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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
15 articles
Newest firstBackground Predicting progression from substance use to substance use disorder (SUD) is challenging, particularly for participants with cannabis and stimulant use who follow distinct risk trajectories. Machine learning enables integration of demographic, behavioral, wearable-derived, and social determinants of health (SDoH) data, yet few studies have compared linear and non-linear approaches in large, diverse popu…
Open article record in new tab ↗Introduction Non-medical use of prescription stimulants is increasing globally, yet Australian population-level data on its prevalence and associated sociodemographic and substance use correlates remain limited. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (n = 21,663). Logistic regression models estimated associations between non-medical use of prescription s…
Drug-facilitated crime (DFC) is a criminal act (e.g., assault, robbery, or sexual assault) in which the perpetrator uses drugs to impair the victim's ability to resist, remember, or recognize the crime being committed. Ethanol is commonly implicated in DFC casework, but limited data are published on other substances currently implicated in these crimes. DFC cases submitted to a large forensic reference laboratory…
Open article record in new tab ↗Behavioral sensitization is a phenomenon occurring after repeated administration of various psychotropic substances and it is characterized by gradually increasing response to the particular drug. It has been described for majority of addictive substances including amphetamines. It is considered to reinstate drug-seeking behaviour and plays important role in the processes associated with drug abuse and addiction.…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background and aims Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation underlie many sudden cardiac deaths, but common lifestyle factors that predict their occurrence are poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the association between methamphetamine and cocaine, the most used illicit stimulants, and ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and mortality. Methods Healthcare databases were used to identify adults aged…
The Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) is a critical brain region for the effects of psychostimulant drugs. Type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1), the main elements of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the brain, participate in these effects and modulate synaptic functions in the NAc. Besides their neuronal expression, CB1 receptors are also present in astrocytes, where they contribute to the regulation of synaptic plasticity…
Introduction For people accessing treatment for problems with drugs other than opioids, little is known about the relationship between treatment and mortality risk, nor how mortality risk varies across treatment modalities. We addressed these evidence gaps by determining mortality rates during and after treatment for people accessing a range of treatment modalities for several drugs of concern. Methods We conducte…
Drug addiction causes constant serious health, social, and economic burden within the human society. The current drug dependence pharmacotherapies, particularly relapse prevention, remain limited, unsatisfactory, unreliable for opioids and tobacco, and even symptomatic for stimulants and cannabinoids, thus, new more effective treatment strategies are researched. The antagonism of the growth hormone secretagogue re…
Methamphetamine (METH) use disorder (MUD) is characterized by compulsive and repeated drug taking despite negative life consequences. Large intake of METH in humans and animals is accompanied by dysfunctions in learning and memory processes. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is known to modulate synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions. In addition, the ECS has been implicated in some of the manifestations of su…
An important role of modern forensic and clinical toxicologists is to monitor the adverse events of novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Following a prior review from 2013 to 2016, this critical literature review analyzes and evaluates published case reports for NPS from January 2017 through December 2020. The primary objective of this study is to assist in the assessment and interpretation of these cases as well…
Background While a large amount of medical literature has explored the association between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), less attention has been dedicated to the typologies of SUD and their relationships with ADHD-specific symptomatology and general psychopathology in dual disorder patients. Methods We selected 72 patients (aged 18-65) with a concomitant SUD ou…
Psychoactive substances with chemical structures or pharmacological profiles that are similar to traditional drugs of abuse continue to emerge on the recreational drug market. Internet vendors may at least temporarily sell these so-called designer drugs without adhering to legal statutes or facing legal consequences. Overall, the mechanism of action and adverse effects of designer drugs are similar to traditional…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychostimulant with reinforcing properties. Our laboratory previously found that Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, an exogenous cannabinoid, suppressed the reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the elevation of endocannabinoids modulates the reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behavior and emotional change…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Epidemiological studies recognize cannabis intake as a risk factor for schizophrenia, yet the majority of adolescents who use marijuana do not develop psychosis. Similarly, the abuse of synthetic cannabinoids poses a risk for psychosis. For these reasons, it is imperative to understand the effects of adolescent cannabinoid exposure in susceptible individuals. Methods We recently developed a novel rodent…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Mood disorders, including anxiety and depression, are frequently diagnosed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, even independently of the disabling symptoms associated with the disease. Anatomical, biochemical, and pharmacological evidence indicates that type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) is implicated in the control of emotional behavior and is modulated during inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases s…