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Is there a brain receptor that heightens an addiction to cocaine?
Cocaine addiction
is perhaps one of the most dangerous illicit drug addictions in the world. Not
only does it negatively impact the overall health and well-being of the
individual, it also affects the individual’s loved ones. As the addict goes
deeper into their addiction, they become more withdrawn and neglectful of their
responsibilities. No matter how much families of the addict try to intervene in
their loved one’s addiction, it may be hard for them acknowledge their addiction.
The thing that individuals need to understand is that cocaine addiction is a disease of the brain. Once the drug is introduced into the brain, it takes control over the individual.
What is needed is a better understanding of the impact cocaine has on the user in order to avoid an addiction from ever coming into fruition. Recently, a study was conducted in order to see if there is a part of the brain that amplifies the risk of cocaine addiction
The thing that individuals need to understand is that cocaine addiction is a disease of the brain. Once the drug is introduced into the brain, it takes control over the individual.
What is needed is a better understanding of the impact cocaine has on the user in order to avoid an addiction from ever coming into fruition. Recently, a study was conducted in order to see if there is a part of the brain that amplifies the risk of cocaine addiction
Amy Gancarz, a lead author of the study, theorized that there
is a part of the brain involved in producing drug cravings and an increase in
relapse. Researchers at the University of Buffalo conducted a study on Activin
receptors in the brain in order to prove their hypothesis. Gancarz worked
alongside senior author, David Dietz, an assistant professor of Medicine and
Biomedical Studies.
What Gancarz and Dietz found was that when they manipulated normal functioning of Activin receptors in the brain, they were able to both increase and decrease the amount of cocaine that they injected into animal models.
Changes were found in the brain and they were confirmed to have been caused by prolonged drug use. Cocaine, for instance, altered connections between specific neurons via changes in cell shaping. Pathways of the Activin receptors hold the majority of cocaine's ability to cause these altered connections. It was also shown that cocaine use altered several other genes.
Dietz explained that this discovery can help pave the way to better treatment for drug addiction, thus preventing the risk of relapse.
What Gancarz and Dietz found was that when they manipulated normal functioning of Activin receptors in the brain, they were able to both increase and decrease the amount of cocaine that they injected into animal models.
Changes were found in the brain and they were confirmed to have been caused by prolonged drug use. Cocaine, for instance, altered connections between specific neurons via changes in cell shaping. Pathways of the Activin receptors hold the majority of cocaine's ability to cause these altered connections. It was also shown that cocaine use altered several other genes.
Dietz explained that this discovery can help pave the way to better treatment for drug addiction, thus preventing the risk of relapse.
If you suspect that a loved one may be addicted to cocaine,
it is important to know the signs to look out for.
Some of the signs of cocaine addiction include:
·
Heightened effects of euphoria
·
Increased energy
·
Dilated pupils
·
Teeth grinding
·
Cold Sweats
·
Tremors
·
Restlessness
·
Irritability
·
Hallucinations (cocaine bugs)
·
"Coke nose"
Individuals that use cocaine frequently and heavily may
experience the following effects:
·
Hyperthermia
·
Severe headaches
·
Stroke
·
Seizures
·
Coma
·
Death
If you, or someone you know, may have an addiction to
cocaine, it is important that you seek help from a drug addiction recovery
center. At drug addiction recovery centers, you will find what you need to
overcome your addiction to cocaine, and help you stay clean once you have
completed the rehab program. Also, drug addiction recovery centers will provide
guidance as to how to maintain sobriety as you enter back into the world.
Contact your local drug addiction recovery center today.
Contact your local drug addiction recovery center today.
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