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When given a choice between viewing pictures of cocaine and a variety of other images, cocaine addicted individuals, as compared to healthy, non-addicted research subjects, show a clear preference for the drug-related images. Findings from this study, which was conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, were presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington D.C.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded a researcher at The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy $1.7 million for a nearly five-year study of the long-term adverse effects of the street drug ecstasy, also known as the "hug drug." Terrence J. Monks, PhD, head of the college's Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, is a specialist in the study of drug toxicology, or the "bad" effects of drugs. He will be the principal investigator on the ecstasy project.

Hanover resident and Boston Medical Center (BMC) Nurse Manager Colleen LaBelle, RN, ACRN, CARN, was one of two semi-finalists to receive the Best Abstract Award from the Association for medical education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA).

The term "non-beverage alcohols" refers to manufactured liquids that contain alcohol but are not intended for consumption, such as medicinal tinctures, aftershave, alcohol-based anti-freeze, antiseptics, and eau-de-colognes. Drinking these products is very hazardous to one's health.

Researchers who have been following the health of more than 120,000 residents of the Netherlands for more than two decades have found that smoking is associated with two forms of esophageal cancer as well as a form of stomach cancer, and that drinking alcohol is strongly linked to one form of esophageal cancer.

Most Wyoming high School and middle school students don't use illegal drugs, binge drink, or smoke tobacco, but mistakenly believe that many more of their classmates do, a new statewide survey reveals. "It's both interesting and significant that the survey showed wide divides between perception and reality when it comes to substance use and abuse among Wyoming youth," said Rodger McDaniel, Wyoming Department of health deputy director for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Ineffective disposal of unwanted or expired medications can lead to abuse, pollution or accidental ingestion, according to Wyoming Department of health pharmacists. "Prescription drug abuse is a growing concern in Wyoming and across the country," said State Pharmacist Roxanne Homar. "No one wants to make the problem worse, and responsible, prompt disposal of medications can help.

Scientists have identified a relationship between two proteins in the brain that has links to both nicotine addiction and autism. The finding has led to speculation that existing drugs used to curb nicotine addiction might serve as the basis for potential therapies to alleviate the symptoms of autism.

What makes residents of certain states or countries more likely to consume more alcohol? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, high levels of individualism lead to more problem drinking. "We looked at the extent to which consumer levels of individualism (vs. collectivism) were related to their beer and problem alcohol consumption," write authors Yinlong Zhang and L.J. Shrum (both University of Texas-San Antonio).

Commenting on a new report by the University of Manchester that finds a direct link between alcohol sponsorship in the sports industry and hazardous drinking among sportspeople, Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and chair of the UK Alcohol health Alliance said: