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Topic Review
Vitamin Supplements and Chronic Alcohol Consumption
Alcoholic drinks are extensively consumed worldwide. Drinking alcohol has negative and positive consequences. The health consequences of alcohol intake vary depending on the amount and pattern of consumption.
  • 2.8K
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Cocaine
Cocaine is one of the most consumed stimulants throughout the world, as official sources report. It is a naturally occurring sympathomimetic tropane alkaloid derived from the leaves of Erythroxylon coca, which has been used by South American locals for millennia. Cocaine can usually be found in two forms, cocaine hydrochloride, a white powder, or ‘crack’ cocaine, the free base. 
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Apr 2022
Topic Review
New Psychoactive Substances: Piperazines and Aminoindanes
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), new psychoactive substances (NPS) are classified as “substances of abuse, either in a pure form or a preparation, that are not controlled by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, but which may pose a public health threat”. Some substances are used as stimulants, in this case, synthetic stimulants include aminoindanes, phenethylamines, piperazines, synthetic cathinones, and tryptamines, of which synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones are the largest groups. As stimulant drugs, their biological action occurs mainly on the dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters, and to a lesser extent on epinephrine, which is later responsible for the stimulatory effects of these substances.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Apr 2022
Topic Review
GIRK Channels  for Substance Use Disorders
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic, lifelong disorders that have serious consequences. Repeated substance use alters brain function. G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are expressed widely in the brain, including the reward system, and regulate neuronal excitability. Functional GIRK channels are identified as heterotetramers of GIRK subunits (GIRK1–4). The GIRK1, GIRK2, and GIRK3 subunits are mainly expressed in rodent brain regions, and various addictive substances act on the brain through GIRK channels.
  • 730
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Implications of New Psychoactive Substances in Public Health
New psychoactive substances (NPS) aim to imitate the classical and controlled drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or methamphetamine. For this reason, they can be divided and classified into different categories or categorized according to their psychotropic effects or nature
  • 676
  • 13 May 2022
Topic Review
Ethanol versus Adenosine on Emotional and Cognitive Disturbances
Binge drinking intake is the most common pattern of ethanol consumption by adolescents, which elicits emotional disturbances, mainly anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as cognitive alterations. Ethanol exposure may act on the adenosine neuromodulation system by increasing adenosine levels, consequently increasing the activation of adenosine receptors in the brain. The adenosine modulation system is involved in the control of mood and memory behavior.
  • 659
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Naltrexone Implant for Opioid Use Disorder
The research into therapeutic options for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) has been long underway, beginning with the introduction of methadone in the 1960s. The approval of more drugs indicated in the treatment for OUD including buprenorphine and naltrexone has been and will continue to be crucial in combating the opioid epidemic. 
  • 638
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Opioid Analgesia and Opioid-Induced Adverse Effects
Opioids are broadly used as therapeutic agents against moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Noticeably, these analgesics have many limitations as they induce analgesic tolerance, addiction, physical dependence, respiratory depression, and various other behavioural adverse effects that often result in patient non-compliance. In addition, the actual mechanisms of opioid-induced adverse reactions over long-term use are not entirely understood. 
  • 631
  • 08 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Tobacco Smoke Biomarkers
Both active and second-hand exposure can be measured and controlled using specific biomarkers of tobacco and its derivatives, allowing the development of more efficient public health policies. Exposure to these compounds can be measured using different methods (involving for instance liquid- or gas-chromatographic procedures) in a wide range of biological specimens to estimate the type and degree of tobacco exposure. 
  • 605
  • 21 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Ghrelin/GHS-R1As and Stimulants
Psychostimulants include a number of synthetic and natural compounds. The most prevalent and harmful (causing health damage, violence, death, etc.) are traditionally considered to be cocaine, amphetamine, and its derivative methamphetamine. In Europe, nearly 3 million young adults aged 15–35 (2.4% of this age population) are estimated to have used cocaine and about 1.5 million are estimated to have used amphetamines (1.2%) in the past year, and the trend of the stimulant use is increasing. Concerning their pharmacological effects, stimulants directly increase the dopamine concentrations in the NAC, mainly through axonal membrane monoamine-dopamine transporters (MATs) manipulation. Cocaine acts as short-term monoamine reuptake inhibitor, while amphetamines promote reverse transport (efflux) through MATs and also induce synaptic vesicle depletion (the blockage of VMATs), thus causing a massive prolonged accumbens dopamine increase. Psychostimulants show stimulatory and sympathomimetic effects and induce a loss of appetite. Food restriction (FR) increases stimulant (amphetamine, D1 agonist A77636) consumption and signs of reward, and increases amphetamine/cocaine intake and the reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. Thus, the relationship between ghrelin/GHS-R1As and the pro-addictive effects of stimulants has been explored in a considerable number of preclinical studies and two clinical studies so far.
  • 524
  • 16 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Dopamine- and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein, Mr 32 kDa
Dopamine-and-cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr 32 kDa (DARPP-32) is an integrator of dopamine and glutamate. It is an interesting potential target in the pursuit of improving current pharmacological treatment options for addiction.
  • 483
  • 07 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Strategies Adopted during the Coronavirus Pandemic
The COVID-19 generate several psychological repercussions, such as: depression, anxiety, suicide, self-mutilation and increased consumption of alcohol and other drugs,as well as in socioeconomic and political aspects that were aggravated by structural inequalities and inequities in the countries, increasing poverty, misery, unemployment and hunger. These factors become more serious and complex for people who struggle with substance use disorders (SUD) not only because they increase the risk of COVID-19, but also because of the accentuation of the condition of vulnerability. Although actions as social distancing was the only way to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, these strategies limited access and continuity of monitoring in the intra- and inter-sectoral network. Because of that during the pandemic period, several services reduced or stopped functioning, varying according to the program areas. As stated by PAHO (2021) Mental health services in the Americas had a 77% reduction of health care compared to other services and programs. Due this context, the present study developed a scoping review to map strategies and actions adopted in SUD treatment facilities. The strategies were: 1) Telehealth/telemedicine support (64%); 2) Adequacy of prescription and distribution of medications (46%); 3) Reorganization of face-to-face healthcare services (39%); 4) Approaches related to the prevention of COVID-19 among patients (29%) and 5) Other strategies in the routine of health care (21%). 
  • 463
  • 17 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Cannabis and Other Substance Misuse
Drug and substance misuse refers to the usage of substances for purposes that are illegal or against medical advice. It has negative consequences for health and can manifest as drug dependence or as one of a variety of other problematic or destructive behaviors. This behavior can result in drug dependence and various social and mental health difficulties. The consequences of substance misuse can be severe, including car accidents, driving under the influence arrests, Domestic violence, sexual harassment, child neglect and abuse, suicide attempts and fatalities, strokes, and overdose deaths.
  • 384
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Substance Use Disorders duing COVID-19 Pandemic
Both SUDs and COVID-19 separately have had, and continue to have, a widespread impact on our society. While they are two distinct entities, they are intricately related and have been shown to influence one another. Lockdown mandates intended to enhance public safety produced unintended consequences for people with SUDs by decreasing access to treatment and disrupting their current care. Telehealth could offer a solution to this disruption as its utilization expands the provider’s reach and increases access to treatment in underserved populations, including those with SUDs.
  • 368
  • 23 May 2022
Topic Review
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Gambling and Gaming
Gambling disorder (GD) and internet gaming disorder (IGD) are formally recognized behavioral addictions with a rapidly growing prevalence and limited treatment options. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques have emerged as potentially promising interventions for improving treatment outcomes by ameliorating cognitive functions implicated in addictive behaviors.
  • 348
  • 25 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2 in Alcohol Use Disorders
Alcohol abuse is a leading risk factor for the public health burden worldwide. Approved pharmacotherapies have demonstrated limited effectiveness over the last few decades in treating alcohol use disorders (AUD). A pathological downregulation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2) in regulatory function has been observed in brain circuitries related to addictive behaviors and recent evidence suggest that pharmacological targeting of mGlu2 might yield therpeutic benefits for people with AUD. 
  • 298
  • 03 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Advanced Biomarkers of Hepatotoxicity in Psychiatry
One of the factors that increase the effectiveness of the pharmacotherapy used in patients abusing various types of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) is the proper functioning of the liver. To review three advanced markers of hepatotoxicity in psychiatry, namely, osteopontin (OPN), high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and glutathione dehydrogenase (GDH, GLDH), and, on this basis, to identify recommendations that should be included in future studies in patients abusing NPSs. This will make it possible to determine whether NPSs do indeed have a hepatotoxic effect or whether other factors, such as additional substances taken or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, are responsible. NPS abusers are at particular risk of HCV infection, and for this reason, it is all the more important to determine what factors actually show a hepatotoxic effect in them.
  • 285
  • 08 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Cannabis as Drug
Various effects of cannabis have been reported, some of which are positive and some negative. Cannabis is one of the most popular drugs of the 21st century, especially among adolescents and young adults. Research shows that cannabis may have positive effects on symptoms associated with neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic pain.  For example, cannabis-based medication can improve subjective alleviation of MS symptoms and improve appetite and sleep. As the brain continues to develop throughout adolescence, cannabis may influence neuropsychological development and functioning.
  • 284
  • 26 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Therapeutic Applications of Amphetamine-like Psychostimulants
Amphetamine-type stimulants such as lisdexamphetamine dimesylate, mixed amphetamine salts, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), dextroamphetamine, and phentermine have been investigated for their potential in treating a range of psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), drug dependence, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obesity. Lisdexamphetamine dimesylate has shown promise in effectively treating ADHD symptoms in both children and adults. Additionally, it has been explored as a potential treatment for drug dependency and withdrawal, demonstrating encouraging results. Mixed amphetamine salts have also exhibited efficacy in reducing ADHD symptoms in adults.
  • 278
  • 23 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Vaccines to Treat Substance Use Disorders
Addiction, particularly in relation to psychostimulants and opioids, persists as a global health crisis with profound social and economic ramifications. Traditional interventions, including medications and behavioral therapies, often encounter limited success due to the chronic and relapsing nature of addictive disorders. Consequently, there is significant interest in the development of innovative therapeutics to counteract the effects of abused substances. In recent years, vaccines have emerged as a novel and promising strategy to tackle addiction. Anti-drug vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies that bind to addictive compounds, such as nicotine, cocaine, morphine, methamphetamine, and heroin. These antibodies effectively neutralize the target molecules, preventing them from reaching the brain and eliciting their rewarding effects. By obstructing the rewarding sensations associated with substance use, vaccines aim to reduce cravings and the motivation to engage in drug use. Although anti-drug vaccines hold significant potential, challenges remain in their development and implementation. The reversibility of vaccination and the potential for combining vaccines with other addiction treatments offer promise for improving addiction outcomes.
  • 240
  • 25 Jan 2024
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