Monthly Archives: February 2008

Today’s youth face many risks, including drug abuse, violence, and HIV/AIDS. Responding to these risks before they become problems can be difficult. One of the goals of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is to help the public understand the causes of drug abuse and to prevent its onset. Continue reading →

In experiments with rats, researchers have identified the change in brain circuitry that drives development of a compulsion to seek drugs, even when that compulsion is self-destructive. The researchers demonstrated the function of the circuitry by selectively switching off drug-seeking in the animals. They said their findings show the key role of the brain region, known as the striatum, which is a region activated by reward. Continue reading →

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be participating at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA’s) National Leadership Forum on February 12–15 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

Date Added: 02/07/08
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2008 for Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment for Drug Courts.

Date Added: 02/06/08
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Using a brain imaging technology called functional magnetic resonance imaging, scientists have discovered that cocaine-related images trigger the emotional centers of the brains of patients addicted to drugs — even when the subjects are unaware they’ve seen anything. Continue reading →

Adults forced from their homes for 2 weeks or more by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita were much more likely to report mental health and substance abuse problems than those who were not similarly dislocated, according to a report based on surveys conducted before and after these storms hit.

Date Added: 02/04/08
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Advances in curbing the addiction to drugs has revealed a new vaccine that prevents the person from getting high. Could this prevent the downward spiral of addiction that follows relapse? The only available results say that the vaccine decreases the amount of cocaine that reaches the brain. It triggers the immune system telling it that the drug is a foreign substance. The result is the immune system then attacks in the blood stream by creating antibodies to fight it. Once attacked in the blood stream, cocaine then passes through the kidneys and is excreted through the urine making it so the drug never reaches the brain. In time, antibody levels would rise and there will be less of a high every time cocaine is used. Cocaine, the only drug found to have promising results with the vaccine, is a highly addictive drug that causes stimulation in the brain. It is also an appetite suppressant. This highly attractive drug is one of the most addictive, and life threatening. If a vaccine can prevent the return to full dependence after a relapse then millions of people will be given a second chance at life. Most importantly, the vaccine has no significant withdrawal symptoms are seen either. Why is cocaine the only drug with a cure for its addiction? In the bloodstream there is cholinesterase that naturally helps to break cocaine down. The vaccine simply plays on this. There will be several other uses for a vaccine that cures addiction such as preventing fetuses from becoming contaminated and preventing high-risk teens from becoming addicted. These possible future uses are highly controversial. At the moment, helping those with the addiction is the focus for the vaccine. Currently, a vaccine for nicotine addiction is being developed.[Source: GoogleNews] (Source: PharmaGazette) Continue reading →

SAMHSA recognizes the critical role of child care providers in facilitating a young child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development in collaboration with the child’s parent and significant caretakers. Increasingly, child care providers report difficulty working with children who are experiencing multiple challenges. Mental health consultants, trained to work with young children and their families, can serve as important resources to help the child care provider find effective ways to work with these children. A Training Guide for the Early Childhood Services Community offers a guide for trainers to use when teaching the early childhood community how to use the blueprint.

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Date Added: 02/01/08
Inventory #: SVP05-0151
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