of methamphetamine in humans' brains, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory find that the addictive and long-lasting effects of this ...
Article published on 31/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Avigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGN), a biopharmaceutical company innovating therapeutics for neurological care, recently announced the launch of an exploratory study of the company's pipeline product, AV411 (ibudilast), for the treatment of opioid ...
Article published on 29/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Figures published today by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) show that more than 202,000 people were recorded in drug treatment for 2007/08, which over-achieves the target set by the government. More than ...
Article published on 29/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A study in the Oct. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that adolescent insomnia symptoms are associated with depression, suicide ideation and attempts, and the use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs such as cocaine. Findings s ...
Article published on 29/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have found that treatment with stimulant drugs does not increase and appears to significantly decrease the risk that girls with ADHD will begin smoking cigarettes or using alcohol or drugs. T ...
Article published on 27/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
More teenagers in Northern Ireland are experimenting with illegal drugs at an earlier age than elsewhere in the UK, according to a new study. Youth experts and psychologists will meet at a free public lecture hosted by the NI Br ...
Article published on 25/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
People who began drinking and using marijuana regularly prior to their 15th birthday face a higher risk of early pregnancy, as well as a pattern of school failure, substance dependence, sexually-transmitted disease and criminal convictions ...
Article published on 21/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Iowans will join others across the nation to raise awareness about drugs and encourage healthy choices as they celebrate National Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31, 2008.Red Ribbon Week was established by Congress in 1988 to commem ...
Article published on 16/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Scientists at The University of Nottingham are to use MRI technology to discover whether abnormalities in the decision-making part of the brain could make some people more likely to become addicted to drugs. In a three-year stud ...
Article published on 11/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Studies in recent years have demonstrated that binge drinking can decrease bone mass and bone strength, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. New research could help prevent this damage. Now a Loyola University Stritch School of ...
Article published on 10/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
All pupils in state schools will now receive high quality lessons in everything from first aid and personal finance to relationships and the consequences of drugs misuse as Schools Ministers announced that Personal Social and Health Educati ...
Article published on 06/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
All pupils in state schools will now receive high quality lessons in everything from first aid and personal finance to relationships and the consequences of drugs misuse as Schools Ministers announced that Personal Social and Health Educati ...
Article published on 06/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Getting pregnant with her first child was difficult, but when Rebecca Killmeyer of Charlottesville, Va. experienced a miscarriage during her second pregnancy, she wasn't sure if she would ever have another baby. When she decided to enter a ...
Article published on 02/10/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Ghrelin is a peptide, mainly produced in the stomach, but also found in small amounts in the brain. It is known to affect food intake by increasing feelings of hunger and the urge to eat. A new study has examined ghrelin's role in addictive ...
Article published on 30/09/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Scientists in Spain are reporting an advance toward a new method for determining the purity of heroin that could save lives by allowing investigators to quickly identify impure and more toxic forms of the drug being sold on the street. Unli ...
Article published on 24/09/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A former government adviser on drugs recently spoke out and said that he thinks there are too few residential treatment centres for young addicts in the UK. Mike Trace said that some young addicts could only be helped if they were able to b ...
Article published on 02/09/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Parkinson's disease and drug addiction are polar opposite diseases, but both depend upon dopamine in the brain. Parkinson's patients don't have enough of it; drug addicts get too much of it. Although the importance of dopamine in these diso ...
Article published on 29/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
This annual statistical report presents information on drug misuse among both adults and children. It includes a focus on young adults. The topics covered include: prevalence of drug misuse, including the types of drugs used ...
Article published on 19/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Drug users in treatment have given a vote of confidence for the services they receive, but would like more help and support for their families.The National Treatment Agency's (NTA) annual survey of drug treatment clients showed ...
Article published on 18/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Researchers using positron emission tomography (PET) have validated a long-held theory that individual personality traits - particularly reward dependency - are connected to brain chemistry, a finding that has implications for better unders ...
Article published on 18/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
"Erasing" drug-associated memories may prevent recovering drug abusers from relapsing, researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered. The team, led by Professor Barry Everitt, was able to reduce drug-seeking behavio ...
Article published on 17/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The persistent nature of addiction is its most devastating feature. Understanding the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is the key for designing efficient therapy. Two separate studies published by Cell Press is the August 14 issue of th ...
Article published on 12/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Addictions to medicines and drugs are thought to develop over a relatively long period of time. The process involves both structural and functional changes in brain nerve cells that are still poorly understood. However, a single drug or alc ...
Article published on 10/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
New research has uncovered a fundamental cellular mechanism that may drive pathological drug-seeking behaviour. The study, published by Cell Press in the July 31 issue of the journal Neuron, examines the brain's reward circuitry and details ...
Article published on 09/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Vigabatrin, a medication proposed as a potential treatment for drug addiction by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, also leads to rapid weight loss and reduced food intake according to a new ...
Article published on 07/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A possible future way to prevent relapses into drug dependence has been discovered by researchers at Linkaping University and the German cancer research center DKFZ. The target is the dopamine-producing nerve cells in the midbrain. ...
Article published on 06/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Healthy people are more willing to take drugs to enhance traits that are not fundamental to their identity.According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, people's willingness to take a pill or drug depends on whet ...
Article published on 06/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Permanent drug seeking and relapse after renewed drug administration are typical behavioural patterns of addiction. Molecular changes at the connection points in the brain's reward centre are directly responsible for this. This finding was ...
Article published on 05/08/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Drug users should not be offered a false choice between harm reduction or abstinence-oriented treatment services, according to Paul Hayes, the NTA Chief Executive. In a keynote speech at the Drugs, Alcohol and Criminal Justice confere ...
Article published on 29/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Counselling about sexual behaviour during drug addiction treatment could help reduce unsafe sexual behaviour among people at risk of HIV in Russia, according to a study recently published in the journal Addiction, ANI/New Kerala reports. Ac ...
Article published on 28/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
More than one million Americans currently participate in the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) programme. While AA participants are reportedly notorious for their coffee drinking and cigarette smoking, very little research has quantified their cons ...
Article published on 26/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Public health campaigns could drastically reduce the numbers of people dying from drug abuse in Scotland and England, according to new research.Drug abuse accounts for a third of the deaths behind Scotland's higher mortali ...
Article published on 25/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The mystery of why one person becomes hooked on alcohol, heroin, sex or gambling, and another remains free of addiction, lies deep in the brain and is largely determined by our genes according to one expert. Professor Wim van de ...
Article published on 18/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Research by a Davidson College neuroscientist and students demonstrates that the benefits of regular exercise include a lowered tendency to become addicted to illegal drugs.The online version of the journal "Drug and Alcohol Dep ...
Article published on 15/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The chemical dopamine induces both desire and dread, according to new animal research in the July 9 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Although dopamine is well known to motivate animals and people to seek positive rewards, the study ind ...
Article published on 14/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
State policies have a significant impact on the services performed by substance abuse treatment programmes, and could play a key role in efforts to expand the use of research-based "comprehensive" treatment approaches, reports a study in th ...
Article published on 11/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Pregnant women who receive treatment for substance abuse early in their pregnancy can achieve the same health outcomes as pregnant women with no substance abuse, according to a study published online in the Journal of Perinatology. ...
Article published on 09/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Heavy alcohol use, or binge drinking, among college students in the United States is tied to conditions in the college environment. That is one of the key findings from research conducted by researchers with the Harvard School of Publ ...
Article published on 03/07/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The slogan of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) anti-drugs campaign to be launched on 26 June, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, is "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. N ...
Article published on 29/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Scientifically valid prevention programmes cut rates of juvenile delinquencySeventh-grade students in U.S. communities that have set up scientifically validated programmes to reduce juvenile delinquency have a significantly smal ...
Article published on 25/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new animal study has recently shown that boosting the level of a specific brain protein, known as GDNF, can quickly cut excessive drinking of alcohol, and also prevent relapse.In addition, the treatment did not block other "p ...
Article published on 16/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Why are some individuals vulnerable to the transition from casual to compulsive drug use? Cambridge University scientists have concluded that there is a genetic vulnerability to addiction, which is best known for alcoholism. However, the pr ...
Article published on 16/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A study from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) supports previous reports that adolescents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for smoking and substance abuse. The article, which appeared in the June Drug and Alcohol Depen ...
Article published on 16/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
New guidelines have been written which will assist nightclub staff in deciding whether to call ambulances for unwell clubbers. The proposed guidelines were co-written by medics, police officers and bar owners and are published i ...
Article published on 16/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A recent study has examined how helpful Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) may be for adolescents. They found that AA and NA appeared to have long-term benefits for adolescents even if they discontinued attendance after ...
Article published on 06/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Alkermes, Inc. recently announced the initiation of a phase 3 clinical trial of VIVITROL® - a drug for the treatment of opioid dependence. The multi-centre study is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of VIVITROL in approximately 200 ...
Article published on 03/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Drug users can be taught to identify and quickly respond to overdoses of heroin or other opioids as effectively as medical experts, a Yale University study suggests.The study supports efforts of some drug counsellors, physicians ...
Article published on 02/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Researchers from the Howard Florey Institute in Melbourne have identified a factor that may contribute towards the development of heroin addiction by manipulating the adenosine A2A receptor, which plays a major role in the brain's 'reward p ...
Article published on 02/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) research consortium found that the United States had among the highest lifetime rates of tobacco and alcohol use and led in the proportion of participants reporting cannabis (marijua ...
Article published on 01/06/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Drug abusers who used a computer-assisted training program in addition to receiving traditional counselling stayed abstinent significantly longer than those who received counselling alone, a Yale University study has found.77 pe ...
Article published on 30/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Mount Sinai researchers may have unlocked the key to better understanding the effect addictive drugs have on the human brain.Researchers have just published the new study, 'Design Logic of a Cannabinoid Receptor Signaling Networ ...
Article published on 29/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new National Support capacity is being set-up to help support local partners deliver the new Scottish Drugs Strategy which is focused on treatment and recovery. The Scottish Government will also set up a Drug Misuse Recovery Network to f ...
Article published on 27/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A high profile event organised by the European Association for the Treatment of Addiction (EATA) aims to bring together different sectors for an in-depth debate in June 2008. Key policy officials from the Home Office and the Dep ...
Article published on 27/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The first national drugs strategy since devolution was launched in Scotland recently.Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing hailed it as "a new era" in Scotland's approach to tackling drugs.He said promoting recovery ...
Article published on 26/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
DrugScope, the national membership organisation for individuals and agencies working across the drug sector, has expressed concern and disappointment at the government's decision to return cannabis to a class B drug.Chief execut ...
Article published on 23/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The Canadian Government recently announced critical drug treatment initiatives for Canadian provinces and territories under the National Anti-Drug Strategy. "This investment will provide an important boost to the drug treatment ...
Article published on 20/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Teenagers with addiction problems can now discuss their situation in confidence with a virtual doctor, through the role-playing site Second Life.Spanish health authorities launched the virtual advice centre to encourage young pe ...
Article published on 17/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The first large-scale analysis of proteins in the brains of monkeys addicted to cocaine reveals new information on how long-term cocaine use changes the amount and activity of various proteins affecting brain function. The ident ...
Article published on 03/05/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Drugscope recently organised three conferences around the country focussing on the debate of the future of drug treatment, particularly regarding the opening division between those who believe abstinence and those who believe harm reduction ...
Article published on 22/04/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Recommendations that cannabis should remain a class C drug could quash the prime minister's plans to re-categorise the substance as class B.Advisors to the government are expected to suggest that marijuana should remain in the low ...
Article published on 12/04/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new study focusing on the prevalence of drug mentions in rap music has found that references have soared over the last two decades.According to researchers at the University of Berkeley, not only has the mention of drugs in the ...
Article published on 03/04/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Doctor's are prioritising discussion about smoking over the issues of drug and alcohol abuse while speaking to pregnant women, according to a new US study ...
Article published on 31/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Subconscious cues 'can trigger drug cravings'Research has uncovered a link between exposure to images of drugs and substance cravings.In the study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Nida), researchers presen ...
Article published on 31/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Treatment for prisoners with drug problems will be improved under plans announced by the government this month.Public health minister Dawn Primarolo has said that she believes extra investment will offer "a real chance for offende ...
Article published on 28/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth are nearly 200 per cent more likely to abuse substances than their heterosexual counterparts, according to a new US study.Researchers looked at 18 studies carried out between 1994 and 2006 tes ...
Article published on 27/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Concerns about the type of care received by drug addicts in Scotland have been raised by a government advisory committee.The Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse has suggested that ministers rethink their drug treatment poli ...
Article published on 25/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
An American health agency has warned doctors to check younger patients who display symptoms of chest pain for cocaine use.In a publication in Circulation Journal, the American Heart Association called for physicians to ensure they ...
Article published on 20/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Recent research indicates that withdrawal symptoms from heavy cannabis use can be as bad as those experienced by those who quit smoking cigarettes.A study at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that abstaining fr ...
Article published on 18/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new report from the UK Drug Policy Commission has criticised the treatment of drug addicts in Britain's prisons.The think tank recommended more community sentences for criminals with substance abuse problems, arguing that too ma ...
Article published on 18/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new study suggests that parental practices can have an impact on the amount their children drink during their teenage years and perhaps later in life.Researchers from the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of ...
Article published on 12/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Special treatment centres in Wales are dealing with drug and alcohol abuse in children as young as 11, according to Wales on Sunday. In a number of centres across the country, the Safer Under 18s Drink and Drugs Service (Suds), of ...
Article published on 11/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
US students are turning to prescription drugs for recreational use, leading to many being at risk of addiction, new figures have suggested.A study has revealed that around 20 per cent of students in America are using medicines suc ...
Article published on 07/03/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The government has announced new proposals to invest almost 1 billion pounds in a new programme of treatments for drug addicts and users.In what she described as a strategy to get people "off drugs and drug-related crime", home se ...
Article published on 28/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Use of the popular recreational drug Ecstasy inflicts damage to the brain akin to a traumatic brain injury, researchers claim. Scientists from the University of Florida have found similarities between the chemical effects of drug' ...
Article published on 23/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Scientists have warned men not to smoke, drink or take drugs if they are planning to have children.New research has found that the intake of toxins can damage sperm and affect the genes of babies, according to the Guardian. ...
Article published on 21/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new trial of a drug that could curb alcohol dependence will soon be underway.An Australian researcher will next month trial a drug in h ...
Article published on 20/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A report has revealed police fears about a growing epidemic in the use of crystal meth in the UK.The leaked report written by police chiefs say the cyrstallised amphetamine drug is growing in popularity and noted a rise in the use ...
Article published on 19/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Martin McGuiness has criticised British soap operas for their "irresponsible" focus on drinking alcohol.At the British-Irish Council summit in Dublin, Northern Ireland's deputy first minister hit out at broadcasters of British soa ...
Article published on 18/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) has criticised the country's lack of focus on treating alcohol abuse.Ian McKee has argued that the cur ...
Article published on 15/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
An Australian company has announced successful results of a drug trial, revealing the effectiveness of the drug Ropren in combating the effects of long-term ...
Article published on 15/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A groundbreaking scheme in California uses cookery training to try to help former addicts stay off drugs and alcohol.Lodi is home to the Salvation Army's three month cookery course, designed to give recovering addicts an opportuni ...
Article published on 13/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The transition from high school through the first year of college often increases young women's alcohol consumption and can have dangerous physical, sexual, and psychological implications, according to a report out of the University at Buff ...
Article published on 11/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
Youths are receiving cash incentives to participate in a scheme aimed at the prevention of alcohol abuse and stand to win a £20,000 prize. ...
Article published on 07/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
An alarming number of babies in Fife, Scotland are born addicted to drink and drugs, it has emerged.Figures obtained by the Fife Free Press reveal that in the last three years, instances of newborn babies with drug and ...
Article published on 01/02/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The UK's first drug and alcohol court is due to open in London.It is hoped that the new family court will help parents beat their addictions to drugs and alcohol and in-turn help keep families together.The London council ...
Article published on 29/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A cutting-edge alcohol and drugs project in Edinburgh has been officially opened by a member of the Royal Family.Princess Anne was invited to launch the LEAP programme in Stockbridge, which is designed to help addicts and alcoholi ...
Article published on 28/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
It has been revealed that at least one Lothian school pupil is admitted to hospital every week for alcohol treatment.Last year, 56 children ...
Article published on 28/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new scheme using beer mats has been launched to tackle underage drinking and anti social behaviour. Leominster and Area Drugs and Alcohol Forum have launched a series of beer mats featuring images of young people who are drunk, ...
Article published on 16/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The intravenous application of a medicine known as Naltrexone could help more alcohol-dependent patients fight the urge to drink.That is th ...
Article published on 10/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new drug for the treatment of conditions arising from long term addiction to both alcohol and drugs has been awarded a patent.The Russian Agency for Patents and Trademarks granted a patent for Ropren to cover the active ingredie ...
Article published on 09/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
The most comprehensive gene atlas for underlying drug addiction has been identified by Chinese researchers and they have identified five molecular pathways common to four different addictive drugs.Researchers from the Center for B ...
Article published on 08/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
NHS Lothian has been criticised for not providing enough support for alcohol treatment centres.Former Wester Hailes GP and Lothians SNP MSP Dr Ian McKee told the Edinburgh Evening News that alcohol addiction had become a "silent e ...
Article published on 03/01/2008 by Addiction Advisor
A new advertising campaign has been launched in and around the Wirral which aims to improve people's knowledge about the safe levels of alcohol.With the strapline "How much is too much?", the four week campaign has been organised ...
Article published on 18/12/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Researchers have discovered that a variant of a gene - Grm7 - involved in communication among brain cells has a direct influence on alcohol consumption in mice.Scientists, who were supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Ab ...
Article published on 07/12/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Scottish health care professionals and carers have been afforded the chance to learn about the latest techniques used in the United States to treat alcohol addiction, it has been reported.Two US ...
Article published on 06/12/2007 by Addiction Advisor
New research could explain why individuals with mental illness often develop drug and alcohol addiction.Addiction of all types - to nicot ...
Article published on 04/12/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Pharmaceutical advances could play a significant role in alcohol treatment in the future, experts believe.A recent study in the Journal of t ...
Article published on 30/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Shame and guilt have significant implications in the misuse of alcohol and drugs, it has been revealed. As a result, scientists at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) and the George Mason University have estab ...
Article published on 28/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A $396,000 grant is set to help researchers at the University of Iowa (UI) study risky decision-making among children, which can in some cases lead to binge ...
Article published on 28/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Three London councils are aiming to give enhanced support to recovering alcoholics and their families by setting up the UK's first Family Drug and Alcohol Co ...
Article published on 27/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Young people are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco or use drugs if their friends engage in these behaviours, researchers have claimed.US scientists looked at data from around 4,700 people to determine whether there were ...
Article published on 26/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Investment in alcohol treatment services in Bolton means alcoholics ...
Article published on 23/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Some policies designed to control spending may be impeding access to an inexpensive drug used to reduce alcohol abuse, researchers have said.A s ...
Article published on 22/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Increased funding for staff at alcohol rehab centres in Bolton has cut the waiting time for those seeking treatment for alcohol problems to under two week ...
Article published on 21/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A new study has suggested that young adults who have recently suffered from depression are more likely to exhibit behaviours associated with tobacco, drug and ...
Article published on 20/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
One leading expert on addiction medicine is suggesting that gene therapy could be the key to understanding why some people are prone to alcohol dependenc ...
Article published on 15/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Pacific people who are born in New Zealand are twice as likely to suffer from a mental disorder and are more likely to develop alcohol dependence tha ...
Article published on 09/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Researchers have said that early intervention provides the best opportunity to reduce the risk of drug and alcohol addiction in later life.A study by experts at Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston required 2,133 ...
Article published on 07/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A study conducted by researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has found that the genes which play a role in illegal drug abuse are different to those which have an effect on nicotine and ...
Article published on 07/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
The New Zealand government is to expand its drug and alcohol treatment provision in prisons, it has been revealed.The move was announced by ...
Article published on 07/11/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A new guide has been published to help people identify if their loved ones, colleagues or employees are abusing drugs or alcohol.The 'Beginning Recovery' guide advises people to look out for changes in behaviour or routine, such a ...
Article published on 31/10/2007 by Addiction Advisor
New research indicates that the majority of parents have a reasonable idea of how much and how often their children consume alcohol and take drugs.Researchers at the University of Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) f ...
Article published on 26/10/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A group of schoolchildren in the US state of Wyoming have been learning about alcohol abuse issues and discovering how to influence change within their co ...
Article published on 23/10/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A study has found that high-risk teenagers who participate in peer-led substance abuse - including alcohol - prevention programmes reduce their drug use by approximately 15 per cent versus traditional curricula.Researchers at the ...
Article published on 09/10/2007 by Addiction Advisor
US researchers believe that spirituality may help recovering alcoholics and that addicts may benefit from finding a recovery programme that accommodates thei ...
Article published on 26/09/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Teenage binge-drinkers are more likely to experience alcohol problems as adults, new research has found.A new study by the Institute of Child Health involving 11,000 children found that binge-drinkers were 60 per cent more likely ...
Article published on 07/09/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A new review of national and state-wide surveys on American school children has revealed that ten per cent of fourth graders (nine to ten-year-olds) have had more than a sip of alcohol.Researchers believe that the findings should ...
Article published on 02/09/2007 by Addiction Advisor
The proportion of schoolchildren who drink alcohol is falling, according to a new survey by the Information Centre.Researchers found that the number of pupils who said that they had never consumed stood at 45 per cent last year, u ...
Article published on 02/09/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A researcher who studies the links between children's mental health problems and nicotine, drug and alcohol abuse in later life has been awarded a prestigious grant to further her work.Naomi Marmorstein, associate professor of psy ...
Article published on 17/08/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Offenders in Hampshire who have alcohol problems may now benefit from a new initiative launched by the probation service.Nearly four fifths - 79 per cent - of violent offences dealt with by courts in the Basingstoke area over the ...
Article published on 30/07/2007 by Addiction Advisor
Young people who drink super-strength lager, known in the US as 'malt liquor', are more likely to experience alcohol problems and use drugs such as marijuana, researchers have found.Scientists at the University at Buffalo's Resear ...
Article published on 30/07/2007 by Addiction Advisor
The British Crime Survey, published yesterday (July 19th), reveals that nearly half of all violent crime is linked to alcohol, while just 17 per cent is fuelled by drugs.Annual statistics released by the Home Office confirm that v ...
Article published on 21/07/2007 by Addiction Advisor
The majority of Americans who claim to abuse alcohol are in fulltime employment, a study has revealed.Research conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHA) has revealed that the highest rates of heavy ...
Article published on 18/07/2007 by Addiction Advisor
A charity that supports people in need of drug and alcohol treatment has received a large financial boost.Alcohol and Drug Support (ADS) South-West Scotland has been awarded £665,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and the Roberts ...
Article published on 11/07/2007 by Addiction Advisor
An existing anti-smoking drug may also be effective in treating alcohol dependence, US researchers have found.Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted tests using rats which were given access to u ...
Article published on 11/07/2007 by Addiction Advisor
