Neuroscience: Rewiring the brain
Sullivan's research suggests that people recovering from alcohol addiction manage to work around brain damage; in other words, their brains find ways of accomplishing tasks by avoiding using damaged areas and they start to regain their working memory. Read more on Nature.com

Blood pressure medication could prevent alcohol, drug addiction
Now, more and more regard addiction as a brain rewiring problem, and that relapse during recovery can be triggered by encounters with environmental cues that have become strongly associated with the addictive substance. Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov … Read more on Medical News Today

Genesis Recovery Kentucky Center to serve men with addiction in Eastern …
Ground has been broken in Grayson for the new Genesis Recovery Kentucky Center, a 100-bed center, which will provide supportive housing and peer-to-peer support services to help men to recover from substance abuse and restore opportunities for them … Read more on KyForward.com

Question by Wait! U Mad Bro??!!: OK MARIJUANA AND LSD DEBATE?
Allright, so my friend is a smoker right, he doesn’t smoke ALL the time, but he still smokes. so we were having a debate on LSD and Marijuana effect on the brain when they are ABUSED. I said, if you abuse both substances, they could lead to brain damage, but he insists that only LSD does this. He literally says Marijuana will not have an effect on the brain if it is abused. I told him it will and sited a medical book as my source. He then tells me that the book is biased and that he’s done many research on the drug and is sure it doesn’t effect the brain in any way. DOES THAT MAKE SENCE?!!!
well

Best answer:

Answer by bravozulu
Effect should be modified to negative effect. The word “abused” is subjective and even leading. Damage is also somewhat subjective and the word “could” doesn’t have much meaning either. It could be one chance in a billion or 50/50.

THC most definitely has an effect on the brain and it potentially has profound effects on the mind. The changes are due to activating cannabinoid receptors. Those change other neurotransmitters and it changes how the brain functions. There isn’t much long term change and probably no permanent damage. He probably meant that no permanent or even temporary harm was done. That is probably true unless the dose is far beyond normal usage.

LSD is extremely non toxic. The changes are very temporary. This statement from wikipedia is consistent with statements from all the medical doctors I have heard.
“LSD is non-addictive, is not known to cause brain damage, and has extremely low toxicity relative to dose, although in rare cases adverse psychiatric reactions such as anxiety or delusions are possible.”

The later anxiety and delusions are sometimes described as flashbacks and it is generally believed that they are memories of your altered conscious thoughts. You remember feeling paranoid or whatever you experienced so there is potential for permanent psychological damage. The same is logically true for THC though most people don’t normally react badly to it. There are certainly exceptions though.

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House Votes to End DEA Raids on Legal Medical Marijuana Businesses
The Huffington Post adds that medical marijuana dispensaries have faced the wrath of both the DEA and the Obama administration, with the agency still considering marijuana a Schedule I substance, meaning it has high potential for abuse and no accepted … Read more on Complex.com

What the legalization of marijuana has meant for children
Although she was unhurt, the kitchen was destroyed and the adults who were present have been charged with reckless endangerment and child abuse, according to CBS Denver.Such dangerous environments are tied to recreational use of marijuana. Read more on Wicked Local Hopedale

Mississippi, home to federal government's official stash of marijuana
Researchers can't get anything from the 46-year-old Marijuana Research Project at Ole Miss unless the Drug Enforcement Administration gives the go-ahead. A panel on which the National Institute on Drug Abuse is represented often must sign off too. Read more on Los Angeles Times

Question by Star: Does anyone with medical expertise know if “DOXEPIN”?
is used for Obsessive Compulsive Behaviors, such as skin picking? If not, does anyone know of a medication used to control skin picking?

Best answer:

Answer by Sir K
I have absolutely no expertise… or even knowledge of this… I’ve never even heard of it before until now… but… give me a moment and I’ll google it to death and see if I can find anything helpful! : ) I’ll be back!

—————————————————————
The following are most important quotes from the sites I will list below them and then in the source box.

“Doxepin is in a group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Doxepin affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.

Doxepin is used to treat symptoms of depression and/or anxiety associated with alcoholism, psychiatric conditions, or manic-depressive conditions.

Doxepin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.”

“Do not use this medication if you are allergic to doxepin, or if you have glaucoma or problems with urination.”

“Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take doxepin before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.”

“Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. ”

“Before taking doxepin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

bipolar disorder (manic-depression); or

diabetes (doxepin may raise or lower blood sugar).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication”

“This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.”

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/doxepin.html

“PRESCRIBED FOR: Doxepin is used for treating depression and anxiety. It also is used for treating depression due to alcoholism or brain damage and depression associated with bipolar disorder. ”

“PREGNANCY: There are no adequate studies of doxepin use in pregnant women. ”

“SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effect of doxepin is drowsiness. Drowsiness improves as therapy continues. Other side effects associated with doxepin include blurred vision, urinary retention (difficulty urinating), dry mouth, constipation, weight gain or loss, and low blood pressure when rising from a sitting position (orthostatic hypotension). Rash, hives, rapid heart rate, seizures, and hepatitis are rare side effects. Doxepin also can cause elevated pressure in the eyes of some patients with glaucoma. If antidepressants, including doxepin, are discontinued abruptly, symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, and changes in mood may occur. Such symptoms of withdrawal may occur even when a few doses of antidepressant are missed. Therefore, it is recommended that the dose of antidepressant be reduced gradually when therapy is discontinued.

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in short-term studies in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders.”

“BRAND NAME: Sinequan, Adapin ”

http://www.medicinenet.com/doxepin/article.htm

Doesn’t sound to me like it’s what you’re looking for… just to be sure though you may want to check out those sites. Sorry for all the copy and pasted quotes. : (

I’ll check out medications used for Obsessive Compolsive Behaviors “Skin picking”. I’ll post my findings below.

http://www.ocfoundation.org/compulsive-skin-picking.html (This just talks about skin picking… and if you don’t know much about it, it may be useful… but it says nothing about medication to help really.)

“Medication: The medications mainly used to treat picking are the same group as those used for OCD, including antidepressants (SSRIs). Drugs that help skin picking may take several weeks before they start working. They also may not work perfectly. Usually, 65 percent improvement from a medication is considered a good result. Medication should never be considered an end in itself, but a tool to help with therapy. ”

HUH! Well… then maybe Doxepin MAY help? But they say a 65% percent improvement from a medication is a good result. That’s not so good. After this quote on this site, there is mention of “Psychotherapy:”… but it’s too long to paste here… you may want to check it out on the site and see what it’s about. Here’s the link:

http://www.brainphysics.com/skin-picking.php

Sorry I can’t be of anymore help… I don’t know if Doxepin is what you’re looking for or not. I also don’t know how affective it will be. I hope this is at least slightly helpful to you. Sorry I can’t help more.

Best of luck!

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SerenityNow Announces Publication of a Comprehensive Guide to Teenage …
Parents who suspect their teenager is abusing alcohol will find the guide helpful and easy to understand. In addition, they can learn more about the SerenityNow approach to treating the teenage alcoholic and why early intervention is essential to … Read more on PR Leap (press release)

Israeli action against alcoholism – too little, too late?
“It is an addictive with the largest gaps there are – 94 percent of those addicted are undiagnosed and untreated,” says Dr. Rakefet Bacharach, a family physician for Clalit Health Services who is in charge of alcoholism treatment for the local … Read more on Haaretz

Study finds important implications for personalized treatment of alcohol abuse
Despite this, few heavy drinkers seek out treatment—especially those who do not meet the clinical criteria for an alcohol use disorder, but whose drinking causes substantial damage to individuals, their families and the community. Researchers at Penn … Read more on Westmoreland County Times

Question by Shilajit: How to stop my friend from sniffing Dendrite (a glue consisting toluene and other intoxicants)?
Hey guys, I have a friend (Aged 24) who sniffs Dendrite every day. I know him almost 3 years now, and there hasn’t been a single day he didn’t do this thing. Sometimes he sniffs about 4-5 glue tubes a day. By now, he has become a junkie and he admits that he’s addicted. We’re all very concerned about his health as we know permanent brain damage is prevalent among users.
The most interesting part is this, he’s very well-educated and a very talented and struggling guitarist, an intellectual person I’d say, who’s interested in Classical/Jazz/Rock/Metal music and movies, unlike the usual abusers of this drug, who are mostly poor,homeless kids. He refuses to lay off of Dendrite for unknown reasons and we’re all pretty scared about this. Lately, I’ve been feeling his playing skills is lacking perfection. But that’s probably just me, and he isn’t really abnormal in any way and is quite a lovable person.
Rehab isn’t really an option, as the guy I’m talking about lives alone, away from his parents and they probably don’t know anything about this. When I ask him the reasons for sniffing glue, he just tells me that it’s the only thing that keeps his mind away from all the bullshit and depression and frustration,when the truth is, there isn’t really anything so frustrating. So probably he’s just making up excuses for sniffing more?
So, can anyone help me help him?

Best answer:

Answer by Saya
First of all he has to realise that he has this problem. Before that, there is not much you can do besides explaining what sniffing glue does to his body.

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Alcohol & Drug Rehab Calgary Launches New Initiative to Help Adolescents …
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Centers stand firmly upon the foundation of the Twelve Spiritual Principles of recovery, which include Honesty, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Love for Others (Brotherly and Sisterly), Justice … Read more on PR Web (press release)

Alcohol & Drug Rehab Kelowna Launches Program to Help Adults and …
A Kelowna alcohol and drug rehab center is introducing a program geared toward helping adults and adolescents stop their cocaine addiction at Drug Addiction Treatment Centers. Based on information released by the National Anti-Drug Strategy in Canada, … Read more on PR Web (press release)

Question by James: Will short term memory from weed last forever?
Im a 14 year old kid im really scared i tried weed once like one puff and now im freaking out i have really bad anxiety alot of people tell me it from that but i dont know i worry about illnesses and stuff what i do is think back to like yesterday then i forget something that happened yesterday and i freak out will this last forever when i think about it that it will last forever and my anxiety i think i should just kill myself and all my worries will go away Thanks James

Best answer:

Answer by KauaiChrons
It’s just short-term, you’re freaking yourself over nothing. However stay away from it you’re way too young, it’s not good on the developing brain. Coping skills is just one of the things you will lack if you continue to smoke weed. This is long term scientific studies recently collected, and was tested with ADULTS, but you should be more educated about marijuana:

Source:( http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/… )
Analysis of Studies Finds Little Effect From Long-Term Use
By Sid Kirchheimer
WebMD Health News
July 1, 2003 — Long-term and even daily marijuana use doesn’t appear to cause permanent brain damage, adding to evidence that it can be a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of diseases, say researchers.
The researchers found only a “very small” impairment in memory and learning among long-term marijuana users. Otherwise, scores on thinking tests were similar to those who don’t smoke marijuana, according to a new analysis of 15 previous studies.
In those studies, some 700 regular marijuana users were compared with 484 non-users on various aspects of brain function — including reaction time, language and motor skills, reasoning ability, memory, and the ability to learn new information.

Surprising Finding:
“We were somewhat surprised by our finding, especially since there’s been a controversy for some years on whether long-term cannabis use causes brain damage,” says lead researcher and psychiatrist Igor Grant, MD.
“I suppose we expected to see some differences in people who were heavy users, but in fact the differences were very minimal.”
The marijuana users in those 15 studies — which lasted between three months to more than 13 years — had smoked marijuana several times a week or month or daily. Still, researchers say impairments were less than what is typically found from using alcohol or other drugs.

Source: ( http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm… )
Many drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and alcohol, inhibit the growth of new cells in the hippocampus, which scientists believe could emotionally destabilize addicts. Understanding how drugs affect the hippocampus may have a critical role in treating addiction.Neuropsychologist Xia Zhang and a team of researchers based at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, aimed to find out just how marijuana-like drugs, known collectively as cannabinoids, act on the brain.

The researchers injected rats with HU210, a synthetic drug that is about one-hundred times as powerful as THC, the high-inducing compound naturally found in marijuana. They then used a chemical tracer to watch new cells growing in the hippocampus.

They found that HU210 seemed to induce new brain cell growth, just as some antidepressant drugs do, they report in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. This suggests that they could potentially be used to reduce anxiety and depression, Zhang says. He adds that the research might help to create new cannabinoid-based treatments.

“I think it’s a very exciting study,” says Amelia Eisch, an addiction researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “It makes marijuana look more like an antidepressant and less like a drug of abuse.”

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Teens and pot use: Parents, here's what you need to talk about
The perceptions many teens — and often, their parents — have about pot are not only wrong, they can be dangerous, say medical and treatment professionals. An ongoing study of the behaviors and attitudes of teens and young adults has found that … Read more on Royal Oak Daily Tribune

I, Like David Brooks, Have Smoked Marijuana
… treatment for those addicted to those dangerous drugs such as heroin and alcohol. Because drug abuse is mainly a public-health issue, not a law-enforcement issue. Another mandatory feature of the marijuana-themed column is the Current Use Statement … Read more on Bloomberg

Marijuana in Colorado has a long history and an uncertain future
Drug-treatment professionals say admissions for marijuana addiction have skyrocketed in the past year — though firm numbers aren't available. They say kids in trouble for marijuana are testing positive for higher potencies. Doctors at Children's … Read more on Denver Post

Question by Liza Shevchuk: Natural Remedies For Brain Damage After Drug Abuse?
My older brother has done many drugs from about 16-21. Its been a year since his last use, and he’s been having some serious problems. He has high anxiety and he’s been having frequent episodes of “weird” (as he calls it) feelings. He doesn’t label it as feeling sick. During these episodes he feels jittery, emotional (even cry’s sometimes) out of control, his heart rate goes up. This also causes him to have insomnia. Maybe they’re panic attacks, but the thing is, what triggers it? This occurs randomly on a normal day. We believe its typical withdrawal symptoms, because he abused quite a few drugs. (Marijuana, cigarettes, ecstasy, crystal meth, shrooms, hookah, cocaine, inhalants, “uppers” (as he calls them))
He has gone to see his doctor several times to get treatment, and his doctor said he has migraines.
-____-
He prescribed him anti depressants and that didn’t help my brother AT ALL.
He does this herbal drop treatment (echinacea, other oils, etc) That help him sleep.
Now we’re trying to find him herbal remedies that would help repair his brain damage from all of the abuse he has done to it.
Thank you very much.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
I’m not sure that there will be repairing of the brain damage (presuming that he has that as I’m not a medical doctor :), but researchers believe that the brain is very “plastic” and may form new nerve pathways to *help* compensate for the injured areas.

With regard to inhalant use, my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from huffing at the age of 12, now in her 30s. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual *poisons* that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

Please be *very* careful with herbal supplements or “remedies” (e.g., echinacea, ginkgo biloba, chamomile) as they can result in side effects and/or drug (medication) interactions. It’s best to check with a licensed pharmacist before taking any of them. Not everything that is “natural” is safe 😉

Regarding the panic attacks, some people have generalized anxiety (to know specific event) or other types of anxiety. The antidepressants may help to lessen the intensity and/or frequency of the anxiety symptoms. Such medications tend to take about 6-8 weeks before possibly noticing results. A caveat (warning) is that some antidepressants may cause insomnia (trouble getting to and/or staying asleep). However, there are medications that one may take to help counteract the insomnia.

Even though benzo’s (e.g., ativan, valium, xanax, klonopin) may be prescribed to help with sleep, they’re not always recommended as a medication due to their physical addictiveness. (Some withdrawal symptoms from benzo’s may include seizures, psychosis/mental break from reality, or even death.) Some psychiatrists (it’s best to get medication for mental health issues from a board-certified psychiatrist as opposed to “just” a family doctor) prescribe seroquel (or other medications), which is classified as an antipsychotic but in smaller dosages may help with sleep.

You’d mentioned that he’s gone to the doctor several times, and I’m wondering if he’s gone to a neurologist which is medical dr who can help rule out disorders of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord, nerves. I’m just thinking that to help “cover all the bases” (not trying to give false hope though, know what I mean).

I’m not sure that he’d still be going through withdrawal symptoms a year after stopping the drugs, but it’s a good idea to ask a doctor about that as well.

Pertaining to the anxiety, please show him this government site which may have some local counseling agencies: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the second link. Then one can click “near you” on the left-hand side of the page under “find facilities” and can type one’s city and state of residence into search. Their toll-free 24/7 referral helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Just an fyi that the first link is for those looking for substance abuse counseling/treatment, and that may be an option if he’s still “using” or having cravings for substances.

A 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), may have some local support groups. The only requirement is having a desire to get sober. One may attend an “open” AA meeting if there is no drinking problem: http://www.aa.org

This site has some common mottos pertaining to those 12-step programs, including “One day at a time”, “First things first” and “People, places and things”: http://www.royy.com/toolsofrecovery.html

Al-Anon is a 12-step program for the *friends and family* of the problem drinker, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

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