IV Drug Abuse and Bacteremia
Bacteremia is a general term that doctors use to describe the abnormal circulation of bacteria in the bloodstream. In popular culture, the condition is also known somewhat inaccurately as “blood poisoning.” In some cases, bacteria circulating in the blood cause little or no harm to human health; however, in other cases, circulating bacteria lodge in [...]
Comparing Substance Use in the United States and South Korea
In recent years there has been increasing research focusing on the brain functions related to reward and punishment, in the hope of identifying specific areas dedicated to addiction behaviors. However, equally important in the development of addiction are the social and environmental influences that can increase a person’s risk of developing a substance abuse problem.
Genetic Makeup and Length of Drug Abuse Can Determine Severity of Addiction
A new study from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory has shown that drug-dependent individuals with certain genetic makeup have lower gray matter density (and fewer neurons) in areas of the brain that control decision-making, self-control, learning, and memory. This shows that genes can influence the severity of addiction, according to study co-author [...]
Exercise May Help Reduce Binging Patterns of Cocaine Use
A new study has found that aerobic exercise may protect against binging patterns of cocaine use. The study, led by Mark A. Smith, PhD, of Davidson College, discovered that rats that used running wheels self-administered less cocaine than rats that did not run. Smith said that this study is the first demonstration that exercise reduces [...]
