Aripiprazole has potential for treating alcohol dependence

Aripiprazole is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat bipolar disorder as well as schizophrenia. A study of aripiprazole’s potential for treating alcohol dependence has found that it significantly and dose-dependently increases the sedative effects of alcohol and, to a lesser degree, decreases the euphoric effects of alcohol.

Results are published in the April issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

“Aripiprazole is a dopamine partial agonist,” explained Henry R. Kranzler, a professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center and corresponding author for the study. “Since dopamine is involved in the rewarding effects of alcohol, we thought that aripiprazole might reduce those effects.”

 

Mutant monkeys get hooked on a drug called mum

A gene mutation determines whether or not macaque infants make a fuss when their mothers are missing, say researchers. A similar mutation has been linked to alcoholism and drug abuse in humans.

The work could explain why some children are cry babies and some are more independent, says Christina Barr, a neuroscientist at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Bethesda, Maryland, US, who led the study.

"There are some kids that go with the flow and there are some that are very reluctant [to leave their mothers]," she says.

When infants and young animals spend time with their mothers, their bodies release natural drugs called opioids. Molecular receptors on brain cells sop up these chemicals and provide temporary feelings of pleasure.

 

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Partners for a Drug Free Jasper County and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has designated April 2008 as Alcohol Awareness Month. Alcohol Awareness Month began in 1987 in an effort to reach the American public with information about the disease of alcoholism. This year's theme is “Saving Lives: Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking.” Alcohol Awareness Month efforts are particularly important as prom season approaches.

The prevention of underage drinking is vital because of its extremely harmful consequences.

Alcohol is a major factor in motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides, and unintentional injuries. These are some of the leading causes of death among youth. The need for underage drinking prevention efforts in Jasper County is clearly great. The Jasper Co. Sheriff reported 70 juveniles booked and 61 juvenile arrested for Illegal Consumption/Possession in 2007. This year’s theme, “Saving Lives: Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking”, highlights the need for collective action to increase underage drinking prevention efforts in families and communities nationwide. Partners for a Drug Free Jasper County is taking a stand to keep children safe from the devastating consequences of early alcohol involvement by planning a conference entitled, “A Day With Isabel Burk” on April 8 for health workers, teachers, pastors, guidance personnel, social workers and law enforcement. The main focus of this conference is underage drinking.
 

Delirium Tremens - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Delirium tremens is a disorder involving sudden and severe mental changes (psychosis) or neurologic changes (including seizures) caused by abruptly stopping the use of alcohol. Rapid pulse rate, elevated blood pressure, and temperature elevation also may be present.

Causes

Delirium tremens can occur after a period of heavy alcohol drinking, especially when the person does not eat enough food. It may also be triggered by head injury, infection, or illness in people with a history of heavy use of alcohol. It is most common in people who have a history of alcohol withdrawal , especially in those who drink the equivalent of 7 - 8 pints of beer (or 1 pint of "hard" alcohol) every day for several months. Delirium tremens also commonly affects those with a history of habitual alcohol use or alcoholism that has existed for more than 10 years. Symptoms occur because of the toxic effects of alcohol on the brain and nervous system. They may be severe and get worse very quickly.

Symptoms

Tremors (shakes) — These usually begin within 5 to 10 hours after the last alcohol drink and typically peak at 24 to 48 hours. Along with tremors (trembling), you can have a rapid pulse, an increase in blood pressure, rapid breathing, sweating, nausea and vomiting, anxiety or a hyper-alert state, irritability, nightmares or vivid dreams, and insomnia.
 

Alcoholic Wayne Carey binged every weekend of career

WAYNE Carey has identified himself as an alcoholic and admitted he drank to the point that he could drink no more every weekend of his 16-year football career — even in the lead-up to the three grand finals to which he captained North Melbourne.

During his playing days, it was a habit only his close friends and a few teammates were aware of. But the man rated as one of football's greats has made a public confession as part of what he considers a major step in his rehabilitation.

Once seemingly bullet-proof, Carey, at 36, is deeply troubled. He has felt such self-loathing of late that he has been too embarrassed to go out in public and jumped between houses of friends and family rather than stay at a fixed address.

He faces charges in the US next month following a violent episode in Miami last October when he cut the face of his partner, Kate Neilson, with a glass and physically attacked police. Carey has denied he intentionally struck his girlfriend.

 

Alcohol: Socially acceptable, available

Sad, but true.

As a psychotherapist at Fairmont General Hospital’s behavioral medicine unit, Roberta Jackson sees people dealing with all kinds of drinking problems and drug use, from heroin to prescribed pills.

But, she said, “The big thing about alcohol is that it’s so socially acceptable and it’s so readily available and it’s cheap. I always tell people when I do groups, you can’t turn on a sporting event — like the Super Bowl — that’s not sponsored by the alcohol industry.

“And unfortunately, they completely glamorize it. ‘The beautiful people go out dancing and drink Miller Lite.’”

The 32-bed unit serves as a medical detoxification unit for people with drug and alcohol problems. The patients generally spend five to seven days there, getting off whatever substance they are on, before leaving to either go to another rehabilitation facility or back home for outpatient care.
 

Kashmiris take to alcohol

There has been a sharp fall in violence in Indian-administered Kashmir and at the same time the consumption of alcohol has started picking up fast.

Liquor shops and cinemas were the first to close down on orders from separatist militant groups after the outbreak violence in the late 1980s aimed at driving India out of the region.

But now the liquor traders are back in business.

Two and a half years ago, the Kashmir Valley's first liquor shop opened on the boulevard along Dal Lake in the summer capital, Srinagar.

Last month, the Valley got its fifth shop in the southern district of Anantnag.

When the first outlet opened, activists of a militant women's group, Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of Faith) ransacked it and local residents pledged support to their campaign.

But a look at the sales suggest that support does not amount to much.

 

Kashmiris take to alcohol

There has been a sharp fall in violence in Indian-administered Kashmir and at the same time the consumption of alcohol has started picking up fast.

Liquor shops and cinemas were the first to close down on orders from separatist militant groups after the outbreak violence in the late 1980s aimed at driving India out of the region.

But now the liquor traders are back in business.

Two and a half years ago, the Kashmir Valley's first liquor shop opened on the boulevard along Dal Lake in the summer capital, Srinagar.

Last month, the Valley got its fifth shop in the southern district of Anantnag.

When the first outlet opened, activists of a militant women's group, Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of Faith) ransacked it and local residents pledged support to their campaign.

But a look at the sales suggest that support does not amount to much.

 

Moon walker now on different flight

Moon-walker Buzz Aldrin discusses alcoholism, depression

At age 78, Buzz Aldrin has the posture of a military man and can talk at length about his experience with fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong as the first humans to walk on the moon.

He and Armstrong stepped on the lunar surface during the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969 and immediately became international celebrities. He recalls following Armstrong out of the space capsule, uttering the words ''magnificent desolation'' and posing for the iconic pictures.

But Aldrin didn't come to Fort Lauderdale on Friday afternoon to solely talk about space travel.

His message was far more personal. It was about his lifelong battle against depression and alcoholism.

Unprepared for the fame and uncertain of his place in the world upon his return from space, Aldrin said he struggled for years, dropping in and out of treatment programs and claiming recovery only to relapse.

He has been sober for the past 29 years.

Aldrin said he speaks about his past to share the message that no one is immune from depression and alcoholism -- and that help is available.

''There is much more hope for people that in the past just didn't face a good promise of recovery,'' he told reporters at a press conference organized by Broward Housing Solutions, an organization that provides affordable housing for homeless people who have mental illness.

Aldrin retold his story about depression and alcoholism on Friday night as the keynote speaker at a fundraiser in Fort Lauderdale to benefit the housing organization.

Aldrin's own depression, he said, is inherited.

His mother, whose last name was Moon, killed herself, as did her father.

Both of his parents drank.

Although he has been sober for nearly three decades,

Aldrin called his recovery ``a never-ending process.''

''I'm an engineer, and I understand a few things and how you can come pretty close to a near optimum solution,'' he said. ``Spirituality and human relations may not be the highest on my list of talents.''

It was his time in recovery more than his travels through space that gave him a clear vision of humankind's place in the universe, he said.

Lisa Vecchi, CEO of Broward Housing Solutions, said Aldrin's willingness to speak about his struggles was a reassurance to people who have had similar experiences.

The message, she said, was: ``You are not alone.''

 

OASAS Announces Grants for Underage Drinking Prevention

State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today announced funding to support underage drinking prevention programs in communities across New York.

Funds totaling $165,000 are being awarded to 17 prevention providers, colleges and universities as part of OASAS prevention strategies aimed at educating parents and youth on the risks of underage drinking. The awards will allow community-based groups to expand media awareness campaigns which include the national, award-winning Underage Drinking: Not a Minor Problem campaign.

“This aspect of our prevention efforts is aimed at the local communities where we must change attitudes and behaviors among parents and adolescents on underage drinking,” said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. “Underage drinking is illegal and dangerous. There are far too many stories of young people whose lives have been ruined because of the influence of alcohol.”

According to the International Institute for Alcohol Awareness, underage drinking cost the citizens of New York $3.2 billion in 2005. In addition, by their senior year of high school, nearly four out of five students have consumed alcohol. Underage drinking can also lead to unplanned and unprotected sexual activity, poor school performance, driving while intoxicated, and even death.