A recent study examined the prevalence of drug use among aviation employees (Li et al, 2011). The federal government requires drug testing of certain employees in "safety-sensitive" occupations, including airline pilots. The study assessed whether use of illicit drugs is associated with a heightened risk of airline accidents.

About the Study

The researchers used aviation employer records to analyze results of drug tests for substances, including marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates and phencyclidine. The analysis involved employees at all major airlines, commuter air carriers and air taxis, and non-FAA air traffic controllers. It included flight crewmembers, flight attendants, flight instructors and aircraft dispatchers. The analysis covered a 10-year period from 1995 to 2005.

The researchers looked at both random drug testing and post-accident testing. The random testing comprised about 96 percent of the data, representing urine testing for a random selection of at least 25 percent of employees. Post-accident testing was conducted within 32 hours of an accident for employees who may have had an impact on the accident through job performance.

Drug Use Rare but Serious

The results of the analysis revealed that the occurrence of drug use was very low in random drug testing. However, it also showed that when an employee tested positive for drugs, they were nearly three times as likely to be associated with an accident when compared with an employee who tested negative for drugs.

Across all drug violations, marijuana accounted for 67.3 percent of all violations, while cocaine accounted for 23.9 percent and amphetamines accounted for 6.1 percent.

There were some limitations to the results that may affect their generalizability to other segments of aviation. For instance, the analysis did not include non-commercial aviation accidents, which account for 90 percent of all aviation accidents.

The results of the analysis reveal that drug use among aviation employees is rare, but the risk of accident goes up significantly if an employee does use drugs. Because of the limitation of the study to commercial air, the research on the topic is limited.

Later, feeling regret for food choices made, the individual will purge calories. Purging is usually done by self-induced vomiting or by the use of laxatives.

An article posted on Seattle PI discussed the possible removal of ipecac from store shelves in the state of New York. State legislators must decide whether the substance should be placed behind the pharmacy counter in order to prevent those with eating disorders from stocking up on it.

The legislation is being pushed through to Governor Cuomo by Debbie Begeny, of the Buffalo suburb of Kenmore. Begeny’s daughter died of cardiac arrest related to her anorexia nervosa after using ipecac for many weeks. Many with eating disorders use the substance to purge unwanted calories from their bodies.

Traditionally, ipecac has been used in the household as part of standard first-aid kits. When a child ingested a toxic chemical, parents were advised to use ipecac to induce vomiting. However, pediatricians now rarely advise the use of ipecac for this purpose. The legislation would place the substance behind the counter and require the documentation of the consumer using ipecac to prevent any individual from stocking up at home.

For the study, researchers examined prairie voles, rodents that form lifelong bonds with their mating partners. The researchers, led by Zuoxin Wang, PhD, of Florida State University, found that the males that had a life-long mate were less interested in amphetamine, compared with "single" males. Amphetamine exposure led to changes in the nucleus accumbens, part of the brain’s reward system, that also differed depending on the voles’ relationship status.

The researchers discovered that brain cells in both paired and single voles released a similar amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which plays an important role in the brain’s reward system, when exposed to amphetamine. However, the dopamine may have different effects on the voles, depending on their relationship status.

In single voles, amphetamine use increased the binding of dopamine to the D1 receptor in the nucleus accumbens, but the binding was decreased in paired moles. This suggested that single and paired voles have opposite reactions to amphetamine.

When given drugs that blocked dopamine from binding to the D1 receptor, single voles were less attracted to amphetamine. On the other hand, paired voles became more attracted to dopamine when given the blocking drug.

Wang said this suggests that the long-term relationships may change the neurobiological response to drugs like amphetamine, which may make the drugs less appealing.

Previous studies by Wang showed that single voles sought out the rewarding effects of amphetamine, and that repeated exposure to the drug made them less driven to seek a lifelong mate. The current study looks at whether relationships formed in adulthood could make substance abuse less appealing and rewarding.

Larry Young, PhD, and expert in social behavior at Emory University, who was not involved in the study, said that although this study’s findings are very interesting, more research needs to be done to determine whether paired voles would be less likely to seek drugs if they were given unlimited access to them. He added that understanding how social relationships affect substance abuse could inform new treatments for addiction.

Source: Science Daily, Steady Relationships Reduce Amphetamine’s Rewarding Effects, Animal Study Suggests, May 31, 201

One recent study compared amounts of tar emitted from a traditional packaged cigarette to amounts emitted from a rolled cigarette, assembled at home, and found that cigarettes rolled by the user had significantly higher levels of chemicals known to be addictive.

The study, conducted at Victoria University, also showed that ingredients in cigarette smoke cause higher levels of a protein to be produced in the body, and this protein aids in boosting the addictive properties of nicotine.

It is estimated that about 50 percent of people who smoke for long periods of their life will die from smoking-related illnesses. Chemicals found in cigarettes that are linked to cancer include arsenic, formaldehyde, chromium and acrolein. Nitrogen oxides, ammonia and forms of cyanide are also present in cigarettes. Cigarettes rolled at home, say researchers, have much larger amounts of tar than retail cigarettes – contributing to even stronger addictive properties.

This may explain why, say researchers, smokers who try nicotine replacements – which don’t include smoke – have a harder time quitting and sticking to their resolve. Some statistics show people may attempt to quit as many as 14 times before becoming successful.

The appeal of rolling-your-own cigarettes may come in price. Smokers purchase a package of rolling papers, which can come in a variety of flavors, and a can of loose smoking tobacco for less cost than traditional cigarettes. However, though perhaps lower in price, smokers are still exposed to the same list of cancer-causing chemicals no matter which type they use, says another study published in Addiction Biology.

The study compared the urine from people who smoked retail cigarettes with samples from people who rolled their own cigarettes to determine levels of two types of carcinogens. Results showed that levels of toxic chemicals in both smokers’ urine were essentially the same, even when participants’ variances in weight, smoking behaviors and ages, along with other considerations, were factored in.

Females, say the researchers, showed more levels of carcinogens than men, no matter which variety of cigarettes they used. Researchers hope the study, conducted at the Health Behavior Research Centre, part of Cancer Research UK, may help dispel the false belief of smokers that rolling-their-own presents a more nature-based and less destructive cigarette.

The conclusion researchers arrived at brings a straightforward message to smokers, says Elspeth Lee of Cancer Research UK. When it comes to smoking, Lee says, no type of cigarette should ever be considered safe. She adds that while rolling-your-own cigarettes may be more appealing to people in lower-income areas, the practice is just as deadly as smoking retail cigarettes.

Lee, along with other members of large-scale anti-smoking initiatives, is calling for new legislation to keep smoking away from young persons and to reduce marketing campaigns for tobacco. Across the globe, experts believe making the deadly habit less appealing and less accessible may help prevent millions of new addictions.

The study, which was conducted by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire found that those whose parents were stricter with viewing habits early on reduced the onset of adolescent drinking. Researchers polled 3600 children in middle school regarding what types of movies they were allowed to watch. Two years later, the same children were again surveyed to see how that correlated with drinking habits.

Researchers reported that of those who were never allowed to watch R-rated movies, only three percent stated that they were consuming alcohol. This compares to 19 percent of kids who were occasionally allowed to watch R-rated movies and 25 percent of kids whose parents let them watch R-rated movies whenever they wanted.

The study goes to show that parental involvement and rules do have an impact in controlling behavior. Sometimes parents think that kids are going to do what they want and there is no stopping them. That clearly is not the case for all kids, especially when certain boundaries are set from the very beginning. The study illustrates the importance of monitoring children’s viewing habits from a young age.

Dr. James Sargent, author of the study says that the results of this analysis confirm that of prior studies on the subject. He adds that the effects of R-rated movies go beyond early alcohol abuse. Kids see actors and try to imitate what they do. Those who watch this type of adult content often have sex earlier, smoke sooner, and may even exhibit violent behavior.

And, Sargent claims that risky adolescent behaviors such as sex, smoking, and drinking go hand-in-hand. Once a teen has decided to try one, they are more likely to engage in another. This can be harmful as these youngsters are not mature enough to know the full impact of their decisions. Those in middle school are prone to binge drink in high school, which has been associated with poor academic performance and legal problems. Additionally, early use of alcohol has been linked to addiction in later years.

Sargent believes that the content in R-rated movies has the ability to change the personality of youngsters. He states that it can make them more prone to be risky and thrill-seeking. He estimates that about 90 percent of R-rated movies portray the use of alcohol, which could be a contributing factor as to why watching the movies increases the chances for early-onset drinking.

The study has implications for not just R-rated movies but also video games and television programs with questionable content. Parents who want to avoid these types of behaviors in their children have to be firm with what their children are allowed to watch. Sargent concludes by saying that monitoring what children watch is as essential as ensuring they finish their homework or eat their vegetables.

Several prescription medications can cause problems with patients’ sex life, but it can be difficult to pinpoint which medication is responsible, or if life factors are part of the problem. Factors like stress, emotional disturbances and anxiety can all interfere with sexual performance or complicate the side effects from medications.

Medications like antidepressants are long-known to cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual interest, a problem estimated to affect up to 50 percent of patients who are receiving treatment for depression. This is especially true with SSRI antidepressants, which can also prevent a patient from reaching orgasm. Tricyclic antidepressants cause similar problems. Because patients may stop taking these important medications due to sexual side effects, physicians are encouraged to talk with patients about sexual problems and modify the dosages if needed, but only under a doctor’s supervision.

For people with high blood pressure and heart problems, certain medications, such as lisinopril or enalapril can cause impotence. Even some eye drops in the beta-blocker family of drugs can cause sexual problems. For male patients fighting high cholesterol who are taking medications like fibrates or statins, the inability to become aroused may also be a problem.

A range of other conditions – including acid reflux, epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain or ulcer treatments – also have prescription treatments that are linked to a lack of interest in sex and the inability to perform sexually. Many patients may not be aware that these side effects can occur, making patient education a critical component whenever a prescription is started. If patients suspect their medication may cause sexual dysfunction, they may stop taking it and put their health or lives at risk.

Instead, patients can be switched to a different medication or their dose can be adjusted. Taking medications at different times of the day may also help with sexual problems. In some cases, medications for erectile dysfunction are not recommended to treat sexual problems caused by other medications because additional side effects can occur.

For some patients, just giving the medication time can help ease sexual problems. The problems may lessen as the medication is taken for longer periods. Sometimes patients can set aside times to engage in sexual activity, based upon when they took their medications, in order to help offset some of the side effects.

As physicians and patients work together to discuss and explore side effects and options, a right combination of medications with decreased sexual problems can often be reached, preventing dangerous self-adjustments to prescriptions and helping ensure successful treatment for illnesses without compromising the benefits of a healthy sex life.

Dr. Amy Yule and her colleagues controlled the study to look only at a child’s exposure to drug use, taking out other factors such as socioeconomic status, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity, and familial risk. She had assumed children whose fathers used drugs and boys who watched their mothers used drugs would be at the same risk as girls exposed to maternal drug use and that it would not matter what age a child was. She was correct in that all groups were at an increased risk compared to children whose parents did not abuse drugs.

However, girls exposed to maternal drug use were at much greater risk than the other groups as were children exposed as teenagers.

This study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

A recent Medical News Today report examined how individuals recovering from opiate dependence reported acute withdrawal symptoms. While these symptoms can pass relatively quickly, individuals with this addiction also report that it is often weeks or months before they report feeling “normal.”

Often referred to as “protracted abstinence syndrome,” the period of time after opiates are withdrawn from the system generally involves a cluster of vague, depression-like symptoms that can include reduced concentration, poor sleep quality, a low energy level and even anhedonia.

French researchers set out to examine this phenomenon in mice. The animals had chronic morphine exposure and demonstrated decreasing physical dependence after the morphine was withdrawn. After four weeks, the mice no longer had any physical withdrawal. By contrast, after weeks of abstinence, the mice had low sociability and despair.

When the mice were treated with the antidepressant fluoxetine, researchers found that they were able to prevent the development of both social aversion and despair behaviors. The group believes the fluoxetine was successful because it targets the serotonin system, which is known to influence the mood.

The senior author on the study explained that the findings from this research suggest there is a direct link between an abstinence from morphine and depressive-like symptoms. She says the study suggests a causal effect of serotonin dysfunction in the depression features that are associated with abstinence.

According to a recent Science Daily release, this drug addiction treatment and subsequent withdrawal can be more comfortable if the mother receives a new treatment option while she is still pregnant. This treatment application has also proven to be less expensive and requires a shorter hospital stay.

Peter Martin, M.D., director of Vanderbilt’s Division of Addiction Psychiatry, conducted research that determined newer buprenorphine is at a minimum as good for both the mother and the baby as the standard approach with methadone if both treatment options were combined with a treatment of comprehensive care for the opioid addiction in the pregnant mother.

As Martin stated, the baby is born with an addiction to what the mother consumes during pregnancy. When the babies are born, they are very uncomfortable and incessantly restless. While the outcomes of both treatments appear to be effective and the mothers and babies both did well, the standard of care is significantly higher with the buprenorphine treatment applied during the time of pregnancy.

Buprenorphine is widely used to treat opioid addictions, although it has not been thoroughly studied in the treatment of addicted babies. The results of this study suggest that babies of mothers receiving this drug needed significantly less morphine to treat their neonatal abstinence syndrome and required a shorter treatment period.

Courtney Love, widow of Kurt Cobain, former lead singer for alternative rock band Nirvana, began garnering public attention for problems with drugs and alcohol in the early 1990s. During this time, while her relationship with Cobain captured public interest, Love’s music career with the band Hole was taking off – but both Love and Cobain were reported to abuse drugs.

In 1994, Cobain committed suicide, which Love said pushed her further into substance abuse and also began a period of financial troubles. For a time, the celebrity’s custody of she and Cobain’s daughter, Frances Bean, was removed. Sentencing for other offenses during the late 1990s included six months of substance abuse treatment.

A 2003 charge was given to Love for possessing medications without having a prescription, and she is reported to have overdosed on the prescription painkiller Oxycontin. She is also reported to have attempted drug rehabilitation on several occasions.

Substance abuse professionals and people in drug or alcohol recovery have often cited the benefits of peer support for fighting addiction – a situation Love says is also part of her past experience with drugs. The star says actor Mel Gibson and professional counselor Warren Boyd intervened while she and others were taking drugs in a hotel, encouraging Love to begin rehabilitation.

Love reflected on this, and other periods of her life, in a 2006 interview with ABC News, where she discussed the release of her memoir. During the interview, Love spoke of a three-year span where most of her life was spent under the influence of drugs – from 2001 to 2004 – causing her to say she would have left those pages of the memoir all black, demonstrating the chaotic state of those years.

Keith Richards, Rolling Stones guitarist, is also a name among celebrity resources Love has been linked with in her battle against drug addiction. A 2010 news article says Love has sought help from Richards’ son, Marlon Richards. She is reported to have asked Richards for help in locating a professional who specializes in addiction treatment.
Love has said part of her encouragement to seek sobriety comes from her daughter, Frances Bean, now 18 years old. She also returned to music, with a new album with Hole in 2010, “Nobody’s Daughter.”

Love has also admitted to self-hazardous behavior, even reported to have admitted thoughts of suicide. It is believed that self-destructive behaviors are part of a method of escape from emotions including depression, high levels of stress and anxiety – behaviors also linked to people with higher rates of substance abuse.

Called one of the most watched female celebrity musicians, Courtney Love’s ongoing battle with substance abuse will likely remain in the public eye. Love’s struggle highlights the difficulty of working through relapse for many people with substance abuse problems.