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Carton L, Bastien A, Chérot N, Caron C, Deheul S, Cottencin O, Gautier S, Moreau-Crépeaux S, Dondaine T, Bordet R. An overview of the use of psychoactive substances among students at the University of Lille during the COVID-19 health crisis: Results of the PETRA study. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 25:101-111. [PMID: 37837439 PMCID: PMC10578082 DOI: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2268063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Students represent a population at risk for substance abuse. That risk may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to describe substance abuse among students and to compare consumption according to the university field. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire was sent by email to all students at the University of Lille, France, between March and July 2021. This anonymous questionnaire included questions about sociodemographic characteristics, university courses and the use of psychoactive substances (frequency, reasons, routes of administration) since the first university year. RESULTS Among the 4431 students who responded (response rate 6.1%), eighty percent declared having used alcohol since the first university year, 34% cannabis, 15.4% benzodiazepines, 14.7% opioid drugs, 7.5% cocaine, 6.8% nitrous oxide and 6.5% MDMA. More than 20% of the users of cannabis, benzodiazepines, amphetamines and cocaine reported having already felt dependent. Recreational use was described by more than 10% of benzodiazepine or opioid drug users. Nitrous oxide use was significantly more frequent in the health and sport field (p < 0.001). Tobacco, benzodiazepine, cannabis and MDMA uses were significantly more frequent in the humanities and social sciences/art, language and literature fields (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Prevention measures focusing on alcohol, cannabis, illicit psychostimulants, nitrous oxide and prescription drugs are required in the student population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Carton
- Pharmacology Department, Pharmacovigilance and Addictovigilance center, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Degenerative and Vascular Cognitive Disorders, UMR-S1172, Lille, France
| | - Axel Bastien
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, CHU Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nathalie Chérot
- Department of Occupational Health, Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, ULR 4483, IMP ECS - IMPact de l‘Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine, Lille, France
| | - Clément Caron
- Pharmacology Department, Pharmacovigilance and Addictovigilance center, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Degenerative and Vascular Cognitive Disorders, UMR-S1172, Lille, France
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, CHU Lille, Lille, France
| | - Sylvie Deheul
- Pharmacology Department, Pharmacovigilance and Addictovigilance center, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Degenerative and Vascular Cognitive Disorders, UMR-S1172, Lille, France
| | - Olivier Cottencin
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Univ Lille, CHU Lille, INSERM U-1172, Plasticity & SubjectivitY (P SY) team, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition Centre (LiNC), Lille, France
| | - Sophie Gautier
- Pharmacology Department, Pharmacovigilance and Addictovigilance center, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Degenerative and Vascular Cognitive Disorders, UMR-S1172, Lille, France
| | | | - Thibaut Dondaine
- Pharmacology Department, Pharmacovigilance and Addictovigilance center, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Degenerative and Vascular Cognitive Disorders, UMR-S1172, Lille, France
| | - Régis Bordet
- Pharmacology Department, Pharmacovigilance and Addictovigilance center, Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Degenerative and Vascular Cognitive Disorders, UMR-S1172, Lille, France
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Olani AB, Decorte T. Perceived harms and protective behavioural strategies among khat chewers: a qualitative study in Jimma, Ethiopia. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:155. [PMID: 37875920 PMCID: PMC10594897 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00890-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While there have been many previous studies focusing on the adverse effects of khat chewing, attempts to investigate the protective behavioural strategies (PBS) employed by the khat using population are rare. PBS are strategies that substance users employ to minimize or alleviate the possible negative consequences related to the behaviour. This study focuses on the harms that chewers associate with khat use, and the behavioural strategies they practise to prevent or minimize these harms. METHODS A community-based qualitative study was conducted using a snowball sampling technique to recruit a diverse sample of khat chewing participants (N = 102) in Jimma city, Ethiopia. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were carried out with the participants. RESULTS Participants identified a variety of harms likely to result from chewing khat. These include impacts on their finances, work, social life and health. The PBS that participants employed to avoid or minimize the risks were classified into four themes based on their temporal sequence with khat chewing sessions: prior to chewing, during chewing, after chewing and general PBS covering the whole of their khat chewing career. The PBS enable khat chewers to prevent or minimize the adverse health consequences of chewing, socialize and work without or with fewer difficulties and manage their economy successfully. CONCLUSION The study participants believe that khat-related harms are avoidable if khat users implement appropriate strategies prior to, during and after chewing, and if they apply PBS to khat-related factors (e.g. type, amount and frequency), set factors (e.g. reason for using and health behaviour) and setting factors (e.g. place of use, when used, with whom used and social norms) covering the whole of their khat chewing career.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanti Baru Olani
- Institute for Social Drug Research, Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University, Universiteitstraat 4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Sociology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
| | - Tom Decorte
- Institute for Social Drug Research, Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University, Universiteitstraat 4, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Yuan A, Kharas N, King N, Yang P, Dafny N. Methylphenidate cross-sensitization with amphetamine is dose dependent but not age dependent. Behav Brain Res 2023; 438:114178. [PMID: 36341913 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (MPD) and amphetamine (AMP) are often prescribed to young children and adolescents to treat behavioral disorders, or used to improve their intellectual performance in our competitive society. This is concerning as the temporal effects of how MPD exposure at a young age influences the response to MPD and AMP administration later in adulthood remains unclear. The objective of this study was to test whether MPD has the characteristics of substances that elicit behavioral symptoms of dependence and whether those effects are influenced by the initial age of MPD exposure. Three control and nine experimental groups of male rats were used. They were exposed to repetitive (chronic) 0.6, 2.5, or 10.0 mg/kg MPD in adolescence only, adulthood only, or adolescence and adulthood respectively. Then all groups were subsequently re-challenged with a single AMP dose in adulthood to test whether cross-sensitization between MPD and AMP was expressed, potentially as a result of prior MPD consumption. Exposure to 2.5 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg MPD in adolescence and adulthood or in adulthood alone led to cross-sensitization with AMP while exposure to 0.6 mg/kg MPD in adolescence and adulthood or in adulthood alone did not lead to cross-sensitization with AMP. Thus, these results indicate that MPD cross-sensitization with AMP is dose dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Yuan
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston TX 77030, United States
| | - Natasha Kharas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston TX 77030, United States
| | - Nicholas King
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston TX 77030, United States
| | - Pamela Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston TX 77030, United States
| | - Nachum Dafny
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston TX 77030, United States.
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Time-dependent affective disturbances in abstinent patients with methylphenidate use disorder. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:564. [PMID: 35996130 PMCID: PMC9394023 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04187-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylphenidate (MPH), also called Ritalin, is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. With occasional reports of subjects suffering from Methylphenidate use disorder (MPHUD), few studies analyzed the neuropsychological changes in this population. PURPOSE This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of individuals with MPHUD. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 61 MPH patients (aged 16-27 years) admitted to the Beijing Gaoxin Hospital drug rehabilitation program from Jan 2017 to Mar 2019. The drug use history and drug abuse motivation scale were collected at admission. Clinicians rated the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and DSM-5 Stimulant use disorder criteria each week during the 4 weeks rehabilitation program. Correlation analyses were conducted between drug use history and affective disturbances. RESULTS The results showed that the adolescent period is the peak for MPH exposure, and 1/3 of patients got their first exposure to MPH from their parents. MPH abstinence accompanies severe anxiety and depression symptoms, significantly alleviating after four weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS MPHUD is associated with substantial affective disturbances, which warrants a more considerable sample investigation.
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Brumboiu I, Porrovecchio A, Peze T, Hurdiel R, Cazacu I, Mogosan C, Ladner J, Tavolacci MP. Neuroenhancement in French and Romanian University Students, Motivations and Associated Factors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3880. [PMID: 33917251 PMCID: PMC8068007 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18083880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the use of neuroenhancers, the motivations and factors associated with their use in French and Romanian university students. Students from two universities in France (Rouen and Opal Coast University) and one in Romania (Cluj-Napoca) were asked to complete a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, either online or on paper, about the use of three different categories of substance: Prescription drugs (methylphenidate, modafinil, and beta-blockers), drugs of abuse (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamines), and soft enhancers (coffee, vitamins, caffeine tablets, and energy drinks). In total, 1110 students were included: The users were 2.2% for prescription drugs, 4.3% for drugs of abuse, and 55.0% for soft enhancers. Students used neuroenhancement to stay awake for study (69.3%), to improve concentration (55.5%), to decrease stress (40.9%), and to improve memory (39.6%). Neuroenhancement was considered to meet expectations by 74.4% of users. The factors associated with the use of drugs of abuse were frequent binge drinking (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 6.49 [95% CI: 2.53-16.6]), smoking (AOR: 5.50 [95% CI: 2.98-10.14]), having a student job (AOR: 2.42 [95% CI 1.13-5.17]), and being male (AOR: 2.23 [95% CI:1.21-4.11]). No significant associations with eating disorders were detected for any of the three categories of substances. University students reported neuroenhancement with prescription drugs, drugs of abuse, and mainly soft enhancers. These substances were used mainly to increase the waking hours. Educational programs in universities seem to be required in order to increase student awareness of the problems caused by neuroenhancements, and to decrease the associated risks by changing students' attitudes and beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Brumboiu
- Cluj-Napoca Unit—The Net-Work of International Francophone Clinical Epidemiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.B.); (I.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Alessandro Porrovecchio
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, Univ. Lille Artois ULR 7369—URePSSS—Unité de Recherche Pluridiscipli-Naire Sport Santé Société, F-59375 Dunkerque, France; (A.P.); (T.P.); (R.H.)
| | - Thierry Peze
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, Univ. Lille Artois ULR 7369—URePSSS—Unité de Recherche Pluridiscipli-Naire Sport Santé Société, F-59375 Dunkerque, France; (A.P.); (T.P.); (R.H.)
| | - Remy Hurdiel
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, Univ. Lille Artois ULR 7369—URePSSS—Unité de Recherche Pluridiscipli-Naire Sport Santé Société, F-59375 Dunkerque, France; (A.P.); (T.P.); (R.H.)
| | - Irina Cazacu
- Cluj-Napoca Unit—The Net-Work of International Francophone Clinical Epidemiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.B.); (I.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Cristina Mogosan
- Cluj-Napoca Unit—The Net-Work of International Francophone Clinical Epidemiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.B.); (I.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Joel Ladner
- Clinical Investigation Center 1404 and INSERM 1073, Rouen University Hospital and Rouen Normandie University, 76000 Rouen, France;
| | - Marie-Pierre Tavolacci
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion and INSERM 1073, Rouen University Hospital and Rouen Normandie University, 76000 Rouen, France
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King ER, Repa LM, Garland SN. Factors associated with permissive attitudes of university students towards prescription medication misuse. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2021.1905091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R. King
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University, St. John's, Canada
| | - Lily M. Repa
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University, St. John's, Canada
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Boclin KDLS, Cecílio FFC, Faé G, Fanti G, Centenaro G, Pellizzari T, Gaviolli E, Mario DN, Rigo L. Academic performance and use of psychoactive drugs among healthcare students at a university in southern Brazil: cross-sectional study. SAO PAULO MED J 2020; 138:27-32. [PMID: 32321102 PMCID: PMC9673852 DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.2019.0182.r1.21102019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People have been using psychoactive substances for a long time. Over the last few years, this practice has spread among university students, who use these substances to improve their academic performance, relieve stress and increase concentration and memory. OBJECTIVES To estimate the use of psychoactive drugs among healthcare students at a higher education institution in the city of Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil, and to ascertain the associated demographic and lifestyle factors. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional study in a higher education institution. METHODS We included 287 undergraduate medicine and dentistry students in this study. They answered a self-administered questionnaire regarding sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables. The statistical analysis used univariate and bivariate analyses with Pearson's chi-square test (P-value < 0.05). -Multivariate analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals. The SPSS software, version 20.0, was used. RESULTS The prevalence of use of psychoactive substances among the students was 24.7%. Among these students, high frequencies of psychoactive drugs had been prescribed by physicians (95.8%) and for the purpose of relaxation or stress relief (73.2%). Women, medical students (compared with dental students) and participants with lower academic performance were more likely to use psychoactive drugs. After the multivariate adjustment, the "course" and "academic performance" remained associated with use of psychoactive drugs. CONCLUSION There was high prevalence of psychoactive drug use among the students at the higher education institution investigated. Some variables (female sex, medical students and low academic performance) were associated with the outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gabriela Faé
- Undergraduate Student, School of Medicine, Faculdade Meridional (IMED), Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil.
| | - Gabriela Fanti
- Undergraduate Student, School of Medicine, Faculdade Meridional (IMED), Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil.
| | - Guilherme Centenaro
- Undergraduate Student, School of Medicine, Faculdade Meridional (IMED), Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil.
| | - Thoany Pellizzari
- Undergraduate Student, School of Medicine, Faculdade Meridional (IMED), Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil.
| | | | - Débora Nunes Mario
- PhD. Professor, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Uruguaiana (RS), Brazil.
| | - Lilian Rigo
- PhD. Professor, School of Dentistry, Postgraduate Program on Dentistry, Faculdade Meridional (IMED), Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil.
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Dey S, Lindley G, Ma E, Harada C, Nakano-Okuno M. Developing a professionalism curriculum on the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among medical students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION 2019; 10:193-194. [PMID: 31655794 PMCID: PMC7246120 DOI: 10.5116/ijme.5d9b.1565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Suranjana Dey
- School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Gabrielle Lindley
- School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ma
- Psychiatry Residency Program, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Caroline Harada
- Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Mariko Nakano-Okuno
- Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Javed N, Ahmed F, Saeed S, Amir R, Khan H, Iqbal SP. Prevalence of Methylphenidate Misuse in Medical Colleges in Pakistan: A Cross-sectional Study. Cureus 2019; 11:e5879. [PMID: 31772849 PMCID: PMC6837268 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.5879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the prevalence of nontherapeutic use of methylphenidate as well as to ascertain any benefits, side effects, and other factors associated with this use. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in medical colleges in Pakistan using a self-constructed, validated questionnaire. The sample size was calculated using Open Source Statistics for Epidemiological Health software (OpenEpi web-based open-source program, MIT license), and it was determined to be 400. The type of sampling was cluster sampling. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of the questionnaire, and it was found to be 0.80. Results Out of the 400 participants, 197 (49%) were male and 203 (51%) were female. The mean age of the participants was 21.02 (±1.54) years. Most of the participants (84%) reported they usually studied 1-3 hours a day, and 149 participants (37%) reported a score ranging from 70 to 80% in exams. Methylphenidate was admitted to be used by 37 participants. Out of these 37 participants, only 10 participants believed they had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants revealed they used the drug to either cope with the anxiety related to their scores or merely as a personal, recreational choice. Methylphenidate was mostly acquired from peers (68%), and peer pressure was found to be a major factor in its misuse. Conclusions Most of the methylphenidate misuse is linked to student underperformance in examinations and an underlying dissatisfaction. The problem is more aggravated when the social influence exerted by other students is taken into account. The side effects of drug usage are found to outweigh the benefits that have been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nismat Javed
- Internal Medicine, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Fatimah Ahmed
- Internal Medicine, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Sikandar Saeed
- Surgery, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Raham Amir
- Internal Medicine, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Hadia Khan
- Internal Medicine, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Saima P Iqbal
- Family Medicine, Shifa International Hospitals, Islamabad, PAK
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King N, Floren S, Kharas N, Thomas M, Dafny N. Glutaminergic signaling in the caudate nucleus is required for behavioral sensitization to methylphenidate. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 184:172737. [PMID: 31228508 PMCID: PMC6692216 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.172737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Methylphenidate (MPD) is a widely prescribed psychostimulant for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and is growing in use as a recreational drug and academic enhancer. MPD acts on the reward/motive and motor circuits of the CNS to produce its effects on behavior. The caudate nucleus (CN) is known to be a part of these circuits, so a lesion study was designed to elucidate the role of the CN in response to acute and chronic MPD exposure. Five groups of n = 8 rats were used: control, sham CN lesions, non-specific electrolytic CN lesions, dopaminergic-specific (6-OHDA toxin) CN lesion, and glutaminergic-specific (ibotenic acid toxin) CN lesions. On experimental day (ED) 1, all groups received saline injections. On ED 2, surgeries took place, followed by a 5-day recovery period (ED 3-7). Groups then received six daily MPD 2.5 mg/kg injections (ED 9-14), then three days of washout with no injection (ED 15-17), followed by a re-challenge with the previous 2.5 mg/kg MPD dose (ED 18). Locomotive activity was recorded for 60 min after each injection by a computerized animal activity monitor. The electrolytic CN lesion group responded to the MPD acute and chronic exposures similarly to the control and sham groups, showing an increase in locomotive activity, i.e. sensitization. The dopaminergic-specific CN lesion group failed to respond to MPD exposure both acute and chronically. The glutaminergic-specific CN lesion group responded to MPD exposure acutely but failed to manifest chronic effects. This confirms the CN's dopaminergic system is necessary for MPD to manifest its acute and chronic effects on behavior, and demonstrates that the CN's glutaminergic system is necessary for the chronic effects of MPD such as sensitization. Thus, the dopaminergic and glutaminergic components of the CN play a significant role in differentially modulating the acute and chronic effects of MPD respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas King
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Samuel Floren
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Natasha Kharas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Ming Thomas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Nachum Dafny
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at the McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
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Acute and chronic methylphenidate administration in intact and VTA-specific and nonspecific lesioned rats. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2019; 126:173-182. [PMID: 30617502 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-018-1963-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Methylphenidate (MPD) is a psychostimulant used for the treatment of ADHD and works by increasing the bioavailability of dopamine (DA) in the brain. As a major source of DA, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) served as the principal target in this study as we aimed to understand its role in modulating the acute and chronic MPD effect. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, sham, electrical lesion, and 6-OHDA lesion groups. Given the VTA's implication in the locomotive circuit, three locomotor indices-horizontal activity, number of stereotypy, and total distance-were used to measure the animals' behavioral response to the drug. Baseline recording was obtained on experimental day 1 (ED 1) followed by surgery on ED 2. After recovery, the behavioral recordings were resumed on ED 8. All groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of 2.5 mg/kg MPD for six days after which the animals received no treatment for 3 days. On ED 18, 2.5 mg/kg MPD was re-administered to assess for the chronic effect of the psychostimulant. Except for one index, there was an increase in locomotive activity in all experimental groups after surgery (in comparison to baseline activity), acute MPD exposure, induction with six daily doses, and after MPD re-challenge. Furthermore, the increase was greatest in the electrical VTA lesion group and lowest in the 6-OHDA VTA lesion group. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the VTA may not be the primary nucleus of MPD action, and the VTA plays an inhibitory role in the locomotive circuit.
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Venkataraman SS, Claussen C, Joseph M, Dafny N. Concomitant behavioral and PFC neuronal activity recorded following dose-response protocol of MPD in adult male rats. Brain Res Bull 2017; 130:125-137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Sensitivity of Quantitative Signal Detection in Regards to Pharmacological Neuroenhancement. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18010101. [PMID: 28067776 PMCID: PMC5297735 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological neuroenhancement (PNE) is a form of abuse and has not yet been addressed by methods of pharmacovigilance. In the present study, we tested if quantitative signal detection may be sensitive in regards to PNE. We evaluated the risk of drug abuse and dependence (DAAD) related to substances that are known to be used for PNE and divided this group into agents with (methylphenidate) and without a known abuse potential outside the field of PNE (atomoxetine, modafinil, acetylcholine esterase inhibitors, and memantine). Reporting odds ratios (RORs) were calculated using a case/non-case approach based on global and country-specific drug safety data from the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC). Both control substances (diazepam and lorazepam) and methylphenidate were statistically associated with DAAD in all datasets (except methylphenidate in Italy). Modafinil was associated with DAAD in the total dataset (ROR, 2.7 (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.2-3.3)), Germany (ROR, 4.6 (95% CI, 1.8-11.5)), and the USA (ROR, 2.0 (95% CI, 1.6-2.5)). Atomoxetine was associated with DAAD in the total dataset (ROR, 1.3 (95% CI, 1.2-1.5)) and in the UK (ROR, 3.3 (95% CI, 1.8-6.1)). Apart from memantine, which was associated with DAAD in Germany (ROR, 1.8 (95% CI, 1.0-3.2)), no other antidementia drug was associated with DAAD. Quantitative signal detection is suitable to detect agents with a risk for DAAD. Its sensitivity regarding PNE is limited, although atomoxetine and modafinil, which do not have a known abuse potential outside PNE, and no antidementia drugs, whose use in PNE is presumably low, were associated with DAAD in our analysis.
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D1 and D2 specific dopamine antagonist modulate the caudate nucleus neuronal responses to chronic methylphenidate exposure. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2016; 124:159-170. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-016-1647-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Franke AG, Lehmberg S, Soyka M. Pharmacological Neuroenhancement: teachers' knowledge and attitudes-Results from a survey study among teachers in Germany. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2016; 11:32. [PMID: 27646845 PMCID: PMC5029003 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-016-0077-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pharmacological neuroenhancement (PN) is a topic of increasing importance. Its prevalence rates range from 1 % to more than 20 %. Students are a group that shows exceptionally high prevalence rates. However, little is known about teachers’ knowledge, management, attitudes and ethical judgements regarding PN. Methods A web-based survey containing 40 closed questions was developed. All teachers working at all private and public schools in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a state in northeastern Germany, were invited to participate after their respective school offices were contacted by telephone, email and mail. Results In total, 255 teachers participated in the survey. Of those, 73.3 % had already heard about PN in general, and 68.2 % had heard about PN in students. Their sources of knowledge were digital media such as TV (73.8 %) and the internet (40.6 %) and print media (64.7 %); their own students informed 29.9 % of the teachers about PN in general and 35.6 % of them about PN among students. Furthermore, 34.9 % of the surveyed teachers were convinced that PN substance use was ineffective in general, and 51.8 % of the surveyed teachers believed that PN substances were ineffective in achieving better grades. Only 1.2 % thought that none of the so-called PN substances could lead to addiction, and 37.6 % would classify PN substance use as general drug misuse. The highest values regarding risk of addiction were observed for illicit drugs. The prevalence of PN substance use was evaluated to be very low and to be significantly higher in male, highly skilled and college/university students. In total, 1.6 school lessons per year were used to discuss PN. Finally, 55.7 % of the surveyed teachers believed that performance-enhancing substances should be forbidden at schools. Conclusion Teachers, as an integral part of the education of children and adolescents, often know about PN substances and mostly refuse their use being afraid about the risk of addiction. However, regarding effects as well as side effects of PN substances, teachers have very different opinions. Furthermore, they seem to underestimate the prevalence among their students and broach the topic infrequently. Teachers should be sensitized for high prevalence rates and should broach the topic of PN more frequently to their students to prevent potential misuse of PN substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas G Franke
- Department of Social Work and Education, University of Neubrandenburg (University of Applied Sciences), Brodaer Str. 2, 17033, Neubrandenburg, Germany.
| | - Sophie Lehmberg
- Private Clinic Meiringen, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 3860 Meiringen, Switzerland
| | - Michael Soyka
- Private Clinic Meiringen, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 3860 Meiringen, Switzerland.,Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
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Hu LY, Lu T, Chen YT. Have we underestimated the possibility of bupropion sustained-release addiction? Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2016; 50:925-6. [PMID: 26921279 DOI: 10.1177/0004867416632928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Yu Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ti Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ting Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
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Vargo EJ, Petróczi A. "It Was Me on a Good Day": Exploring the Smart Drug Use Phenomenon in England. Front Psychol 2016; 7:779. [PMID: 27303339 PMCID: PMC4882335 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-medical use of prescription medication for the pursuit of increasing cognitive and intellectual capacities (defined neuroenhancement) has received growing attention from the scientific community and policymakers alike. To date, limited qualitative data exist exploring the nature of the phenomenon, especially as a potentially emerging trend among university students in England. Existing American literature suggests that students believe that neuroenhancement helps the individual to maximize his/her time, consenting a suitable balance between work and leisure. Students' motivation to experiment with neuroenhancement appears to be more in line with a need to regulate emotions surrounding study/work settings than to actually improve cognitive abilities beyond normal levels. This study aimed to qualitatively explore representations, motivations, beliefs, and consumption styles of a cohort of university student users residing in England. Through snowball sampling, 13 informants were contacted and interviewed regarding their experience with neuroenhancers. Narrations were analyzed and interpreted using qualitative analysis software and Grounded Theory methodology. Participants belonged to a broad variety of university courses and were predominantly habitual consumers of modafinil. Neuroenhancers were acquired either through friends or via the Internet. Motivations regarded the need to "catch up" and be on par with high achieving students. The entire cohort had previously experimented with other psychotropic substances. Synthetic compounds in particular were believed to be "gateway" drugs to using neuroenhancers. Experimentation with neuroenhancement can be seen as a self-governing strategy aimed at achieving continued focused productivity. Participants acknowledged sustainable benefits in neuroenhancement as it optimized work performance. The majority of the cohort also contemplated the possibility of using these drugs in the future once they entered the workforce. Neuroenhancing drug users expressed "situated morality," differentiating between using these substances for assessments (exams) or during revisions, finding only the former as an immoral conduct. In the present scenario, it appears that neuroenhancement is practiced by small numbers of students. Nonetheless, the instrumental views of psychotropic substances held by many young adults and the globalization of these practices make the normalization of neuroenhancement a plausible possibility of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth J Vargo
- Pharmacy and Chemistry, School of Life Sciences, Kingston University Surrey, UK
| | - Andrea Petróczi
- Pharmacy and Chemistry, School of Life Sciences, Kingston University Surrey, UK
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