Searching information on drug research projects

This database contains information gathered in the course of the ERANID project during 2013 and 2014. Principally, it contains details of research projects on illicit drugs carried out since 2010 within the six ERANID countries and funded by the European Committee: Belgium; France; Italy; Portugal; The Netherlands; and the United Kingdom. However, this database will not capture all illicit drugs research carried out within a country.

57 projects matched the selected criteria:

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Elderly and addiction: A state of the art study [Ouderen en verslaving: een overzichtsstudie]

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2010

Project ending year

2010

Area(s) of research

Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Determinants of drug use, Consequences of drug use, Methodology issues

Objectives

The project comprised of three interrelated research projects. The first was a literature review on predictors and outcomes of substance use and abuse by older adults. The second was a survey among health care professionals about their experiences with treatment programs for older people who have been referred to the clinic. The third was a research proposal for the estimation of the total, but hidden population of community dwelling Dutch older adults who are addicted, including those who have not (yet) been referred to a clinic.

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Sociology, Other medical sciences, Other discipline

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Initial identified needs

Substance abuse, defined here as the abuse of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and heroin, is a serious public health issue as it not only affects physical and mental health of the abusers, it also leads to increased costs for society. However, substance abuse in older adults is often neglected, yet numbers indicate that the amount of people who are in treatment has doubled over the last 10 year (IVZ). To reduce the negative trend in substance abuse effective prevention is required and for that knowledge about prevalence, causes and adverse consequences of risk-full use, recognition of addiction and knowledge about appropriate treatments, and insight into factors that influence the course of the disease is inadmissible.

Performed by

VU University, Faculty of Social Sciences
GGz inGeest, mental health care institute and partner of VU medical centre
Knowledge Center Elderly Psychiatry

Funded by

ZonMW, VU-University, Faculty of Social Sciences

Summary references

http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/projecten/project-detail/ouderen-en-verslaving-een-overzichtstudie/voortgang/

Website

http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/projecten/project-detail/ouderen-en-verslaving-een-overzichtstudie/

Published reference(s)

Aartsen, M.J. (2011). Substance use and abuse among older adults: a state of the art. In T. Uehara (Ed.), Psychiatric disorders: Trends and developments (pp. 389-403). Rijeka, Croatia: InTech. Comijs, H.C., Aartsen, M.J., Visser, M. & Deeg, D.J.H. (2012). Alcoholgebruik onder 55-plussers in Nederland [Alcohol use among 55+ Dutch adults]. Tijdschrift voor gerontologie en geriatrie, 43(3), 115-126. Aartsen, M.J., Tilburg, T.G. van & Comijs, H.C. (2010). Ouderen en verslaving: Een overzichtstudie [Older adults and addiction: a state of the art study]. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit. Report to ZonMW. Aartsen, M.J., Snijders, T.A.B. & Tilburg, T.G. van (2010). Voorstel om te komen tot een betrouwbare schatting van het aantal ouderen (55+) in Nederland dat middelen misbruikt of daarvan afhankelijk is. [Proposal to establish a reliable estimate of the number of older adults (55 +) in the Netherlands that are addicited to alcohol or other substances. Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit. Report to ZonMW.

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Genetic and environmental influences on psychopathology and wellbeing during adolescence. Genetische en omgevingsinvloeden op psychopathologie en geluk tijdens de adolescentie

Genetische en omgevingsinvloeden op psychopathologie en geluk tijdens de adolescentie

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2006

Project ending year

2010

Area(s) of research

Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Determinants of drug use

Objectives

Our first main aim is to study influences of genes and environment on variation in adolescent psychopathology and wellness Our second aim is to identify nonshared environmental influences on adolescent psychopathology and wellness. Our third aim is to study gene-environment interaction for family functioning and adolescent psychopathology and wellness.

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Psychology, Other discipline, Toxicology, Statistics or epidemiology

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Initial identified needs

Identification of pathways into and out off psychopathology will help the development of prevention and intervention strategies.

Performed by

Department of Biological Psychology, VU University

Funded by

Summary references

Website

Published reference(s)

Bartels, M., Cacioppo, J.J., van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M., & Boomsma, D.I. (2013) Exploring the Association Between Well-Being and Psychopathology in Adolescents. Behavior Genetics, 43(3), 177-190. Geels, L.M. Vink, J.M., Van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M., Bartels, M. and Boomsma, D.I. (2013). Developmental prediction model for early alcohol initiation in Dutch adolescents. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 74(1):59-70. Bartels, M., de Moor, M.H.M., Van der Aa, N., Boomsma, D.I., de Geus, E.J.C. (2012). Regular Exercise, Subjective Wellbeing, and Internalizing Problems in Adolescence: Causality or Genetic pleiotropy? Frontiers in Behavioral and Psychiatric Genetics. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2012.00004. Epub 2012 Vink, J.M., Bartels,M., van Beijsterveldt,C.E.M., Distel, M.A., de Moor, M.H.M., van Dongen, J., Smit, J.A., Ligthart, L., van Beek, J.H.D.A., Geels, L.M., Abdelaoui, A., Middeldorp, C.M., Hottenga, J.J., Willemsen, G., de Geus, E.J.C., Boomsma, D.I. Sex differences in genetic architecture of complex phenotypes. PlosONE (in press). . Geels, L., Bartels, M., van Beijsterveldt, T., Willemsen, G., van der Aa, N., Boomsma, D.I., Vink, J.M. (2011). Trends in adolescent alcohol use: Effects of age, sex and cohort on prevalence and heritability. Addiction, 107(3), 518-527 Van der Aa, N., Bartels, M., te Velde, S.J., Boomsma, D.I., Geus de, E.J.C., and Brug, J. (2012). Genetic and Environmental Influences on Individual Differences in Sedentary Behaviour during Adolescence – A Twin- Family Study. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 166(6), 509-514. Bartels, M., Van der Aa, N., van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M., Middeldorp, C.M., & Boomsma, D.I. (2011). Adolescent Self-Report of Emotional and Behavioral Problems; Interactions of Genetic Factors with Sex and Age. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(1), 35-52. Distel, M.A., Vink, J.M., Bartels, M., van Beijsterveldt, T., Neale, M.C., Boomsma, D.I. (2011). Age as a moderator of non-genetic influences on cannabis initiation: a twin-sibling study in Dutch adolescents. Addiction, 106(9), 1658-66. Lamb, D.J., Middeldorp, C.M., van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M., Bartels, M., Polderman, J.C., and Boomsma, D.I. (2010). Heritability of Anxious/Depressive and Withdrawn Behavior: Age-Related changes during Adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(3), 248-55. Van der Aa, N., Boomsma, D.I., Rebollo-Mesa, I., Hudziak, J.J., and Bartels, M. (2010). Moderation of Genetic Factors by Parental Divorce in Adolescents’ Evaluations of Family Functioning and Mental Wellbeing, Twin Research and Human Genetics, 13(2), 143–162. Bartels, M., and Boomsma, D.I. (2009). Born to be happy? The etiology of Subjective Wellbeing. Behavior Genetics, 39(6), 605-615. Slof-Op ’t Landt, M.C., van Furth, E.F., Rebollo-Mesa, I., Bartels, M., van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M., Slagboom, P.E., Boomsma, D.I., Meulenbelt, I., and Dolan, C.V. (2009). Sex differences in sum scores may be hard to interpret: the importance of measurement invariance.

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An integrative view of neuromodulation of cognitive control

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2008

Project ending year

2011

Area(s) of research

Consequences of drug use, Mechanism of drug use and effects

Objectives

The proposed research project extends our understanding of DA as underlying key neurotransmitter of healthy and impaired cognitive control; apart from providing important insights into the long-term effects of cocaine (a drug that took this year in Europe has become the second preferred recreational drug after cannabis).

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Psychology

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Initial identified needs

Frontal lobe circuits have a crucial role in the cognitive control of human thoughts and actions. These circuits are innervated by dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter targeted by many drugs, such as cocaine. However, little is known about exactly how dopaminergic supply affects control functions. Here I propose a new Integrative Neuromodulation of Cognitive Control (INCC) model that distinguishes between two control circuits that are dominated by particular DA receptor types (D1 and D2): a DA/D1 system driving working memory and response execution (implying Premotor Cortex and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex) and a DA/D2 system driving response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, conflict control and adaptive decision making (implying Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex, the Anterior Cingulate and Orbitofrontal Cortex). The INCC model is the first of its kind to incorporate this distinction. It allows for a number of interesting predictions that will be tested by comparing the impact of the drug ecopipam, a selective antagonist of DA/D1 receptors, and of the recreational use of cocaine, which selectively impairs DA/D2 receptors. Ecopipam effect will be investigated in within-subjects double-blind studies and cocaine effects will be tested by comparing recreational users with matched healthy non-users—all strictly controlled for polydrug use and confounds. Theoretically motivated tasks will be used to assess working memory efficiency, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition, conflict monitoring and control, and adaptive decision making in behavioural reaction time tasks, electrophysiological experiments, and an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study.

Performed by

Lorenza Colzato

Funded by

NWO

Summary references

Colzato, L.S., & Hommel, B. (2009). Recreational use of cocaine eliminates Inhibition of Return. Neuropsychology, 23, 125-129. Colzato, L.S., Huizinga, M., & Hommel, B. (2009). Recreational cocaine/polydrug use impairs cognitive flexibility but not working memory. Psychopharmacology, 207, 225-234. Colzato, L.S., van den Wildenberg, W.P.M., & Hommel, B. (2009). Reduced attentional scope in cocaine polydrug users. PLoS ONE, 4(6): e6043. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006043. Colzato, L.S., & Hommel, B. (2008). Cannabis, cocaine, and visuomotor integration: Evidence for a role of dopamine D1 receptors in binding perception and action. Neuropsychologia, 46, 1570-1575.

Website

Published reference(s)

Colzato, L.S., van den Wildenberg, W.P.M., & Hommel, B. (2008). Reduced spontaneous eye blink rates in recreational cocaine users: Evidence for dopaminergic hypoactivity. PLoS ONE, http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0003461. Colzato, L.S., & Hommel, B. (2008). Cannabis, cocaine, and visuomotor integration: Evidence for a role of dopamine D1 receptors in binding perception and action. Neuropsychologia, 46, 1570-1575. Colzato, L.S., & Hommel, B. (2009). Recreational use of cocaine eliminates Inhibition of Return. Neuropsychology, 23, 125-129. Colzato, L.S., Huizinga, M., & Hommel, B. (2009). Recreational cocaine/polydrug use impairs cognitive flexibility but not working memory. Psychopharmacology, 207, 225-234. Colzato, L.S., van den Wildenberg, W.P.M., & Hommel, B. (2009). Reduced attentional scope in cocaine polydrug users. PLoS ONE, 4(6): e6043. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006043

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Cannabis as a cause of psychosis; an ecogenetic study linking cannabis-induced dopamine response to psychotic mechanisms and experiences in daily life

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2007

Project ending year

2011

Area(s) of research

Consequences of drug use, Mechanism of drug use and effects

Objectives

The aim of the current project was to investigate: i) which factors determine increased sensitivity to cannabis and ii) how cannabis works in the brain.

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Epidemiology, Neurosciences, Psychology, Pharmacology

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Initial identified needs

The use of cannabis increases the risk for developing psychotic illness, in particular in individuals who are at increased risk for psychosis. Until recently, however, the biological mechanism underlying this association remained unknown

Performed by

Dep of Psychiatry, Maastricht University

Funded by

ZonMW / Veni vernieuwingsimpuls, Maastricht University

Summary references

Website

Published reference(s)

- Kuepper R, Cerracini, J., Lataster, J., van Os, J., van Kroonenburgh, M., van Laere, K., Marcelis, M., Henquet, C. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced dopamine release as a function of psychotic illness and psychotic vulnerability: a [18F]fallypride PET study. PLoS One. 2013; 8(7). - Kuepper, R., Oorschot, M., Myin-Germeys, I., van Os, J., Smits, M., Henquet, C. Is craving for cannabis increased in individuals with psychotic disorder? An Experience Sampling Study. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2013. - Konings M, Stefanis N, Kuepper R, de Graaf R, ten Have M, van Os J, Bakoula C, Henquet C. Replication in two independent population-based samples that childhood maltreatment and cannabis use synergistically impact on psychosis risk. Psychol Med. 2012 Jan;42(1):149-59 - Kuepper R, Henquet C, Lieb R, Wittchen HU, van Os J. Non-replication of interaction between cannabis use and trauma in predicting psychosis. Schizophr Res. 2011 Sep;131(1- 3):262-3 - Kuepper R, van Os J, Lieb R, Wittchen HU, Henquet C.Do cannabis and urbanicity coparticipate in causing psychosis? Evidence from a 10-year follow-up cohort study. Psychol Med. 2011 Oct;41(10):2121-9. - Kuepper R, van Os J, Lieb R, Wittchen HU, Höfler M, Henquet C. Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study.BMJ. 2011 Mar 1;342 - Kuepper R, Morrison PD, van Os J, Murray RM, Kenis G, Henquet C. Does dopamine mediate the psychosis-inducing effects of cannabis? A review and integration of findings across disciplines.Schizophr Res. 2010 Aug;121(1-3):107-17 - Henquet C, van Os J, Kuepper R, Delespaul P, Smits M, Campo JA, Myin-Germeys I. Psychosis reactivity to cannabis use in daily life: an experience sampling study.Br J Psychiatry. 2010. - Henquet C, Di Forti M, Morrison P, Kuepper R, Murray RM.Gene-environment interplay between cannabis and psychosis. Schizophr Bull. 2008 Nov;34(6):1111- 21. - Konings M, Henquet C, Maharajh HD, Hutchinson G, Van Os J. Early exposure to cannabis and risk for psychosis in young adolescents in Trinidad. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 Sep;118(3):209-13 - Murray RM, Morrison PD, Henquet C, Di Forti M.Cannabis, the mind and society: the hash realities. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2007 Nov;8(11):885-95.

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Developmental trajectories of substance use and externalizing problems from early adolescence into young adulthood

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2007

Project ending year

2011

Area(s) of research

Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Determinants of drug use, Consequences of drug use

Objectives

To assess and explain developmental trajectories of substance use and externalizing problems throughout adolescence and young adulthood

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Epidemiology, Psychology, Sociology

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Initial identified needs

Given the strong comorbidity between patterns of (heavy) substance use and externalizing problems, analysing the trajectories as co-occurrent developmental phenomena is urgently called for.

Performed by

Projectleader Wilma Vollebergh, Dep of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Utrecht
Prof Tineke Oldehinkel, Interdisciplinary Centre for Psychiatric Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG)
Prof Menno Reijneveld, Dep of Public Health, University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG)

Funded by

ZonMW

Summary references

This project is based on TRAILS, a population based study following 2,230 respondents from age 11 until at intervals of 2-3 years. At each measurement waves information was assessed on a number of topics, including substance use and other types of risk behavior. The results showed that the development of patterns of substance use is structurally related to the development of externalizing problems at this age. This finding has important implications as it suggests that an integrated approach to the prevention of risk behavior is likely to be more effective than an approach targeting each type of risk behavior separately. Furthermore, the results showed that those who show high levels of risk behavior are very likely to maintain these high levels, at least until young adulthood. Thus, this finding underlines the importance of delaying the age of substance use and the need for evidence based preventive interventions. The study further showed that,, compared to those that scored low levels of risk behavior across adolescence into young adulthood, all respondents transitioning to high levels of risk behavior during this life phase where at higher risk for substance use disorder and the use of hard drugs (amphetamine, ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms). However, those with an early onset of high levels of risk behavior (13 years), where at highest risk for the more severe outcomes, i.e. a comorbid disorder (an alcohol and drug disorder) and the use of hard drugs. Thus, the early onset group appears to be a particularly important target group for prevention. The development of risk behavior appeared not to be associated with mental health outcomes (i.e., anxiety and depression) or with the development of neurocognitive functioning. The group of respondents showing persistent high levels of risk behavior from early adolescence into young adulthood was most clearly associated with an adverse childhood profile (i.e. early onset smoking and alcohol use, externalizing problems, low socio-economic status, divorced parents, low levels of impulse control, and high levels of sensation seeking). Respondents who made a later transition to high levels of risk behavior (around age 16 years) were also characterized by childhood factors, but fewer and they were less strong. Those who first showed high levels of risk behavior at the age of 19 years were similar in terms of childhood factors compared to those who showed consistent low levels of risk behavior. Thus, childhood factors predict the development of risk behavior and can therefore help in the identification of target groups for prevention.

Website

www.trails.nl

Published reference(s)

Creemers HE, Korhonen T, Kaprio J, Vollebergh WA, Ormel J, Verhulst FC, Huizink AC (2009), The role of temperament in the relationship between early onset of tobacco and cannabis use: the TRAILS study. Drug Alcohol Depend 104: 113-8 Creemers HE, van Lier PA, Vollebergh WA, Ormel J, Verhulst FC, Huizink AC (2009), Predicting onset of cannabis use in early adolescence: the interrelation between high-intensity pleasure and disruptive behavior. The TRAILS Study. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 70: 850-8 Creemers HE, Dijkstra JK, Vollebergh WA, Ormel J, Verhulst FC, Huizink AC (2010), Predicting lifetime and regular cannabis use during adolescence; the roles of temperament and peer substance use: the TRAILS study. Addiction 105: 699-708 Creemers HE (2010), High Times. The role of temperament and other risk factors in the onset and continuation of cannabis use during adolescence. Thesis. Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam Creemers HE, Harakeh Z, Dick DM, Meyers J, Vollebergh WA, Ormel J, Verhulst FC, Huizink AC (2011), DRD2 and DRD4 in relation to regular alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents: Does parenting modify the impact of genetic vulnerability? The TRAILS study. Drug Alcohol Depend 115: 35-42 Creemers HE., Vollebergh W.A.M., Ormel J., Verhulst F.C., Huizink A.C. (2012). Temperament en riskant cannabisgebruik in de adolescentie. Kind en Adolescent jaargang 33, nummer 1 (2012) p. 21-34 Griffith-Lendering MF, Huijbregts SC, Huizink AC, Ormel H, Verhulst FC, Vollebergh WA, Swaab H (2011), Social skills as precursors of cannabis use in young adolescents: a trails study. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 40: 706-14 Griffith-Lendering MF, Huijbregts SC, Mooijaart A, Vollebergh WA, Swaab H (2011), Cannabis use and development of externalizing and internalizing behaviour problems in early adolescence: A TRAILS study. Drug Alcohol Depend 116: 11-7 Harakeh, Z., De Sonneville, L., Van den Eijnden, R.J.J.M., Huizink, A.C., Reijneveld, S.A., Ormel, J., Verhulst, F.C., Monshouwer, K., & Vollebergh, W.A.M. (2012). The Association Between Neurocognitive Functioning and Smoking in Adolescence: the TRAILS Study. Neuropsychology, 26, 541-550. Korhonen T, Prince van Leeuwen A, Reijneveld SA, Ormel J, Verhulst FC, Huizink AC. Externalizing behavior problems and cigarette smoking as predictors of cannabis use: the TRAILS study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2010; 49: 61-9. Monshouwer, K, Harakeh, Z, Lugtig, P, Huizink, A, Creemers, HE, Reijneveld, SA, De Winter, AF, Van Oort, F, Ormel, J, Vollebergh, WAM. Predicting transitions in low and high levels of risk behaviour from early to middle adolescence: the TRAILS study. J Abnorm Child Psychol, 2012; 40, 923–931. DOI 10.1007/s10802-012-9624-9. Prince van Leeuwen A, Creemers HE, Verhulst FC, Ormel J, Huizink AC (2011), Are Adolescents Gambling With Cannabis Use? A Longitudinal Study of Impulsivity Measures and Adolescent Substance Use: The TRAILS Study. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 72: 70-8 Prince van Leeuwen AP, Verhulst FC, Reijneveld SA, Vollebergh WA, Ormel J, Huizink AC (2011), Can the gateway hypothesis, the common liability model and/or, the route of administration model predict initiation of cannabis use during adolescence? A survival analysis--the TRAILS study. J Adolesc Health 48: 73-8 Huizink AC, Ferdinand RF, Ormel J, Verhulst FC (2006), Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and early onset of cannabis use. Addiction 101: 1581-8 Huizink AC, Greaves-Lord K, Oldehinkel AJ, Ormel J, Verhulst FC (2009), Hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis and smoking and drinking onset among adolescents: the longitudinal cohort TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS). Addiction 104: 1927-1936 Monshouwer K, Huizink AC, Harakeh Z, Raaijmakers QA, Reijneveld SA, Oldehinkel AJ, Verhulst FC, Vollebergh WA (2011) Prenatal S

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Effects and indicators of CBT for cannabis use in psychosis

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2007

Project ending year

2011

Area(s) of research

Treatment responses

Objectives

The main goal is to examine the efficacy of a psychological intervention combining Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for patients with a dual diagnosis of psychotic disorder and cannabis dependency.

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Psychology, Other medical sciences, Psychiatry

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Initial identified needs

Patients with a psychotic disorder use more cannabis than the general population. The cannabis use has a negative impact on the course and outcome of the disorder. Furthermore, standard treatments are clearly less effective in patients with comorbid cannabis use.

Performed by

Maastricht University, Dept of Psychiatry and Psychology

Funded by

ZON MW, Maastricht University

Summary references

Website

Published reference(s)

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Negative psychosicial consequences of harmful alcohol use and illicit drug use. Negatieve psychosociale gevolgen van schadelijk alcoholgebruik en drugsgebruik

Negatieve psychosociale gevolgen van schadelijk alcoholgebruik en drugsgebruik

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2011

Project ending year

2011

Area(s) of research

Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Prevention responses, Treatment responses, Consequences of drug use

Objectives

1. Describe the relationship between adverse alcohol use and drug use on one hand and several negative consequence on the other hand, such as: job loss, social relationships, homelessness, domestic violence (including child abuse), school dropout, financial debts. 2. Describe the groups with an increased risk of negative sociale consequences of adverse alcohol and drug use 3. Describe the current treatment approach of negative social consequences of adverse alcohol and drug use 4. Describe the current prevention approach in preventing negative social consequences of adverse alcohol and drug use in the Netherlands 5. Describe the costs of these negative social consequences and the benefits of prevention and treatment. 6. Determine gaps in current knowledge on negative social consequences of adverse alcohol and drug use. 7. Make recommendations for future research on negative social consequences of adverse alcohol and drug use.

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Demography, Epidemiology, Psychology, Sociology

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Initial identified needs

Adverse physical and psychological consequences of alcohol and drug addiction are well documented. Besides these health consequences, substance misuse might also lead to considerable social and societal damage.

Performed by

Stichting IVO

Funded by

ZonMW

Summary references

http://www.ivo.nl/UserFiles/File/Publicaties/2012%2007%20-%20Sociale%20gevolgen%20van%20verslaving%20-%20reeks%2071.pdf Hammink, A, Altenburg, M & Schrijvers, C (2012) De sociale gevolgen van verslaving. Een state of the art studie naar verstoring van sociale relaties, schooluitval, dakloosheid, schulden en huiselijk geweld als gevolg van alcohol- of drugsverslaving. Rotterdam: IVO.

Website

n/a

Published reference(s)

Hammink, A, Altenburg, M. & Schrijvers, C (2012) De sociale gevolgen van verslaving. Een state of the art studie naar verstoring van sociale relaties, schooluitval, dakloosheid, schulden en huiselijk geweld als gevolg van alcohol- of drugsverslaving. Rotterdam: IVO

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Physical effects of drug use. Lichamelijke effecten van drugs

Lichamelijke effecten van drugs

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2011

Project ending year

2011

Area(s) of research

Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Law enforcement responses, Drug related crime responses, Harm reduction responses, Consequences of drug use

Objectives

Priorization of research needs for ZonMw

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Epidemiology, Legal sciences, Pharmacology, Other medical sciences, Other discipline, Toxicology

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Initial identified needs

Make a state of the art on the subject

Performed by

AMC-AIAR
Trimbosinstituut
Maastricht Forensic Institute
RIVM

Funded by

ZonMw

Summary references

www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/340041001.html‎

Website

www.rivm.nl

Published reference(s)

www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/340041001.html‎ Pubmed: Jan van Amsterdam, Ed Pennings, Tibor Brunt, Wim van den Brink. Physical harm due to chronic substance abuse. Reg Tox Pharmacol 66, 83–87, 2013.

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Striatal circuits underlying the persistence of cocaine addiction

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2010

Project ending year

2011

Area(s) of research

Mechanism of drug use and effects

Objectives

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Neurosciences, Pharmacology

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Objectives (native)

This project serves two purposes: 1. To elucidate the striatal circuits involved in different aspects of cocaine addiction. 2. To further explore the usefulness of DBS for the treatment of cocaine addiction, which could lead to a novel treatment for this devastating disorder.

Initial identified needs

Drug addiction is an enormous medical problem, not least because of the ensuing unhealthy lifestyle and the co-morbidity with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, because of its socio-economic and legal impact on society, it affects many more people than the addicts themselves. Cocaine addiction is a major concern in both the Netherlands and the USA. However, effective treatments for cocaine addiction remain elusive. Understanding the neural underpinnings of cocaine addiction is essential for the development of novel treatments for this disorder. The present project aims to further elucidate the neural basis of cocaine addiction, and to explore the possibilities for novel treatment strategies. During the last decades, research on the reinforcing and addictive properties of cocaine has for the most part focused on the dopaminergic innervation of the ventral striatum, including the nucleus accumbens. However, there is general agreement that this neurobiological view on cocaine addiction is too narrow, both from a neurochemical and a neuroanatomical perspective. Alongside its dopaminergic innervation, glutamatergic input into the nucleus accumbens plays a critical role in relapse to cocaine seeking after detoxification. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that the circuitry involved in cocaine addiction also includes dorsal regions of the striatum. Thus, during initial stages of cocaine use, dopamine in the ventral striatum mediates goal-directed, motivational aspects of cocaine use. However, over many episodes of drug taking, drug-associated cues gain increasing control over behavior, which is mediated by dorsal regions of the striatum. Indeed, research in primates has shown that with prolonged cocaine self-administration experience, neural adaptations spread more dorsally into the striatum. This ventral-to-dorsal intrastriatal progression of regions engaged by cocaine use may be subserved by striato-nigro-striatal pathways, whereby ventral striatal regions influence not only their own dopaminergic innervation, but also that of progressively more dorsal areas through spiraling projections via dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra. Studies into the role of striatal subregions in cocaine addiction support the notion that the development and expression of cue-controlled cocaine seeking is subserved by these spiraling striato-nigro-striatal pathways. Remarkably however, our own recent work suggests that dorsal striatal dopamine also mediates the reinforcing properties of cocaine itself during early stages of the addiction process, perhaps in concert with dopamine in the ventral striatum. These findings call for a deeper investigation of the striatal subregions mediating distinct aspects of the cocaine addiction process. The present research proposal aims to further delineate the respective roles of dorsal and ventral striatal subregions in different aspects of cocaine addiction. Specifically, we will investigate which striatal subregions mediate cocaine taking, motivation to self-administer cocaine and relapse to cocaine seeking after detoxification. To that aim, we will employ pharmacological means (dopamine receptor antagonists, glutamate receptor antagonists) as well as reversible inactivation of striatal regions using deep brain stimulation (DBS). Using asymmetrical disconnection procedures, we will be able to reveal whether distinct striatal subregions mediate different aspects of cocaine addiction, and whether these regions function in series (i.e. through the ventral-to-dorsal striatal spirals) or in parallel. In addition, the use of DBS will allow for a further exploration of the usefulness of this technique for the treatment of cocaine addiction. DBS has attracted a great deal of attention as a potential treatment for various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including d

Performed by

LJMJ Vanderschuren, UMC Utrecht
RC Pierce, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia PA, USA

Funded by

ZonMw, NL, NIDA, USA

Summary references

Website

Published reference(s)

Veeneman MMJ, Broekhoven MH, Damsteegt R, Vanderschuren LJMJ Distinct contributions of dopamine in the dorsolateral striatum and nucleus accumbens shell to the reinforcing properties of cocaine. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2012 Jan;37(2):487-98. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.209 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21918505

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Swingen, middelengebruik & seksuele keuzes

Funding country

Netherlands

Project starting year

2011

Project ending year

2012

Area(s) of research

Harm reduction responses, Determinants of drug use, Consequences of drug use

Objectives

To gain more knowledge about swinger - their drug use and the function of it and their sexual choises when using drugs To be able to develop an intervention on harm reduction for this target group

Scientific discipline(s) involved

Other discipline

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Initial identified needs

Professionals of Mainline and other professionals in contact with Swingers notice that certain groups of Swingers use drugs when swinging (couples having sex with other couples), but have little knowledge about the risks involved.

Performed by

Mainline

Funded by

Ministery of Health (VWS)

Summary references

Website

http://www.mainline.nl/training-en-expertise/onderzoek/swingen.html

Published reference(s)

http://www.mainline.nl/training-en-expertise/onderzoek/swingen.html