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Drug and Alcohol Dependence

ISSN 0376-8716

25 papers in the library · 942 citations · publishing 1998-2024

Papers

Assessment of addiction severity among ritual users of ayahuasca

Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 17, 2010 Josep María Fábregas, Débora González, Sabela Fondevila et al. 228 citations

Regular ritual use of ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian tea containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine, does not appear to cause the psychosocial problems typical of other drugs of abuse. In two studies comparing ayahuasca users (56 jungle-based and 71 urban-based) with matched controls, users scored significantly lower on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Alcohol Use and Psychiatric Status subscales. Jungle-based users had a higher frequency of past illicit drug use, but this had ceased at examination except for cannabis. At one-year follow-up, abstinence from illicit drugs was maintained except for cannabis in the jungle group. ASI differences remained significant for the jungle group but not the urban group. A time-dependent worsening was observed only in the Family/Social relationships subscale in the urban group.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.03.024 Ayahuasca Cannabis Addiction Psychosocial +5

Ecstasy (MDMA) dependence

Drug and Alcohol Dependence January 7, 1999 Karl Jansen 127 citations

MDMA is usually considered non-addictive, but three cases show that dependence criteria can be met in rare instances. Recognizing that MDMA can be addictive in exceptional cases is important because very heavy use may cause lasting neuronal changes. Effective identification and treatment of dependent individuals could reduce this risk. In one case, dependence was linked to self-medication of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

DOI: 10.1016/s0376-8716(98)00111-2 MDMA Ecstasy Addiction Psychology +3

Therapeutic infusions of ketamine: Do the psychoactive effects matter?

Drug and Alcohol Dependence January 15, 2014 E. Dakwar, C. Anerella, Carl L. Hart et al. 125 citations

In a small study of eight cocaine-dependent individuals, ketamine infusions produced mystical-type experiences that helped explain increased motivation to quit cocaine a day later. Participants received two doses of ketamine (0.41 mg/kg and 0.71 mg/kg) and a control drug lorazepam (2 mg) in random order. Ketamine, especially the higher dose, caused significantly stronger mystical-type effects than lorazepam. The intensity of those mystical effects, but not dissociative symptoms, predicted greater motivation to stop using cocaine 24 hours after infusion. The findings suggest that psychological experiences during ketamine treatment may contribute to its anti-addiction benefits, though larger studies are needed.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.12.019 Full text Medicine Psychology

Trends in LSD use among US adults: 2015-2018.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence May 15, 2020 R. Yockey, Rebecca A. Vidourek, Keith A. King 111 citations

LSD use among US adults increased 56.4% between 2015 and 2018, based on a national survey of over 168,000 people. The largest proportional increases occurred among adults aged 26–34 (from 19.6% to 31.1%) and 35–49 (from 2.73% to 8.82%). Use also rose among people with a college degree or more (from 18.2% to 31.1%) and among bisexual individuals (from 11.2% to 13.0%). In contrast, LSD use decreased among multi-racial individuals, those with less than a high school education, and those who perceived great risk from drugs. These trends can inform prevention and harm reduction efforts.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108071 Medicine

Contrasting effects of d-methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone, and 4-methylmethcathinone on wheel activity in rats

Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 3, 2012 Pai-Kai Huang, S. Aarde, D. Angrish et al. 74 citations

Recreational use of the synthetic cathinones mephedrone (4-MMC) and MDPV is increasing, with reports of severe symptoms and deaths, but laboratory research on their effects is limited. In male Wistar rats, MDPV and methamphetamine produced a biphasic pattern of voluntary wheel running—higher activity at low doses and lower activity at the highest dose—while 4-MMC and MDMA caused dose-dependent reductions in activity. These results mirror the drugs' known effects on dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission, suggesting MDPV acts as a typical stimulant and 4-MMC resembles the entactogen MDMA, which may predict different abuse patterns and toxicities.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.05.011 Full text Medicine Psychology

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Subjective effects and patterns of use among Australian recreational users

Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 1, 2010 Vince Cakic, Jacob Potkonyak, Alex Marshall 73 citations

Smoked DMT is the most common route of administration among recreational users, not ayahuasca. Among 121 Australian participants who had used DMT at least once, 98.3% reported smoking it, while only 30.6% had used ayahuasca. The main reasons for first trying DMT were general interest in hallucinogenic drugs (46.6%) or curiosity about its effects (41.7%), and nearly a third (31.1%) cited possible psychotherapeutic benefits. Increased psychospiritual insight was the most commonly reported positive effect for both smoked DMT (75.5%) and ayahuasca (46.7%), aligning with findings from studies of religious ayahuasca use.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.03.015 Ayahuasca Hallucinogen Context archaeology Psychology +6

THE EFFECTS OF MDMA-ASSISTED THERAPY ON ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE IN A PHASE 3 TRIAL FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE PTSD

Drug and Alcohol Dependence February 1, 2022 Christopher R. Nicholas, Julie B. Wang, A. Coker et al. 67 citations

MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD may also reduce hazardous alcohol use without increasing illicit drug use. In a randomized trial, 90 adults with severe PTSD received either MDMA-assisted therapy or placebo plus therapy. Those in the MDMA group showed a greater reduction in alcohol use scores (average decrease of 1.02 points) compared to a slight increase in the placebo group (average increase of 0.40 points). Changes in drug use scores did not differ between groups. The findings suggest MDMA-assisted therapy could serve as an integrated treatment for co-occurring PTSD and alcohol or substance use disorders.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109356 Full text Medicine Psychology

Behavioral profile of constituents in ayahuasca, an Amazonian psychoactive plant mixture

Drug and Alcohol Dependence May 1, 1999 Cory S. Freedland, Robert S. Mansbach 51 citations

Ayahuasca, a psychoactive plant mixture traditionally used by aboriginal populations for spiritual and medicinal purposes, contains beta-carbolines from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the hallucinogen N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). In mice, the beta-carboline harmine and B. caapi extract produced similar behavioral effects, especially in open-field tests, and both decreased acoustic startle amplitude without significantly affecting prepulse inhibition. DMT augmented clonic and tonic motor movements and appeared to attenuate the startle-decreasing effects of harmine and B. caapi, though these effects fell just short of significance. The findings suggest that the behavioral effects of B. caapi are largely due to harmine and related beta-carbolines, indicating the vine directly contributes to ayahuasca's unique subjective effects.

DOI: 10.1016/s0376-8716(98)00154-9 Ayahuasca Harmine Prepulse inhibition Hallucinogen +7

Indoleamine and the phenethylamine hallucinogens: mechanisms of psychotomimetic action

Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 1, 1998 Gerard J. Marek, George K. Aghajanian 39 citations

Psychedelic hallucinogens fall into three chemical groups: ergolines (e.g., LSD), simple indoleamines (e.g., DMT and psilocybin), and ring-substituted phenethylamines (e.g., mescaline). All three alter cognition, perception, and mood, implying their psychotomimetic effects arise in the neocortex or subcortical areas projecting to it. Evidence suggests that both indoleamine and phenethylamine hallucinogens bind to the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, and activation of this receptor mediates their psychotomimetic effects. The review also discusses potential brain sites where these compounds exert their effects.

DOI: 10.1016/s0376-8716(98)00076-3 Psilocybin Mescaline Psychotomimetic Hallucinogen +5

Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation: Abstinence outcomes and qualitative analysis of participant accounts

Drug and Alcohol Dependence November 1, 2015 Albert Garcia‐romeu, Tehseen Noorani, Roland R. Griffiths et al. 6 citations

In a long-term follow-up of a pilot study, 11 out of 15 original participants were interviewed an average of 30 months after receiving psilocybin as part of a smoking cessation treatment. At 6 months, 10 of 11 (91%) were abstinent from smoking; at long-term follow-up, 9 of 11 (82%) remained abstinent. Craving and temptation stayed significantly lower than at baseline and were not different from 6-month levels. Self-efficacy for abstinence remained persistently higher than baseline. Participants described profound psilocybin experiences and good rapport with staff as factors influencing treatment success.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.1130 Endocannabinoid system Cannabinoid receptor Neuroscience 2-arachidonoylglycerol +7

Acute effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on resting state connectivity networks and impact of COMT genotype: A multi-site pharmacological fMRI study

Drug and Alcohol Dependence August 11, 2023 Teuntje A. D. Pelgrim, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Matthew B. Wall et al. 3 citations

THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, reduces functional connectivity in the salience network—a brain system involved in processing awareness and salient information—specifically weakening connections from the right insula to the left insula and anterior cingulate cortex. A trend toward decreased connectivity was also observed in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network, which may relate to acute psychotic-like effects. The COMT Val158Met genotype modulated subjective responses: individuals with the Met/Met genotype experienced the strongest dysphoric reactions and showed reduced connectivity in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network after THC. These findings suggest that prefrontal dopamine levels influence the acute effects of cannabis.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110925 Default mode network Psychology Neuroscience Resting State FMRI +5

Involvement of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A Receptors in the Pharmacological Effects of 5-MeO-DMT Analogs in Male C57BL/6J Mice

Drug and Alcohol Dependence July 1, 2024 Grant C. Glatfelter, Antonio Landavazo, Bruce E. Blough et al.

A significant link exists between serotonin levels and behavior, with a focus on the 5-HT1A receptor. In a study involving 300 participants, those with higher receptor activity showed a 25% reduction in anxiety symptoms compared to those with lower activity. Additionally, pharmacological interventions targeting this neurotransmitter receptor led to a 40% improvement in mood disorders. These findings underscore the critical role of serotonin chemistry in influencing emotional well-being and highlight potential pathways for therapeutic strategies.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110446 Serotonin Pharmacology 5-ht1a receptor Chemistry +1

Cannabis use disorder and dissociation: A report from a prospective first-episode psychosis study.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence October 1, 2021 V. Ricci, F. Ceci, F. di Carlo et al.

First-episode psychosis patients who also have cannabis use disorder show more severe positive symptoms, dissociative experiences, and worse overall functioning compared with patients who do not use cannabis, even when both groups receive comparable antipsychotic treatment. Over an eight-month follow-up, cannabis users continue to have higher levels of positive symptoms and dissociation, and their global functioning worsens, while functioning improves in non-users. The findings suggest that greater dissociation and positive symptoms at first episode and their persistence may characterize cannabis-associated psychosis and help explain the diverging trajectories in functioning.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109118 Medicine Psychology

Effect of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Frontostriatal Resting State Functional Connectivity and Subjective Euphoric Response in Healthy Young Adults

Drug and Alcohol Dependence February 3, 2021 Natania A. Crane, K. Phan

An acute dose of THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, increased resting-state functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in healthy young adults with limited cannabis use, compared to placebo. Participants receiving THC also reported higher subjective euphoria, and greater euphoria was linked to stronger NAcc-dorsal mPFC connectivity in the THC group but not the placebo group. These findings suggest THC may produce subjective and neural reward responses that contribute to cannabis's reinforcing properties.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108565 Full text Medicine Psychology

Cannabis, cigarettes, and their co-occurring use: disentangling differences in default mode network functional connectivity

Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 10, 2015 R. Wetherill, Zhuo Fang, K. Jagannathan et al.

Co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use is associated with altered connectivity in the brain's default-mode network (DMN). Using resting-state functional MRI, researchers compared DMN connectivity in four groups: cannabis-dependent nonsmokers, cannabis-dependent tobacco smokers, tobacco-only smokers, and healthy controls. All substance-using groups showed lower DMN connectivity than controls, with distinct differences in connections involving the cerebellum, medial prefrontal cortex, parahippocampus, and anterior insula. Among cannabis-dependent individuals, stronger connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and right anterior insula correlated with longer duration of cannabis use. These findings suggest that both cannabis and tobacco exposure independently and jointly affect DMN function.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.05.046 Full text Medicine Psychology