http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/cocaine/ Medical research on cocaine. Read the latest research on how cocaine affects the human body, cravings, cocaine addiction and more. en-us Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:05:02 EST Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:05:02 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/cocaine/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131511.htm A new brain imaging study suggests stress robustly activates areas of the brain associated with craving in cocaine-dependent women, while drug cues activate similar brain regions in cocaine-dependent men. The study suggests men and women with cocaine dependence might benefit more from different treatment options. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131511.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111133512.htm New research provides fascinating insight into a newly discovered brain mechanism that limits the rewarding impact of cocaine. The study describes protective delayed mechanism that turns off the genes that support the development of addiction-related behaviors. The findings may lead to a better understanding of vulnerability to addiction and as well as new strategies for treatment. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:35:35 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111133512.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129131135.htm The more gray matter you have in the decision-making, thought-processing part of your brain, the better your ability to evaluate rewards and consequences. A new study is the first to show this link between structure and function in healthy people -- and the impairment of both in people addicted to cocaine. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129131135.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114221018.htm A high childhood IQ may be linked to subsequent illegal drug use, particularly among women, new research suggests. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:10:10 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114221018.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102190400.htm Cigarettes and alcohol serve as gateway drugs, which people use before progressing to the use of marijuana, cocaine and other illicit substances; this progression is called the "gateway sequence" of drug use. Latest findings provide the first molecular explanation for the gateway sequence. They show that nicotine causes specific changes in the brain that make it more vulnerable to cocaine addiction -- a discovery made by using a novel mouse model. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:04:04 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102190400.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102161259.htm A landmark study in mice identifies a biological mechanism that could help explain how tobacco products could act as gateway drugs, increasing a person's future likelihood of abusing cocaine and perhaps other drugs as well, according to researchers. The study is the first to show that nicotine might prime the brain to enhance the behavioral effects of cocaine. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102161259.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111007113947.htm A new study that examined responses to stimulants is the first to demonstrate that caffeine reinforcement prospectively predicts the positive effects of another drug. Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111007113947.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122934.htm A study of the 5.3 million men and women seen in Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics in a one-year period found that use of cocaine is predictive of open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma. Current and former cocaine users had a 45 percent increased risk of glaucoma. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122934.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830193855.htm When glutamate and dopamine do not collaborate as they should in the brain's signal system, the kick that alcohol, sugar, or other drugs induce increases. This provides a key piece of the puzzle about the mechanisms behind both substance abuse and obesity. Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:38:38 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830193855.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824122859.htm A new study finds that repeated cocaine use increases the severity of depressive-like responses in a mouse model of depression and identifies a mechanism that underlies this cocaine-induced vulnerability. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824122859.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110811114002.htm When a research team asked cocaine addicts to choose, hypothetically, between money now or cocaine of greater value later, "preference was almost exclusively for the money now." Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:40:40 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110811114002.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110810132857.htm Researchers have identified an important part of the pathway through which stress affects mood and motivation for drugs. The finding may prove useful in humans by providing new potential targets for drugs to treat problems related to stress. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110810132857.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808124234.htm The development of drugs for brain-related conditions is not an efficient process. A key reason for this is a lack of preclinical tests that accurately predict drug efficacy and detect unwanted side effects. But now, researchers have developed a new preclinical approach that they hope can be used alongside current strategies to guide more efficient drug development for brain-related conditions. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808124234.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110727083446.htm While some pain killers need to be injected into the damaged tissue in order to work, topical anesthetics only need to be spread on the surface. The earliest examples of "topical" anesthetics contained cocaine, but now a new systematic review has shown that newer agents that don't contain cocaine can effectively treat pain caused by torn skin. This makes these pain killers an attractive choice for doctors who need to sew-up a patient's skin wound. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110727083446.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110726092157.htm People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who do not, according to a new study. Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:21:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110726092157.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720103526.htm Researchers have developed a highly successful vaccine against a heroin high and have indicated its therapeutic potential. Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720103526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110715135335.htm Researchers have discovered that a common beta blocker, used to treat people with hypertension, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories associated with cocaine use in animal-addiction models. Cocaine is one of the worst drug addictions to kick, with about 80 percent of those trying to quit experiencing a relapse within six months. Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110715135335.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623151225.htm If the obvious reasons for avoiding recreational drug use aren't off-putting enough, physicians have another consequence to add -- crusty, purplish areas of dead skin that are extremely painful and can open the door to nasty infections. The condition is called purpura. Typical causes include some rare disorders, but it is also associated with the use of cocaine. Not just any cocaine, though: physicians believe cocaine contaminated with a de-worming drug is the culprit. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623151225.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623085953.htm It's well known that drunk driving can have fatal consequences, but a new study suggests that alcohol is not the only drug that's a danger on the road. Researchers found that of US drivers who died in a crash, about 25 percent tested positive for drugs. The most common drugs were marijuana and stimulants, including cocaine and amphetamines. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623085953.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110621074342.htm Researchers have identified abnormal brain structures in the frontal lobe of cocaine users' brains which are linked to their compulsive cocaine-using behavior. Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110621074342.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531115325.htm Female prisoners who did not participate in a drug treatment program after their release were 10 times more likely to return to prison within one year than other prisoners, a new study has found. Tue, 31 May 2011 11:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531115325.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110512083149.htm Increasing access to rogue online pharmacies that dispense medications without a doctor's prescription may be an important factor behind the rapid increase in the abuse of prescription drugs. U.S. states with the greatest expansion in high-speed Internet access from 2000 to 2007 also had the largest increase in admissions for treatment of prescription drug abuse. Thu, 12 May 2011 08:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110512083149.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110503171745.htm The effects of nicotine upon brain regions involved in addiction mirror those of cocaine, according to new neuroscience research. A single 15-minute exposure to nicotine caused a long-term increase in the excitability of neurons involved in reward, according to a new study. Tue, 03 May 2011 17:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110503171745.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110404121954.htm Scientists have conducted the most comprehensive study to date of how cocaine users respond to drug-related and other emotional stimuli, making use of comparisons with a matched control group and exploring the effects of recent cocaine use and abstinence. Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110404121954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110311122119.htm It seems that women become addicted to cocaine more easily than men and find it harder to give up. New research reinforces this position by showing that the motivation of female rats to work for cocaine is much higher than males. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:21:21 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110311122119.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307161952.htm Drug addicted individuals who have a certain genetic makeup have lower gray matter density -- and therefore fewer neurons -- in areas of the brain that are essential for decision-making, self-control, and learning and memory, a new study shows. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307161952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110303065341.htm New research from Spain has revealed a high rate of gender-based violence -- both physical and psychological -- directed by drug-addict men against their partners. The study also detailed the type of violence perpetrated. Personal control, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and emotional blackmail out of guilt are the most prevalent forms of abuse in this collective. Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:53:53 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110303065341.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110218165259.htm How antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work can be thoroughly explored with a new mouse model developed by neuroscientists. The mice express a serotonin transporter that has been genetically altered so that it does not respond to many SSRIs or cocaine. The new mouse model could also lead to the development of entirely new classes of antidepressant medications. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:52:52 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110218165259.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110203082521.htm Scientists in Spain have analyzed the relation between drug abuse and recognition of basic emotions (happiness, surprise, wrath, fear, sadness and disgust). This study was carried out with a sample including 123 polysubstance abusers and 67 no-drug users. Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110203082521.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110104134034.htm Researchers have produced a lasting anti-cocaine immunity in mice by giving them a safe vaccine that combines bits of the common cold virus with a particle that mimics cocaine. Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110104134034.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101221101926.htm Nearly one in five whites could carry a genetic variant that substantially increases their odds of being susceptible to severe cocaine abuse, according to new research. This genetic variant, characterized by one or both of two tiny gene mutations, alters the brain's response to specific chemical signals. In the study, the variant was associated with a more than threefold increase in the odds that carriers will be susceptible to severe cocaine abuse leading to fatal overdosing, compared to non-carriers. Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101221101926.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101129111832.htm Scientists from Germany, the UK and Italy identify a molecular switch that leads to a sustained increase of calcium in nerve cells and plays a crucial role in the formation of memory and addictive behaviors. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:18:18 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101129111832.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117161244.htm Cocaine is one of the worst drug addictions to kick. But now researchers have found that a common beta blocker can prevent the retrieval of memories associated with cocaine addiction, a major reason many addicts experience relapse. In addition, the work has identified primary players in the brain responsible for "extinction" learning -- the ability to replace cocaine-associated memories with associations that have no drug "reward." Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117161244.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116104537.htm Adolescent rats take cocaine more readily than adults, are sensitive to lower doses, and work harder for access to the drug, according to new research. The findings suggest that adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to drug abuse and addiction. Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116104537.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116100407.htm Aerobic exercise may protect against binge-like patterns of cocaine use, suggests a new study. Rats allowed access to running wheels self-administered less cocaine than did rats that were not. Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:04:04 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116100407.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115113213.htm When given a choice between sweets and cocaine, male rats prefer sweets, while female rats would rather self- administer cocaine, a new study has found. Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:32:32 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115113213.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101101161829.htm Rural teens appear more likely than their urban peers to use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes, according to a new study. Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101101161829.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101018121438.htm Researchers have discovered how cocaine corrupts the brain and becomes addictive. The findings -- the first to connect activation of specific neurons to alterations in cocaine reward -- may help researchers in developing new ways of treating those addicted to the drug. Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101018121438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101004101137.htm Researchers have completed one of the first studies of mephedrone use in Northern Ireland since the drug was outlawed earlier this year. They found that the ban did not deter those mephedrone users surveyed from taking the substance. Interviews with 23 mephedrone users were completed during a two-month period (May and June 2010) following the legislation that made the drug illegal in the UK. Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:11:11 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101004101137.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100929191308.htm Scientists reveal two techniques proven to identify dissolved cocaine in bottles of wine or rum. These tools will allow customs officials to quickly identify bottles being used to smuggle cocaine, without the need to open or disturb the container. Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100929191308.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100916073416.htm People who have used cocaine run a great risk of becoming addicted, even after long drug-free periods. Now researchers in Sweden and their colleagues can point to a specific molecule in the brain as a possible target for treatment to prevent relapses. Thu, 16 Sep 2010 07:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100916073416.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100908121913.htm Addictive drugs are known to induce changes in the brain's reward circuits that may underlie drug craving and relapse after long periods of abstinence. Now, new research uncovers a specific neural mechanism that may be linked to persistent drug-seeking behavior and could help to guide strategies for development of new therapies for cocaine addiction. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100908121913.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100907103611.htm A brain-scanning study reveals that an oral dose of methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, improves impaired brain function and enhances cognitive performance in people who are addicted to cocaine. The study suggests that methylphenidate, combined with cognitive interventions, may have a role in facilitating recovery from drug addiction. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100907103611.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100826141341.htm The drug disulfiram, used for years to deter recovering alcoholics from drinking, also can treat cocaine addiction. Disulfiram prevents rats from seeking cocaine after a break, a model for addicts tempted to relapse. Disulfiram appears to work by inhibiting the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase, which is required for the production of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. A selective inhibitor of that enzyme, nepicastat, is also effective in the same model of cocaine relapse. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100826141341.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100815162122.htm Scientists from the Florida campus of the Scripps Research Institute have identified a protein that may act as the trigger controlling the addictive impact of cocaine in the brain. The findings may one day lead to new therapies to treat addiction. Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:21:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100815162122.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100810122414.htm A new study explores pharmacological strategies for reducing cocaine self-administration in animals that may have implications for treating cocaine dependence in humans. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100810122414.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100810122202.htm Researchers have identified a chemical system in the brain that reacts differently in cocaine addicts, findings that could result in new treatment options for individuals addicted to the drug. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100810122202.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100803174910.htm A memory-boosting medication paired with behavioral therapy might help addicts stay clean, according to new animal research. The study suggests D-cycloserine, previously used in the lab to treat fear and anxiety disorders, could help an addict resist drugs even when confronted with drug-related cues outside of rehab. Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100803174910.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100719124400.htm Reducing the abundance of a set of microRNAs -- small bits of genetic material that influence gene expression -- reduces the urge for a cocaine fix in mice, according to a new study. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100719124400.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100707162045.htm Scientists have found that a particular type of genetic material plays a key role in determining vulnerability to cocaine addiction and may offer an entirely new direction for the development of anti-addiction therapies. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100707162045.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706103604.htm Sharing a bottle of red wine may seem like the best recipe for a romantic interlude. However, the evening may not turn out as planned, according to a new study, which evaluated the effect of a wide range of drugs, including alcohol, on sexual behavior. The findings definitively show that despite our preconceived notions, use of many recreational drugs can cause a loss in that lovin' feeling. Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706103604.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100624140912.htm Why is it that only some drug users become addicts?Researchers have just discovered that the transition to addiction could result from a persistent impairment of synaptic plasticity in a key structure of the brain. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:09:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100624140912.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100623165127.htm Recovering addicts who avoid coping with stress succumb easily to substance use cravings, making them more likely to relapse during recovery, according to behavioral researchers. Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:51:51 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100623165127.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426105637.htm Researchers have developed and tested a modified enzyme that can break down cocaine into inactive products nearly 1,000 times faster than the human body does regularly. The engineered enzyme, called CocE, may be an excellent candidate for clinical use. Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426105637.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100331141006.htm Teens with a history of crack or cocaine use are significantly more likely to engage in unprotected sex than youth who have never used these drugs, putting themselves at increased risk for HIV, according to a new study. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:10:10 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100331141006.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100328170243.htm In a newly published study, scientists have shown for the first time that the same molecular mechanisms that drive people into drug addiction are behind the compulsion to overeat, pushing people into obesity. Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100328170243.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100312144534.htm More 12 year olds have used potentially lethal inhalants than have used marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined, according to new data. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100312144534.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100302201658.htm Researchers in the United States have discovered that accidental overdose deaths involving cocaine rise when the average weekly ambient temperature passes 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit). Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:16:16 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100302201658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301102759.htm Children exposed to cocaine in the womb face serious consequences from the drug, but surprisingly not in certain critical physical and cognitive areas such as growth, IQ, academic achievement and learning ability, according to a new comprehensive review of research. The review found that cocaine-exposed, school-aged children suffered deficits in more subtle areas such as sustained attention and self-regulated behavior. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301102759.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100226121317.htm Researchers hope they have begun paving a new pathway in the fight against drug dependence. Their hypothesis -- that increasing the normally occurring process of making nerve cells might prevent addiction -- is based on a rodent study demonstrating that blocking new growth of specific brain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:13:13 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100226121317.htm