Some of these things are like recordings of recordings -- far removed from the primary source. But the point is to get it out there, no? So check out neurophilosophy for an overview on the use of psychedelic drugs for alcoholism treatment (and lots of other interesting stuff). The post is based on a paper in the current issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
In a nutshell ... a small group of Canadian scientists working in the early 1950s found LSD to be effective in treating alcoholism; they claimed it produced unprecedented rates of recovery (approximately 50 percent). As hallucinogenic drugs became increasingly associated with the counterculture, however, their findings were largely ignored. Now -- perhaps because there's more of a profit to be made -- there is renewed interest in the medical community on the potential use of hallucinogenics for drug and alcohol addiction.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Students Against Drunk Hookups
That friends don't let friends drive drunk is a given, but what about other risky behaviors, like hooking up? An article from the National Communications Association reports that, among college students, at least, most wouldn't let friends do this either.
Nearly 80 percent of students participating in an interactive simulation designed by scholars at Arizona State University, Rutgers, and The State University of New Jersey agreed they'd try to prevent drunk friends from getting themselves into such situations.
“Our study suggests friends often try to protect friends. The interpersonal and persuasive skills they use to do this include many of the same skills they learn in their communication courses,” said Lisa Menegatos, lead author of the study. “The classroom can be a valuable place for students to discuss health issues and develop communication skills that are relevant to their lives outside the classroom.”
Click herefor more details.
Nearly 80 percent of students participating in an interactive simulation designed by scholars at Arizona State University, Rutgers, and The State University of New Jersey agreed they'd try to prevent drunk friends from getting themselves into such situations.
“Our study suggests friends often try to protect friends. The interpersonal and persuasive skills they use to do this include many of the same skills they learn in their communication courses,” said Lisa Menegatos, lead author of the study. “The classroom can be a valuable place for students to discuss health issues and develop communication skills that are relevant to their lives outside the classroom.”
Click herefor more details.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
ALDH2i
The discovery of a compound that both quells anxiety and reduces alcohol and cocaine cravings -- ALDH2i -- was announced this week in the journal of Nature Medicine.
Ivan Diamond, former vice president of neuroscience at a California biotech firm -- Gilead Sciences Inc. -- said the compound represents a departure from the customary approach to the development of anti-addiction drugs: rather than inhibiting the dopamine receptors or dopamine synthesis, it restores balance in the brain's dopamine system, which spins out of control in addiction.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or brain chemical, that affects, among other things, the ability to experience pleasure and pain. Addiction occurs when dopamine or dopamine antagonists (alcohol and drugs) repeatedly stimulate the dopamine receptors, causing overstimulation. Overstimulation increases the number of receptors and makes existing receptors less receptive. In other words, tolerance. Or the need to ingest more to achieve the same effect.
According to Diamond, the greater the addiction, the better the drug works.
How long before it's available? Who knows. The FDA isn't even in the picture yet, according to reports.
For more details, check out the BHC site.
Ivan Diamond, former vice president of neuroscience at a California biotech firm -- Gilead Sciences Inc. -- said the compound represents a departure from the customary approach to the development of anti-addiction drugs: rather than inhibiting the dopamine receptors or dopamine synthesis, it restores balance in the brain's dopamine system, which spins out of control in addiction.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or brain chemical, that affects, among other things, the ability to experience pleasure and pain. Addiction occurs when dopamine or dopamine antagonists (alcohol and drugs) repeatedly stimulate the dopamine receptors, causing overstimulation. Overstimulation increases the number of receptors and makes existing receptors less receptive. In other words, tolerance. Or the need to ingest more to achieve the same effect.
According to Diamond, the greater the addiction, the better the drug works.
How long before it's available? Who knows. The FDA isn't even in the picture yet, according to reports.
For more details, check out the BHC site.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Curb Cravings with Glutamine
Second post of the day ...
Glutamine, one of the 20 amino acids our bodies use to make proteins, has been shown to be remarkably effective in suppressing both alcohol and sugar cravings (one and the same, many would agree). This is because when one's blood sugar dips, which causes the desire for more sugar/alcohol, Glutamine halts its further decline by suppressing insulin and, at the same time, stimulates the release of stored glucose (glycogen) to increase blood sugar levels.
Suggested intake varies, ranging from 2,000-15,000 mg a day, but it is always in divided doses. Apparently it's difficult to take too much, since glutamine is one of the body's most abundant amino acids. It's also recommended that glutamine be taken between meals to increase absorbtion.
Other benefits in connection with alcohol use include improved sleep and less anxiety.
Beyond this, glutamine has a host of other benefits, including improved mental function and a healthier gut. It can also help with weight loss, some claim, as it increases the rate at which fat turns to muscle when exercising. (Hence its longtime popularity with bodybuilders.)
Speaking of the gut, though, anecdotal evidence suggests that glutamine can also bring things to a screeching halt for those whose GI systems are already sluggish. To counter this, try supplemental magnesium. That, too, has a host of benefits.
Glutamine, one of the 20 amino acids our bodies use to make proteins, has been shown to be remarkably effective in suppressing both alcohol and sugar cravings (one and the same, many would agree). This is because when one's blood sugar dips, which causes the desire for more sugar/alcohol, Glutamine halts its further decline by suppressing insulin and, at the same time, stimulates the release of stored glucose (glycogen) to increase blood sugar levels.
Suggested intake varies, ranging from 2,000-15,000 mg a day, but it is always in divided doses. Apparently it's difficult to take too much, since glutamine is one of the body's most abundant amino acids. It's also recommended that glutamine be taken between meals to increase absorbtion.
Other benefits in connection with alcohol use include improved sleep and less anxiety.
Beyond this, glutamine has a host of other benefits, including improved mental function and a healthier gut. It can also help with weight loss, some claim, as it increases the rate at which fat turns to muscle when exercising. (Hence its longtime popularity with bodybuilders.)
Speaking of the gut, though, anecdotal evidence suggests that glutamine can also bring things to a screeching halt for those whose GI systems are already sluggish. To counter this, try supplemental magnesium. That, too, has a host of benefits.
Escape from Margaritaville
As this is the first post, I should note that I'm not a substance abuse professional.
But as a journalist, I'm adept at digging stuff up, and over the past few years -- what with my quirky family situation and all -- I've been scouring the Web for glimmers of hope.
This blog is about those glimmers, which I've decided to collect in one place, and for anyone with an elephant in the room. Or the elephant itself.
Cheers!
But as a journalist, I'm adept at digging stuff up, and over the past few years -- what with my quirky family situation and all -- I've been scouring the Web for glimmers of hope.
This blog is about those glimmers, which I've decided to collect in one place, and for anyone with an elephant in the room. Or the elephant itself.
Cheers!
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