Category Archives: Addiction

Basolateral amygdala CB1 cannabinoid receptors are involved in cross state-dependent memory retrieval between morphine and ethanol.

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“Ethanol and morphine are largely co-abused and affect memory formation.

The present study intended to investigate the involvement of cannabinoid CB1 receptors of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in cross state-dependent memory retrieval between morphine and ethanol.

Taken together, it can be concluded that morphine and ethanol can induce state-dependent memory retrieval.

In addition, the BLA endocannabinoid system mediates via CB1 receptors the functional interaction of morphine and ethanol state-dependent memory retrieval which may depend on the rewarding effects of the drugs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27327764

Exercise as an adjunctive treatment for cannabis use disorder.

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“Despite cannabis being the most widely used illicit substance in the United States, individuals diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) have few well-researched, affordable treatment options available to them.

Although found to be effective for improving treatment outcomes in other drug populations, exercise is an affordable and highly accessible treatment approach that has not been routinely investigated in cannabis users. The aim of this paper is to inform the topic regarding exercise’s potential as an adjunctive treatment for individuals with CUD.

Given that exercise is a potent activator of the eCB system, it is mechanistically plausible that exercise could be an optimal method to supplement cessation efforts by reducing psychophysical withdrawal, managing stress, and attenuating drug cravings.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27314543

“Exercise activates the endocannabinoid system.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14625449

Estradiol impacts the endocannabinoid system in female rats to influence behavioral and structural responses to cocaine.

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“Compared with men, women show enhanced responses to drugs of abuse, and consequently are thought to be more vulnerable to addiction.

The ovarian hormone estradiol has emerged as a key facilitator in the heightened development of addiction in females. These actions of estradiol appear mediated by estrogen receptor (ER) activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR5). However, the downstream effectors of this ER/mGluR5 signaling pathway are unknown.

Here we investigate whether cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) activation is a part of the mechanism whereby estradiol influences behavioral and synaptic correlates of addiction.

Following repeated cocaine administration, estradiol-treated ovariectomized rats exhibited both sensitized locomotor responses and decreases in the dendritic spine density of nucleus accumbens core medium-spiny neurons in comparison to oil-treated controls. Both effects of estradiol were blocked by AM251, a CB1R inverse agonist.

These results indicate that part of the signaling mechanism through which estradiol impacts behavioral and synaptic correlates of addiction in female rats requires activation of CB1Rs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27266915

Sativex Associated With Behavioral-Relapse Prevention Strategy as Treatment for Cannabis Dependence: A Case Series.

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“The current lack of pharmacological treatments for cannabis dependence warrants the use of novel approaches and further investigation of promising pharmacotherapy.

In this case series, we assessed the use of self-titrated dosages of Sativex (1:1, Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]/cannabidiol [CBD] combination) and motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (MET/CBT) for the treatment of cannabis dependence among 5 treatment-seeking community-recruited cannabis-dependent subjects.

THC/CBD metabolite concentration indicated reduced cannabis use and compliance with medication.

CONCLUSIONS:

In summary, this pilot study found that with Sativex in combination with MET/CBT reduced cannabis use while preventing increases in craving and withdrawal in the 4 participants completing the study. Further systematic exploration of Sativex as a pharmacological treatment option for cannabis dependence should be performed.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27261670

Endocannabinoid Modulation of Orbitostriatal Circuits Gates Habit Formation.

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“Everyday function demands efficient and flexible decision-making that allows for habitual and goal-directed action control. An inability to shift has been implicated in disorders with impaired decision-making, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction. Despite this, our understanding of the specific molecular mechanisms and circuitry involved in shifting action control remains limited. Here we identify an endogenous molecular mechanism in a specific cortical-striatal pathway that mediates the transition between goal-directed and habitual action strategies. Deletion of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors from cortical projections originating in the orbital frontal cortex (OFC) prevents mice from shifting from goal-directed to habitual instrumental lever pressing. Activity of OFC neurons projecting to dorsal striatum (OFC-DS) and, specifically, activity of OFC-DS terminals is necessary for goal-directed action control. Lastly, CB1 deletion from OFC-DS neurons prevents the shift from goal-directed to habitual action control. These data suggest that the emergence of habits depends on endocannabinoid-mediated attenuation of a competing circuit controlling goal-directed behaviors.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27238866

Opioid withdrawal suppression efficacy of oral dronabinol in opioid dependent humans.

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:”The cannabinoid (CB) system is a rational novel target for treating opioid dependence, a significant public health problem around the world. This proof-of-concept study examined the potential efficacy of a CB1 receptor partial agonist, dronabinol, in relieving signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

CONCLUSION:

CB1 receptor activation is a reasonable strategy to pursue for the treatment of opioid withdrawal; however, dronabinol is not a likely candidate given its modest withdrawal suppression effects of limited duration and previously reported tachycardia during opioid withdrawal.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27234658

Medical Cannabis Use Is Associated With Decreased Opiate Medication Use in a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients With Chronic Pain

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“Cannabis use was associated with 64% lower opioid use in patients with chronic pain.

Cannabis use was associated with better quality of life in patients with chronic pain.

Cannabis use was associated with fewer medication side effects and medications used.”

  • Journal of Pain Home

“Opioids are commonly used to treat patients with chronic pain (CP), though there is little evidence that they are effective for long term CP treatment. Previous studies reported strong associations between passage of medical cannabis laws and decrease in opioid overdose statewide. Our aim was to examine whether using medical cannabis for CP changed individual patterns of opioid use.

Using an online questionnaire, we conducted a cross-sectional retrospective survey of 244 medical cannabis patients with CP who patronized a medical cannabis dispensary in Michigan between November 2013 and February 2015. Data collected included demographic information, changes in opioid use, quality of life, medication classes used, and medication side effects before and after initiation of cannabis usage. Among study participants, medical cannabis use was associated with a 64% decrease in opioid use (n = 118), decreased number and side effects of medications, and an improved quality of life (45%).

This study suggests that many CP patients are essentially substituting medical cannabis for opioids and other medications for CP treatment, and finding the benefit and side effect profile of cannabis to be greater than these other classes of medications. More research is needed to validate this finding.

Perspective

This article suggests that using medical cannabis for CP treatment may benefit some CP patients. The reported improvement in quality of life, better side effect profile, and decreased opioid use should be confirmed by rigorous, longitudinal studies that also assess how CP patients use medical cannabis for pain management.”

http://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(16)00567-8/abstract

Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonists and antagonists: a patent update.

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“Modulation of the CB2 receptor is an interesting approach for pain and inflammation, arthritis, addictions, neuroprotection, and cancer, among other possible therapeutic applications, and is devoid of central side effects.

Structural diversity of CB2 modulator scaffolds characterized the patent literature.

Several CB2 agonists reached clinical Phase II for pain management and inflammation.

Other therapeutic applications need to be explored such as neuroprotection and/or neurodegeneration.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27215781

Difference and Influence of Inactive and Active States of Cannabinoid Receptor Subtype CB2: From Conformation to Drug Discovery.

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“Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is a promising target for the treatment of neuropathic pain, osteoporosis, immune system, cancer, and drug abuse.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27186994

Does cannabis use moderate smoking cessation outcomes in treatment-seeking tobacco smokers? Analysis from a large multi-center trial.

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“Tobacco and cannabis are frequently used in combination and cannabis co-use may lead to poor tobacco cessation outcomes. Therefore, it is important to explore if cannabis co-use is associated with a reduced likelihood of achieving successful tobacco abstinence among treatment-seeking tobacco smokers.

The present study examined whether current cannabis use moderated tobacco cessation outcomes after 12 weeks of pharmacological treatment with adjunctive behavioral counseling.

 RESULTS:

Controlling for rate of nicotine metabolism, treatment arm, age, sex, alcohol, and level of nicotine dependence, cannabis users were as successful at achieving biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence compared to tobacco-only smokers.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Findings suggest that cannabis use does not hinder the ability to quit tobacco smoking.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27187893