Addiction

What if brain scans could predict whether someone was more vulnerable to relapse?

In addiction recovery, relapse is most often caused by external cues and stress that act as triggers for cravings. New research is finding the area of the brain that might be responsible for why some recovering addicts are more vulnerable to relapse than others.

A study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that recovering addicts who had elevated activity in the region of the brain known as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex or vmPFC (even when relaxed) were eight times more likely to relapse within 90 days than those whose vmPFC activty was lower when they were relaxed. (Healthland.time.com)

The study monitored the brain activity of 45 recovering alcoholics, who were in a 12 steps AA program, and had been sober for four to eight weeks. The researchers studied each person during three different types of experiences: a stressful one, one that involved a common trigger to drink, and a relaxing one. Personalized video experiences were created for each person to watch during an MRI brain scan. The brain activity patterns were then compared to 30 social drinkers of similar age, intelligence and gender who were not in recovery. Read more →

Is there a connection between cocaine, heroin and sugar addiction? Many will be surprised to know that there is. The fact that a bag of Sour Patch Kids or gummy worms is related to cocaine, heroin, or other drugs might seem far fetched, but they’re similar in how they can affect the brain.

Sugar, like drugs and alcohol, activates the reward cycle of the brain by stimulating dopamine (the reward-seeking chemical that is also responsible for addictive behaviors). “A sugar binge alters brain function and fuels the desire for more sweet stuff,” says Princeton University psychology professor Bart Hoebel. There is a sugar high caused by a surge of dopamine, similar to the “feel-good” rush of drugs or alcohol. This can be followed by the psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal when sugar is then denied. (Medheadlines.com) Read more →

Last month rapper Lil’ Wayne ended up in the hospital suffering from seizures, and Sizzurp might be to blame for it. Sizzurp, which is also called the “purple drank,” is a brew made of prescription cough syrup, Sprite or Mountain Dew, and Jolly Rancher candy. The purple color comes from the dyes in the cough syrup, which contains the strong opiate codeine and the anti-histamine promethazine.

Doctors and addiction experts warn that this concoction is very dangerous, especially because it is the type of drink that kids are drawn to. A drink with Sprite, Mountain Dew and Jolly Rancher candy may sound innocent. But in reality, codeine is a strong, dangerous opiate, especially when consumed in large amounts. It can cause intoxication, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, dehydration, dangerous blood pressure levels, fast heart rate, difficulty breathing and seizures. It is in the same class of drugs as Percocet, morphine and heroin. Because codeine affects the reward center of the brain, it is highly addictive.

Also, promethazine, the other ingredient in cough syrup, is an antiemetic, which prevents vomiting. It’s unbelievably dangerous to drink something that acts like a poison in the body along with a substance like promethazine that prevents the body from being able to throw up. This harmless-sounding drink can turn out to be lethal.

Over-the-counter cough syrup is also used in Sizzurp. This usually contains Dextromethorphan, or “DXM,” which is similar to codeine in that it can cause drowsiness and breathing difficulties. It can also cause vision changes, hallucinations, and other weird behavior. Sizzurp is causing an increase in cases reported to poison centers across the country.

Cough syrup is especially concerning because many people see it as similar to other prescription drugs. It’s important to remember that just because you can find it in the home medicine cabinet and not on the street corner, doesn’t mean it isn’t addictive and dangerous.

Many who suffer with a drug or alcohol use problem often fly under the radar because they don’t meet certain criteria that would label them: ADDICT. Recently Harvard Medical School released another installment of their “Almost Effect” series that discusses health situations that fall between normal and full-blown problems. The latest is called “Almost Addicted: Is My (or My Loved One’s) Drug Use a Problem?”

How do you recognize drug or alcohol use that has become problematic but hasn’t reached the diagnostic criteria for addiction? How do you know when to seek help? Dr. J. Wesley Boyd says, that “to qualify as an almost addiction, a behavior must fall outside of what is considered normal, but, at the same time, not meet criteria for a DSM diagnosis; that it’s causing identifiable problems; that it might progress to a full-blown condition or, at least, cause substantial suffering; that an intervention should be able to help; and that stopping the behavior will improve quality of life. The benefit of identifying drug-using behavior as “almost addicted,” is that it offers an opportunity to stop and turn your life around before a problem progresses into full addiction, which is much more difficult to treat.” (Psych Central) Read more →