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.

32 projects matched the selected criteria:

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Consumo de substâncias psicoactivas entre os adolescentes portugueses: uma abordagem da Epidemiologia Social

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2013
Project ending year: 2010
Area(s) of research: Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Prevention responses, Determinants of drug use, Consequences of drug use, Mechanism of drug use and effects, Supply and markets, Methodology issues
Objectives: Identify possible relationships between typologies of consumption and consumers and the relevance of several risk factors; Check whether the identified relationships are stable over the age of consumers, over time, and over the various regions of the country."
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Epidemiology, Psychology, Sociology

Objectives (native): Identificar eventuais relações entre tipologias de consumo e de consumidores e relevãncia de diversos factores de risco; Verificar se as relações identificadas são estáveis ao longo das idades dos consumidores, do tempo, e das diversas regiões do país.
Initial identified needs: Overall examination of the results of INME/2001, INME/2006 and INME/2011 studies and to verify if the changes in the dimension and patterns of alcohol and drugs use, over time and in different regions of Portugal, are related to variations in risk/protective factors examined in the study.
Initial identified needs (native): Analisar globalmente os resultados dos estudos INME/2001, INME/2006 e INME/2011 e verificar se as variações na dimensão e nos padrões de consumo de álcool e drogas, ao logo do tempo e das diversas regiões de Portugal, estão relacionadas com eventuais variações dos factores de risco analisados nos estudos.
Performed by: PhD thesis developped in relation with SICAD
Funded by: SICAD(IDT)
Summary references
Website
Published reference(s)

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Microglial and Neuronal Changes in the Hippocampus Induced by Methamphetamine: Role of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Neuropeptide Y

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2007
Project ending year: 2010
Area(s) of research: Consequences of drug use, Mechanism of drug use and effects
Objectives: The project aims to clarify the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NPY under conditions of brain injury induced by methamphetamine. Given the limited understanding of microglia, pro-inflammatory cytokines and NPY in methamphetamine neurotoxicity, the purpose of the present project is to clarify if the inflammatory process contributes to neuropathogenesis rather than being a secondary consequence of neuropathology and if NPY has a neuroprotective effect. The research proposed helped in understanding the interplay between pro-inflammatory cytokines, NPY and METH-induced toxicity, which is probably a major key issue in the research of new pharmacological strategies to deal with drug abuse.
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Neurosciences, Pharmacology

Initial identified needs: Methamphetamine (METH) is a powerful stimulant drug of abuse that has steadily gained in popularity and illicit use of this drug has increased to the point that it has eclipsed cocaine and heroin abuse on a global scale. Despite characterization of METH-induced toxicity over the past 30 years, it remains unclear how this drug of abuse damages the brain. In fact, the mechanisms by which METH causes neurotoxicity are not well understood but recent studies have suggested that METH-induced neuropathology may result from a multicellular response in which glial cells play a prominent role. Moreover, the apparent region-selective effects associated with activated microglia suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines may play a dual role in the brain: cytotoxic to some brain regions and neurotrophic/neuroprotective in others. Besides these peptides, the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) against METH-induced toxicity within the hippocampus is unknown. Indeed, striatum has been the most explored brain region, some studies involving human subjects (METH abusers) clearly showed deficits in deep temporal lobe structures that support learning and recall, including the hippocampus.
Performed by: Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), Coimbra, Portugal
Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNBC), University of Coimbra, Portugal
Funded by: FCT/COMPETE/FEDER
Summary references
Website
Published reference(s): 7. Gonçalves J, Baptista S, Olesen MV, Fontes-Ribeiro C, Malva JO, Woldbye DP, Silva AP (2012) Methamphetamine-induced changes in the mice hippocampal neuropeptide Y system: implications for memory impairment. J Neurochem. 123(6):1041-53. 6. Gonçalves J, Ribeiro CF, Malva JO, Silva AP (2012) Protective role of neuropeptide Y Y2 receptors in cell death and microglial response following methamphetamine injury. Eur J Neurosci. 36(9):3173-83. 5. Coelho-Santos V, Gonçalves J, Fontes Ribeiro C, Silva AP. (2012) Prevention of methamphetamine-induced microglial cell death by TNF-alpha and IL-6 through activation of the JAK/STAT pathway. J Neuroinflammation 9(1):103. 4. Baptista S, Bento AR, Gonçalves J, Bernardino L, Summavielle T, Lobo A, Fontes Ribeiro C, Malva JO, Agasse F, Silva AP. (2012) Neuropeptide Y promotes neurogenesis and protection against methamphetamine-induced toxicity in mouse dentate gyrus-derived neurosphere cultures. Neuropharmacology 62(7):2413-23. 3. Gonçalves J., Baptista B., Martins T., Milhazes N., Borges F., Ribeiro C.F., Malva J.O., Silva A.P. (2010) Methamphetamine-induced neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunctio in the mice hippocampus: preventive effect of indomethacin. Eur J Neurosci. 31(2):315-26. 2. Silva A.P., Martins T., Baptista S., Gonçalves J., Agasse F., Malva J.O. (2010) Brain Injury Associated With Widely Abused Amphetamines: Neuroinflammation, Neurogenesis and Blood-Brain Barrier. Curr Drug Abuse Rev 3(4):239-54. 1. Gonçalves J., Martins T., Ferreira R., Milhazes N., Borges F., Ribeiro C.F., Malva J.O., Macedo T.R. and Silva A.P. (2008) Methamphetamine-induced early increase of IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the mouse brain. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1139:103-11.

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'Social Adventure at CED ( Aventura Social no CED)

Aventura Social no CED

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2008
Project ending year: 2012
Area(s) of research: Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Prevention responses, Treatment responses
Objectives
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Epidemiology, Psychology, Other medical sciences

Objectives (native): Prevenção da violencia e consumos nos jovens dos CED dos 5 aos 18 anos
Initial identified needs: Longitudinal study in a "closed" institution to implement and evaluate a program to develop personal and social skills ("Find your personal style
Initial identified needs (native): Estudo longitudinal numa instituição " fechada" para implementação e avaliação de um programa de competencias pessoais e sociais ( "Encontra o teu estilo pessoal"
Performed by: Universidade de Lisboa
Universidade Lusiada
Centro da Malaria e Doenças Tropicais
Associação Aventura Social
Funded by: Casa Pia de Lisboa
Summary references: manual e publicações em www.aventurasocial.com
Website: www.aventurasocial.com
Published reference(s): www.researcherid.com/rid/H-3824-2012 www.cmdt.ihmt.unl.pt/index.php/pt/2011-10-28-16-24-30/2011-11-30-10-53-56/health-of-populations-groups www.aventurasocial.com/perfilutilizador.php?profile_id=5

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Characterization of clients of SICAD's funded projects for risk reduction and harm minimization associated to illicit drug use

Caraterização de utentes de projetos de redução de riscos e minimização de danos apoiados pelo SICAD

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2010
Project ending year: 2012
Area(s) of research: Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Harm reduction responses, Consequences of drug use, Mechanism of drug use and effects
Objectives
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Epidemiology, Psychology, Sociology

Objectives (native): Aumento do conhecimento sobre a população que necessita de intervenção no domínio da RRMD
Initial identified needs: Needs assessment and appropriateness of intervention
Initial identified needs (native): Diagnóstico de necessidades e adequação da intervenção
Performed by: SICAD - DEI (General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies -Division of statistics and surveys)
Funded by: Serviço de Intervenção nos Comportamentos Aditivos e nas Dependências
Summary references: SICAD. (2012). Caraterização de utentes de projetos de redução de riscos e minimização de danos apoiados pelo SICAD (não publicado). Disponível em http://www.idt.pt/PT/Investigacao/Paginas/EstudosConcluidos.aspx
Website: -
Published reference(s): http://www.idt.pt/PT/Investigacao/Paginas/EstudosConcluidos.aspx

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Is methamphetamine self-administration associated with the activation of the brain receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE)?

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2011
Project ending year: 2012
Area(s) of research: Consequences of drug use, Mechanism of drug use and effects
Objectives: 1To demonstrate that METH evokes brain AGE accumulation and RAGE over-expression; 2To demonstrate that this new mechanism strongly contributes to methamphetamine neurotoxicity in both caudate nucleus (dopamine-rich region) and hippocampus (dopamine-poor region) in a METH addiction setting; 3To ultimately propose pharmacological tools that could help to counteract neurotoxicity following METH abuse.
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Neurosciences

Objectives (native): 1-To demonstrate that METH evokes brain AGE accumulation and RAGE over-expression; 2- To demonstrate that this new mechanism strongly contributes to methamphetamine neurotoxicity in both caudate nucleus (dopamine-rich region) and hippocampus (dopamine-poor region) in a METH addiction setting; 3- To ultimately propose pharmacological tools that could help to counteract neurotoxicity following METH abuse.
Initial identified needs: Methamphetamine (METH, indirect sympaticomimetic) addiction is a serious public health problem reaching epidemic proportion worldwide. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, amphetamines are among the most commonly consumed illicit drugs, after cannabis (1). Methamphetamine increases aberrantly the release of dopamine (DA) in striatum (2). The cognitive, behavioral, and psychological dysfunction associated with chronic METH abuse is directly related to the dopaminergic neurotoxic effects of METH including reduction of DA, tyrosine hydroyxlase (TH) and DAT levels in striatum. Hippocampal deficits are also correlated with memory performance (3). Animal models of intravenous METH self-administration that result in escalation of drug intake have recently been developed as a METH addiction model and reproduce the referred dopaminergic and hippocampal detrimental effects as well as striatal astrogliosis (4,5). METH neurotoxicity remains to be fully clarified, but human as well as animal data point to oxidative stress, possibly related to the formation of dopamine derived oxidation products, as the main cause for neurotoxicity (2). However, monoamine oxidation cannot certainly account for the oxidative stress in dopamine poor areas in both human and rodent brains nor could fully explain continued overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treweek et al. 2007 (6) showed that METH is endowed with a novel property: methamphetamine covalently glycates endogenous proteins, spuring a peripheral immunoresponse, including antibody production against methamphetamine-derived advanced glycation end products (METH-AGE) in rats chronically self-injecting METH. AGEs are capable of generating ROS either themselves or by interacting with their receptors (RAGE) (7). For example, the AGE-RAGE pathway has gained notoriety due to its participation in Alzheimers’disease.
Performed by: IBILI/FMUC
ICETA-Porto/UP
NCTR/FDA, USA
Funded by: FMUC
Summary references: (1) Pharmacotherapy of methamphetamine addiction: an update (2008) Elkashef A,Vocci F, Hanson G, White J, Wickes W, Tiihonen J.Subst Abus. 29:31-49. (2)Methamphetamine toxicity and messengers of death (2009) Krasnova IN, Cadet JL. Brain Res Rev. 60:379-407. (3) Methamphetamine induces alterations on hippocampal NMDA and AMPA receptor subunit levels and impairs spatial working memory (2007) Simoes PF, Silva AP, Pereira FC, Marques E, Grade S, Milhazes N, Borges F,Ribeiro CF, Macedo TR.Neuroscience 150: 433-41 (4) Methamphetamine self-administration is associated with persistent biochemical alterations in striatal and cortical dopaminergic terminals in the rat (2010) Krasnova IN, Justinova Z, Ladenheim B, Jayanthi S, McCoy MT, Barnes C, Warner JE,Goldberg SR, Cadet JL.PLoS One.5: e8790. (5) Escalation of methamphetamine self-administration in rats: a dose-effect function (2006) Kitamura O, Wee S, Specio SE, Koob GF, Pulvirenti L.Psychopharmacology (Berl)186:48-53. (6) Self-vaccination by methamphetamine glycation products chemically links chronic drug abuse and cardiovascular disease (2007) Treweek J, Wee S, Koob GF,Dickerson TJ, Janda KD. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:11580-4 (7) Advanced glycation end products and RAGE: a common thread in aging, diabetes, neurodegeneration and inflammation (2005) Ravichandran Ramasamy, Susan J. Vannucci, Shirley Shi Du Yan, Kevan Herold, Shi Fang Yan and Ann Marie Schmidt. Glycobiology 15: 16-28
Website
Published reference(s): Pereira FC, Cunha-Oliveira T, Viana SD, Travassos AS, Nunes S, Silva C, Prediger RD, Rego AC, Ali SF, Ribeiro CA (2013) Disruption of striatal glutamatergic/GABAergic homeostasis following acute methamphetamine in mice.Neurotoxicol Teratol. 34(5):522-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.07.005.

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Music, Alcohol and Drugs - 2010. An analysis of the most popular songs

Música, álcool e drogas – 2010. Uma análise das músicas dos tops

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2011
Project ending year: 2012
Area(s) of research
Objectives: To assess the presence of references to alcohol and drugs in the songs that are more on the radio.
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Anthropology

Objectives (native): Avaliar a presença de referências a álcool e drogas nas músicas que mais passam na rádio.
Initial identified needs: Examine how the most popular songs address issues of alcohol and drug use.
Initial identified needs (native): Explorar a relação entre o consumo de álcool e drogas e as músicas mais populares.
Performed by: SICAD - DEI (General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies -Division of statistics and surveys)
Funded by: SICAD
Summary references
Website
Published reference(s)

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Social representations of drugs and drug abuse among young people at the Rock in Rio Music Festival - 2012

Representações Sociais da Droga e da Toxicodependência. Inquérito à população jovem presente no Rock in Rio – Lisboa 2012

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2012
Project ending year: 2012
Area(s) of research: Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use
Objectives: To assess the evolution of representations of drugs by the young audience present at Rock in Rio - Lisbon
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Anthropology

Objectives (native): Avaliar a evolução das representações da droga por parte do público jovem presente no Rock in Rio - Lisboa
Initial identified needs: To Understand how a young population that attends a music festival conceives and perceives the drugs.
Initial identified needs (native): Conhecer a forma como uma população jovem que frequenta um festival de música concebe e perceciona a droga.
Performed by: SICAD - DEI (General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies -Division of statistics and surveys)
Funded by: SICAD
Summary references
Website
Published reference(s)

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Surveys on user types, availability and consumption estimates" in dos estudos do "Study on the further analysis of the EU illicit drugs market and responses to it – responding to future challenges"

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2011
Project ending year: 2012
Area(s) of research: Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use, Law enforcement responses, Drug related crime responses, Consequences of drug use, Supply and markets
Objectives: To provide, on the basis of available and possible additional field research, a qualitative estimation of the 'typical' consumption of the most prevalent illicit drugs by different groups of users in the EU, while providing a general typology of these different user groups (e.g. experimental/ recreational/ dependent users; socially included/ marginalised users);
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Criminology, Economy, Epidemiology, Political sciences, Sociology

Objectives (native): Provide – on the basis of available and possible additional field research - a qualitative estimation of the 'typical' consumption of the most prevalent illicit drugs by different groups of users in the EU, while providing a general typology of these different user groups (e.g. experimental/ recreational/ dependent users; socially included/ marginalised users);
Initial identified needs: Provide the EU Commission with a detailed analysis of the size and share of the EU illicit drug market.
Performed by: ICAD - DEI (General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies -Division of statistics and surveys) in Portugal
Funded by: Comissão Europeia, SICAD
Summary references: Further insights into aspects of the EU illicit drugs market: summaries and key findings. http://ec.europa.eu/justice/anti-drugs/files/eu_market_summary_en.pdf
Website
Published reference(s): Franz Trautmann, Beau Kiler, & Paul Turnbull, Editors. (2013). Further insights into aspects of the EU illicit drugs market: summaries and key findings.Luxembourg:PO of EU http://ec.europa.eu/justice/anti-drugs/files/eu_market_summary_en.pdf

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'National School Survey 2011- Secondary School

Inquérito Nacional em Meio Escolar 2011 - Secundário

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2010
Project ending year: 2013
Area(s) of research: Determinants of drug use, Consequences of drug use, Mechanism of drug use and effects, Supply and markets
Objectives: 1) To characterize, under an epidemiological perspective drugs, alcohol and tobacco use, among students of the Secondary public education; 2) to get detailed knowledge of the situation in the various regions of the country; 3) to relate the level of consumption with different risk factors; 4) to understand the evolution, over time and national geographic space , of the variables analyzed. "
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Epidemiology, Psychology, Sociology

Objectives (native): Caracterização do ponto de vista epidemiológicodos consumos de drogas, álcool e tabaco entre os alunos do Ensino Secundário, público; Conhecimento detalhado da situação nas diversas regiões do país (NUT3); Conhecimento da evolução através do tempo e das diversas regiões do país. Relacionar padrões de consumo com factores de risco.
Initial identified needs: 'Project started in 2001, repeated in 2006 and 2011 in order to meet the national information needs regarding the characterization and evolution of psychoactive substances use among teenagers, particularly to the evaluation of the National Drugs Stategy and related Action Plans.
Initial identified needs (native): Projeto iniciado em 2001, repetido em 2006 e 2011, com vista a responder, a nível nacional, às necessidades de informação - relativas à caracterização dos consumos de substâncias psicoativas entre os adolescentes que frequentam o ensino secundário público - para avaliação dos Planos de Acção associados à Estratégia de Luta contra a Droga.
Performed by: SICAD - DEI (General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies -Division of statistics and surveys)
Funded by: SICAD - Ministerio da Saúde, Ministério da Educação, Governos Regionais Madeira e Açores
Summary references: Feijão, F. (2012). Inquérito Nacional em Meio Escolar, 2011 - Ensino Secundário. Consumo de drogas e outras substâncias psicoativas: uma abordagem integrada. Síntese de resultados. Lisboa:SICAD http://idt.pt/PT/Investigacao/*Paginas/Estudos concluídos.aspx
Website
Published reference(s): http://www.idt.pt/PT/Investigacao/Paginas/Estudos Concluidos.aspx

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'Study on Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs Use, by age group - Portugal 2011

ECATD - Estudo sobre o Consumo de Álcool, Tabaco e Drogas, Portugal 2011

Funding country: Portugal
Project starting year: 2010
Project ending year: 2013
Area(s) of research: Prevalence, incidence and patterns of drug use
Objectives: 1) To monitor prevalence and patterns of substance use, by age group, 2) to compare its evolution as a function of age, 3) to identify trends over time, 4) to evaluate potential impact of preventive interventions in different age groups.
Scientific discipline(s) involved: Epidemiology

Objectives (native): - Monitorizar prevalências e padrões de consumo por grupo etário - Comparar a evolução em função da idade - Identificar tendêndias ao longo do tempo - Avaliar eventual impacto das intervenções preventivas
Initial identified needs: To characterise and to monitor the evolution of consumption of psychoactive substances in each of the six age groups from 13 to 18 years in Portugal, and provide information to guide to policy setting to prevent substance use, according to age.
Initial identified needs (native): Caracterizar e acompanhar a evolução dos consumos de substâncias psicoativas, em cada um dos seis grupos etários dos 13 aos 18 anos, em Portugal Continental, com vista à definição de políticas de prevenção de consumo de acordo com os grupos etários
Performed by: SICAD - DEI (General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies -Division of statistics and surveys)
Funded by: SICAD- Ministério da Saúde, Ministério da Educação
Summary references: Feijão, F., Lavado, E. & Calado, V. (2012). Estudo sobre o Consumo de Álcool, Tabaco e Drogas - Portugal 2011. http://www.idt.pt/PT/Investigaçao/Pagibas/Estudos Concuidos.aspx
Website
Published reference(s): Feijão, F., Lavado, E. & Calado, V. (2012). Estudo sobre o Consumo de Álcool, Tabaco e Drogas - Portugal 2011. http://www.idt.pt/PT/Investigaçao/Paginas/Estudos Concuidos.aspx

Although every reasonable effort is made to present accurate information, ERANID makes no guarantees of any kind and cannot be held liable for any incorrect information or external hyperlinks.

Searching information on drug research projects

32 projects matched the selected criteria:

Consumo de substâncias psicoactivas entre os adolescentes portugueses: uma abordagem da Epidemiologia Social

Microglial and Neuronal Changes in the Hippocampus Induced by Methamphetamine: Role of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Neuropeptide Y

'Social Adventure at CED ( Aventura Social no CED)

Characterization of clients of SICAD's funded projects for risk reduction and harm minimization associated to illicit drug use

Is methamphetamine self-administration associated with the activation of the brain receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE)?

Music, Alcohol and Drugs - 2010. An analysis of the most popular songs

Social representations of drugs and drug abuse among young people at the Rock in Rio Music Festival - 2012

Surveys on user types, availability and consumption estimates" in dos estudos do "Study on the further analysis of the EU illicit drugs market and responses to it – responding to future challenges"

'National School Survey 2011- Secondary School

'Study on Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs Use, by age group - Portugal 2011

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