NIDA Notes Articles: Treatment Research

Disruption of Neuron Production in Adult Rats Increases Cocaine Taking

November 2011
Drug abuse may diminish production of new neurons in the brain’s hippocampus and thereby increase vulnerability to drug addiction.

Resting Brain Studies Shed New Light on Vulnerabilities

November 2011
Individuals with weak signaling in a nicotine-sensitive brain circuit were more vulnerable to nicotine dependence than those with stronger signaling, according to a study conducted while the subjects’ brains were in a resting state. A second resting-state study finds that the same circuit appears to mediate dependence associated with a genetic risk factor for smoking.

Drugs Contribute to High Rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Juvenile Offenders

July 2011

Describe a study of newly arrested youths where researchers found correlations between the youths' prevalence of these sexually transmitted diseases and their cocaine and marijuana use.

Methamphetamine Abuse Undermines Dental Health

July 2011
Describes research that sheds light on the correlation between increased dental disease and methamphetamine abuse.