Dependent drug use is associated with a range of physical and mental health problems. However the process by which drug-related changes to the human brain influence behaviours important to remaining abstinent is poorly understood. The current proposal investigates the neural and behavioural effects of drug dependence on cognitive control - responsible for impulse control and decision making - previously implicated in drug dependence.
Brain Circuits Promoting Abstinence And Preventing Relapse To Alcohol Seeking
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$591,995.00
Summary
This project maps and manipulates the brain circuits that promote abstinence from alcohol use. It uses new techniques from neuroscience to control the activity of specific cell types in discrete brain circuits. In this way we can alter the activity of these circuits to build on the normal neural restorative processes that occur during abstinence from alcohol use to reduce, and possibly prevent, relapse.
A New Therapeutic Target For Stress-related Relapse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$685,266.00
Summary
Relapse and hazardous drinking represent the most difficult clinical problems in treating patients with alcohol use disorders. We have identified a novel system in the brain for the regulation of stress-induced relapse. Successful completion of this project will indicate improved pharmacotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse. Given the scale and costs of substance abuse disorders, improved therapeutic approaches will have immediate and sustained impact.
Mapping And Manipulating Circuits For Relapse And Abstinence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,005.00
Summary
Alcohol-use disorders and other drug addictions are chronically relapsing conditions. Current treatment approaches have only modest efficacy. Two advances are needed for genuine improvement. The first is parsing the brain mechanisms supporting abstinence and relapse at cellular as well as circuit levels. The second is targeting these circuits therapeutically with the same precision. This project contributes to the first advance and lays a basic science platform for next generation therapeutics.
Brain Pathways Underlying Vulnerability To Drug Relapse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,788.00
Summary
Addiction to drugs is a major health and social burden for Australian society. Once addiction is established, prevention of relapse is the most significant obstacle to successful treatment. Unfortunately, efficacious pharmaceutical options to treat relapse are lacking. By employing an animal model of relapse that accurately reflects drug taking in humans the proposed project aims to advance our understanding of the brain mechanism underlying addiction.
A Double Blind Placebo Randomised Controlled Trial Of Sativex In The Management Of Cannabis Withdrawal
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$245,626.00
Summary
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia with an estimated 300,000 individuals with cannabis use disorder in Australia. Treatment presentations for cannabis have more than doubled over the last 10 years, yet there is still no medication to help with withdrawal. This proposal will test pure active ingredients in cannabis in a preparation sprayed in the mouth, to wean individuals from cannabis. This will assist them to complete cannabis withdrawal.
The Investigation Of Markers Of Relapse And Potential Therapeutic Targets In Methamphetamine Dependence Using Novel Techniques
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$103,088.00
Summary
This project focuses on methamphetamine dependence. It will investigate some of the major harms associated with methamphetamine use and will seek to identify who is more likely to develop these harms. This research will use a range of novel measures and techniques to investigate biological, psychological, cognitive and social risk factors for methamphetamine-related harms. This study will contribute to a better understanding of methamphetamine dependence, and potential targets for treatment.
Unraveling The Neural Circuitry Of Context-induced Relapse To Alcohol Seeking After Punishment-imposed Abstinence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$528,016.00
Summary
Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) causes significant social and economic costs to Australian society. Alcoholism is a brain disease, and relapse during abstinence is the main problem in successful treatment. In this project, we use an animal model of relapse to alcohol seeking after abstinence imposed by a negative consequence (punishment). This project will identify brain regions which can be targeted in future clinical studies in human alcoholics.
Improving Sleep Outcomes In Addicted Populations To Promote Recovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Sleep problems are one of the most common side-effects of people going through drug withdrawal and may play a role in predicting future relapse. This project will comprehensively examine the components of sleep that are disturbed in drug-using populations, identify biological markers that impact upon functional outcomes related to sleep behaviour, and pilot an intervention targeting improved sleep outcomes that could be incorporated into routine clinical practice.
Drug addiction is a major health and medical problem in Australia. It is a chronically relapsing condition for which there are few effective treatments. This project identifies novel circuits within the brain which are responsible for inhibiting drug taking. It will provide new knowledge on how we may able to prevent relapse to drug taking and so promote and maintain long -term abstinence.