The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) comprises an important component in the neural circuitry underlying drug-related associative learning and memory processing. Neuronal activation within mPFC circuits is correlated with the recall of opiate-related drug-taking experiences in both humans and other animals. Using an unbiased associative place conditioning procedure, we recorded mPFC neuronal pop...

The norepinephrine nucleus, locus ceruleus (LC), is activated by diverse stimuli and modulates arousal and behavioral strategies in response to these stimuli through its divergent efferent system. Afferents communicating information to the LC include excitatory amino acids (EAAs), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and endogenous opioids acting at mu-opiate receptors. Because the LC is also ...

Opiate reward memories are powerful triggers for compulsive opiate-seeking behaviors. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is an important structure for the processing of opiate-related associative memories and is functionally linked to the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway. Transmission through intra-BLA DA D1-like and D2-like receptors independently modulates the formation of opiate reward memories ...

The opiate antagonist naloxone precipitates withdrawal when given either 15 minutes after or 1 minute before a single injection of morphine in drug-naïve mice. We propose that withdrawal signs arise from a synergistic mixture of excitatory influences that are direct (agonistic action on nonspecific opiate receptors) and indirect (sensory and affective disorders, stress, hormonal and neurotransm...

BACKGROUND Intravenous drug misuse, principally heroin, occurs primarily in the Greater Dublin area. Methadone maintenance treatment has been an important part of the response to opiate misuse in Dublin since 1992. AIMS To determine the number of opiate-related deaths in Dublin City and County during 1999, to establish the number of methadone-related deaths and determine the proportion of dea...

Aims: Scotland was the first country to adopt take-home naloxone (THN) as a funded public health policy. We summarise the background and rigorous set-up for before/after monitoring to assess the impact on high-risk opiate-fatalities. Methods: Evidence-synthesis of prospectively monitored small-scale THN schemes led to a performance indicator for distribution of THN-kits relative to opiate-relat...

population pattern in guilan province represents a dramatic increase in youth population. regarding high prevalence of substance use among them, its destructive effects and consequences and paucity of previous related studies, this research was performed to determine the prevalence of substance use among students of guilan university of medical sciences (gums). we conducted a cross-sectional st...

background: informal employment is common in developing countries, including egypt. this type of employment may have significant consequences on mental health. objectives: to determine the prevalence and risk factors of common mental disorders and substance abuse among temporary hired hospital cleaners. methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 242 adult temporary cleaners and 209 perma...

conclusions the results of this study in terms of personality disorders and types of used drugs were in accordance with the previous studies results. it is necessary to design appropriate treatment plans for medical treatment of those with personality disorders. results there was a significant correlation between stimulant use and histrionic personality disorder (p < 0.001) and antisocial and n...