Voters in Switzerland approved a measure allowing addicts to obtain heroin every day from government clinics. However, they voted down the legalization of marijuana.

The United States and the United Nations criticized the 14-year-old Swiss program that gives away heroin at 23 centers across that country as one that encourages drug abuse. However, advocates of the program successfully argued that the measure has reduced crime, improved the lives of addicts, and stopped drug users from shooting up in public places.

Labels: addiction, heroin, addicts

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A new study by Vanderbilt University indicates that individuals who have a tendency to take unnecessary risks and/or abuse substances may be influenced by an inability to process the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine allows individuals to experience pleasure. Those who have trouble processing the neurotransmitter may engage in a greater number of dopamine-producing activities in an effort to achieve a normal level of satisfaction. David Zald, associate professor of psychology and lead author of the study, commented on the findings:

"We've found that the density of these dopamine autoreceptors is inversely related to an individual's interest in and desire for novel experiences. ...The fewer available dopamine autoreceptors an individual has, the less they are able to regulate how much dopamine is released when these cells are engaged. Because of this, novelty and other potentially rewarding experiences that normally induce dopamine release will produce greater dopamine release in these individuals."

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: addicts, risky_behaviors, dopamine

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A study from the United Kingdom found that approximately 25 percent of problem drug users exit treatment early and return to drug use. The study found that young drug users and homeless drug users were most likely to leave treatment programs early.

Researchers hypothesize that drug treatment programs in the United Kingdom may be failing to properly engage these users from the outset, and that programs may not be properly addressing the needs of these two high-risk groups. Young drug users may be turned off by programs that are designed for older working professionals; homeless drug users may not have the means to travel to programs that are outside their immediate area of habitation. Dr. Alex Stevens, who led the study, commented on the findings:

"Whilst it is easy to blame the early exit out rate of problem drug-users on the 'chaos' in their lives and their lack of motivation our data and interviews suggest that there is much that services can do to enhance the rate of retention in the first few days and weeks." (Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: treatment, addicts, homless

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A recent study conducted by the federal Brookhaven National Laboratory found that cocaine-addicted individuals who were given a choice between viewing a variety of other images and viewing pictures of cocaine, showed a clear preference for drug-related images. The group of cocaine-addicted individuals was compared with a group of healthy, non-addicted research subjects. Scott Moeller, a graduate research student who worked on the study, commented:

"This behavioral study demonstrates for the first time that drug-related choice in cocaine addiction extends to abstract, non-pharmacological stimuli, facilitating the study of choice behavior in addiction without using actual cocaine."

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: cocaine, addicts

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Methadone, a chemical used to treat adult heroin addicts, may help teenagers who are addicted to heroin and other opiate drugs, according to a study from Ireland.

Currently, European doctors are restricted from prescribing methadone to people under the age of 18. However, the new study, which focused on 19-year-old addicts, found that methadone could be helpful during treatment. Teenagers in Europe are increasingly experimenting with opiate drugs, especially heroin and prescription painkillers, as are their peers in the United States.

Methadone is widely used to treat adult heroin addicts in the United States.

Labels: heroin, addicts, methadone

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The governor of Pennsylvania says his administration has heard numerous stories of addicts whose treatment has been hindered due to lack of information. The administration contends that insurance companies aren't able to get the information they need in order to approve payment for necessary treatment.

"'We have a system where one (service) provider is not allowed to talk to another,' Health Secretary Dr. Calvin Johnson said. 'The system is not working in the best interest of the client.' The administration's proposed solution, a set of Health Department rule changes undergoing a lengthy review, is to provide a wider range of information to insurers, governments and other entities that pay for health care."

Some critics of the proposed changes, however, worry that increased sharing of information could violate client confidentiality rules and stop some addicts from seeking treatment. Read more at PhillyBurbs.com.

Labels: treatment, addicts, insurance

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