A recent study found that a certain ingredient found in licorice shows a great potential for treatment of cocaine abuse. The said ingredient, according to a report made by researchers from Pennsylvania and Korea, may work on deadly overdoses of the drug.

In a recent animal study conducted by researchers led by Meeyul Hwang and Chae Ha Yang found that isoliquiritigenin (ISL), found in licorice can hinder the production of dopamine in the nervous system. The brain chemical is associated with certain brain activities including movement and emotions.

The researchers note that at present, an effective treatment for cocaine abuse and addiction has yet to be developed. This new discovery may show promise in providing a more sustainable medication for drug abuse.

According to previous studies, addictive drugs such as cocaine work to stimulate dopamine secretion to trigger the brain’s pleasure centers. This mechanism causes the addictive effects of certain drugs. To effectively prevent the addiction, medication should be designed to block the action of dopamine.

For the study associated with the licorice ingredient, the researchers used rats as model animals. They showed that “rats injected with ISL just prior to cocaine-administration showed 50 percent less of the behavioral effects associated with the illicit drug.” According to the team, it seems that ISL worked to protect the nerve cells of the brain from the damage that cocaine addiction can cause.

The team is now working on conducting further studies on ISL. They expect to conduct human clinical trials in the future to investigate more on the potential of the substance for addiction treatment. The research has yet to establish potential side-effects for this mode of treatment but in the coming years, they hope that it serves as foundation for the development of new cocaine-addiction treatment methods that are more effective than the ones in practice today.

For more on this research and all other drug and alcohol addiction related news, browse further into this website. Here at Pacific Hills Treatment Centers, we take pride in staying on top of industry developments so that we can improve our services further. We are an alcohol and drug rehab facility that specializes in traditional and Christ-centered recovery techniques to most types of substance abuse. We can also handle cases associated with dual diagnosis and other co-occurring disorders. For more information on how we can help you, contact us through this website today.

A group of scientists from the University of Santiago de Compostela’s Institute of Legal Medicine have developed a new method for testing the presence of 23 drugs in the body through saliva samples. Reports on the technique were published in the journal, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry.

The technique is currently in practice by the Direccion General de Trafico in Spain. It is being enforced as part of a European study that looks into the frequency of drug and alcohol consumption among drivers.

The said method entailed collecting saliva samples with the use of a special device that is covered in cotton and placed under the tongue. When the indicator turns blue, it means that there is enough sample of a particular drug (0.5 ml) in the saliva, says Manuel Lopez Rivadulla, a researcher from USC and one of the creators of the drug testing technique. Later on the, the pieces of cotton were stored in a tube for analysis.

The saliva samples are analyzed through a combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify the chemical compounds present in them. The new method allows law enforcers to “determine up to 23 substances in saliva at the same time, both illicit drug (such as cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines) and medicinal drugs (morphine, methadone, codeine and diazepam).”

The researchers also noted that this is a non-intrusive method as opposed to the typical drug testing techniques that use blood and urine samples. While the law enforcer takes samples, it’s also easier for him to directly observe the individual concerned.

As earlier mentioned, the method is in use by Spain’s traffic enforcement arm as part of an effort to study just how prevalent driving under influence is in the country. The study started generating saliva samples in September 2008 in several different key areas around the country and is expected to finish in September 2009.

For more on this research and other drug and alcohol-treatment related issues, browse further into this website. Pacific Hills Treatment Centers is a renowned alcohol and drug rehab facility that aims to stay on top of industry advancements to further help its clients through sustainable recovery. We specialize in addressing various types of substance abuse including co-occurring disorders such as dual diagnosis. Our treatment methods are based on the traditional 12-step and Christ-centered recovery techniques that have been improved over the years. Contact us through this website for more details.