Category Archives: Addiction

Pharmacological blockade of either cannabinoid CB1 or CB2 receptors prevents both cocaine-induced conditioned locomotion and cocaine-induced reduction of cell proliferation in the hippocampus of adult male rat.

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“Addiction to major drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, has recently been linked to alterations in adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The endogenous cannabinoid system modulates this proliferative response as demonstrated by the finding that pharmacological activation/blockade of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors not only modulates neurogenesis but also modulates cell death in the brain.

In the present study, we evaluated whether the endogenous cannabinoid system affects cocaine-induced alterations in cell proliferation…

These results indicate that the changes in neurogenic, apoptotic and gliotic processes that were produced by repeated cocaine administration were normalized by pharmacological blockade of CB1 and CB2. The restorative effects of cannabinoid receptor blockade on hippocampal cell proliferation were associated with the prevention of the induction of conditioned locomotion but not with the prevention of cocaine-induced sensitization.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24409127

Acute alcohol use temporally increases the odds of male perpetrated dating violence: A 90-day diary analysis.

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“…the present study examined the temporal relationship between acute alcohol use, marijuana use, and male perpetrated physical, psychological, and sexual dating violence…

On any alcohol use days, heavy alcohol use days (5 or more standard drinks), and as the number of drinks increased on a given day, the odds of physical and sexual aggression perpetration increased. The odds of psychological aggression increased on heavy alcohol use days only.

Marijuana use days did not increase the odds of any type of aggression.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings contribute to a growing body of research on the temporal relation between acute alcohol use and IPV perpetration among college men. Combined with previous research, our findings suggest that dating violence intervention and prevention programs should target reductions in alcohol use.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24199932

Cannabidiol protects liver from binge alcohol-induced steatosis by mechanisms including inhibition of oxidative stress and increasing of autophagy.

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“Acute alcohol drinking induces steatosis, and effective prevention of steatosis can protect liver from progressive damage caused by alcohol… We evaluated whether cannabidiol, which has been reported to function as an antioxidant, can protect the liver from alcohol-generated oxidative stress induced steatosis.

Cannabidiol can prevent acute alcohol induced liver steatosis in mice… Importantly, cannabidiol can prevent the decrease of autophagy induced by alcohol.

In conclusion, these results show that cannabidiol protects mouse liver from acute alcohol induced steatosis through multiple mechanisms including attenuation of alcohol-mediated oxidative stress, prevention of JNK MAPK activation, and increasing autophagy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24398069

Therapeutic potential of cannabinoid medicines.

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Drug Testing and Analysis

“Cannabis was extensively used as a medicine throughout the developed world in the nineteenth century but went into decline early in the twentieth century ahead of its emergence as the most widely used illicit recreational drug later that century. Recent advances in cannabinoid pharmacology alongside the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) have re-ignited interest in cannabis-based medicines.

The ECS has emerged as an important physiological system and plausible target for new medicines. Its receptors and endogenous ligands play a vital modulatory role in diverse functions including immune response, food intake, cognition, emotion, perception, behavioural reinforcement, motor co-ordination, body temperature, wake/sleep cycle, bone formation and resorption, and various aspects of hormonal control. In disease it may act as part of the physiological response or as a component of the underlying pathology.

In the forefront of clinical research are the cannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, and their contrasting pharmacology will be briefly outlined. The therapeutic potential and possible risks of drugs that inhibit the ECS will also be considered. This paper will then go on to review clinical research exploring the potential of cannabinoid medicines in the following indications: symptomatic relief in multiple sclerosis, chronic neuropathic pain, intractable nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and weight in the context of cancer or AIDS, psychosis, epilepsy, addiction, and metabolic disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24006213

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.1529/abstract

The Hypocretin/Orexin Receptor-1 as a Novel Target to Modulate Cannabinoid Reward.

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“Although there is a high prevalence of users who seek treatment for cannabis dependence, no accepted pharmacologic treatment is available to facilitate and maintain abstinence.

 The hypocretin/orexin system plays a critical role in drug addiction, but the potential participation of this system in the addictive properties of cannabinoids is unknown.

 We investigated…  studies were performed to evaluate dopamine extracellular levels in the nucleus accumbens after acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration..

… role of Hcrtr-1 in the reinforcing and motivational properties of WIN55,212-2 (THC) was confirmed…

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings demonstrate that Hcrtr-1 modulates the reinforcing properties of cannabinoids, which could have a clear therapeutic interest.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23896204

Hepatic Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 Mediates Alcohol-Induced Regulation of Bile Acid Enzyme Genes Expression Via CREBH.

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“In this study, we have investigated the effect of alcohol exposure on hepatic bile acid homeostasis and elucidated the mediatory roles of Cb1r and Crebh in this process.

We found that alcohol exposure or Cb1r-agonist 2-AG treatment increases hepatic bile acid synthesis and serum ALT, AST levels in vivo along with significant increase in Crebh gene expression and activation.

 Alcohol exposure activated Cb1r, Crebh, and perturbed bile acid homeostasis…

 Overall, our study demonstrates a novel regulatory mechanism of hepatic bile acid metabolism by alcohol via Cb1r-mediated activation of Crebh, and suggests that targeting Crebh can be of therapeutic potential in ameliorating alcohol-induced perturbation of bile acid homeostasis.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23894352

Palmitoylethanolamide: From endogenous cannabimimetic substance to innovative medicine for the treatment of cannabis dependence.

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“Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a fatty acid amide showing some pharmacodynamic similarities with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal psychoactive compound present in the cannabis plant.

Like Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, PEA can produce a direct or indirect activation of cannabinoid receptors.

 Furthermore, it acts as an agonist at TRPV1 receptor.

The hypothesis is that PEA has anti-craving effects in cannabis dependent patients, is efficacious in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms, produces a reduction of cannabis consumption and is effective in the prevention of cannabis induced neurotoxicity and neuro-psychiatric disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23896215

Role of cannabinoid CB2 receptor in the reinforcing actions of ethanol.

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“This study examines the role of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2 r) on the vulnerability to ethanol consumption… These results suggest that deletion of the CB2 r gene increased preference for and vulnerability to ethanol consumption…

Future studies will determine the role of CB2 r as a target for the treatment of problems related with alcohol consumption.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23855434

Medical Cannabis Use Doesn’t Adversely Impact Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes, Study Says

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“The physician-supervised use of medical marijuana does not adversely affect the outcomes of individuals enrolled in substance abuse treatment programs, according to clinical trial data published last week in the Harm Reduction Journal.

An investigator at Humboldt State University in California assessed whether medical cannabis use was associated with negative outcomes in patients referred to a substance abuse treatment program.

The study reported that treatment outcomes for medically authorized cannabis users were comparable to those of subjects who were not supervised to use the drug.

“Cannabis use did not seem to compromise substance abuse treatment amongst the medical marijuana using group, who (based on these preliminary data) fared equal to or better than non-medical marijuana users in several important outcome categories (e.g., treatment completion, criminal justice involvement, medical concerns),” the study concluded. “This exploratory study suggests that medical marijuana … may not adversely affect positive treatment outcomes.””

http://norml.org/news/2010/03/19/medical-cannabis-use-doesn-t-adversely-impact-substance-abuse-treatment-outcomes-study-says

“Medical marijuana users in substance abuse treatment” Full Text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2848643/