Cocaine Damages the Brain's Pleasure Cells (Does Bill Know?)

Yahoo ^ | 1/02/03 | By Nancy Deutsch

[Clemenza]

THURSDAY, Jan. 2 (HealthScoutNews) -- Cocaine users seek pleasure, but the more they indulge in the drug, the less likely they are to feel the pleasure they're seeking.

That's the finding of a new study that shows cocaine damages brain cells that trigger the feelings of pleasure. The drug also exerts its most serious effects on those who are clinically depressed, the researchers found.

This is the first time research shows what happens "in those humans with the most clinically significant cocaine dependency problems," says Dr. Karley Little, chief of the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Ann Arbor, Mich., and lead author of the study in the January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

"Ninety-five percent of studies of drug abuse are in animals," he adds. "We're showing the change in humans."

The researchers looked at postmortem brain samples of 35 known cocaine users and 35 non-cocaine users, used as controls. All were matched for age, sex, race, and cause of death.

All of those known to use cocaine "had cocaine in their system when they died," although cocaine itself was not the direct cause of death in most cases, Little says. Many died in car accidents or of cocaine-related heart disease, and "a fair number were murdered."

What the brain samples showed is that those who took cocaine had problems with the amount of dopamine their brains produced, and how it was released by the brain.

Dopamine is a chemical known to be released to signal pleasure. "It is essential and coordinates pleasure," Little says, "but it's not the pure sensation."

Cocaine initially sets in motion changes in brain cells that disrupt the flow of dopamine. It blocks transporters that bring dopamine back into cells. This causes dopamine to build up outside of cells and bind with other receptors, signaling pleasurable feelings repeatedly. This explains the "high" that cocaine users crave, Little explains.

However, the continuous use of cocaine led to lower dopamine levels in the study subjects. Less dopamine was being produced, and there was less of the protein known as VMAT2, which lives in the cells and helps prepare dopamine to be released again. Finally, there was less indication that VMAT was available for binding.

The cells involved in the functioning of dopamine either fall asleep or die in those who regularly use cocaine, Little says.

While animal studies have indicated some of these brain changes, the change in humans is to a much more significant degree, he notes. "It's an overwhelming change in neurons. The changes in the VMAT protein are a little unprecedented," he says.

Another interesting finding is that "we found these changes correlate with a symptom." Notably, cocaine users known to be depressed had the most significant changes in their dopamine levels, Little says.

Seven of the cocaine users they examined had been diagnosed with depression, and these seven were the ones who showed the most striking decrease in dopamine being released and increase in reuptake of the chemical.

"We don't know why the reaction is more severe in the depressed," Little adds, but he speculates that they may have a different response to cocaine and "that's why it makes it harder for these people to stop. Our study is telling us a lot more about the worse patients."

The researchers next plan to count dopamine neurons to see if there are actually less of them in the cocaine users, Little says. He doesn't think the neurons have died off. "It's more likely they're turned way down. We're not sure if they go back to normal once a person stops taking cocaine," he adds.

Thomas W. Clark, a research associate at Health and Addictions Research, Inc., believes this study "helps to show cocaine addiction is a real physical problem. There are changes in brain function and structure consequent to cocaine use."

Little says the relevant message of his finding is that cocaine causes harm.

"It's important to convey to people who might be tempted to take cocaine that there's a chance they might damage part of their brain," he says.

[Clemenza]

However, the continuous use of cocaine led to lower dopamine

As my Grandmother used to say "Why do you think they call it dope?"

[hole_n_one]

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

There's a good mug shot out there of Bubba's brother who has a serious red nose, too. Having a nose like a Hoover runs in the family.

[Clemenza]

Cocaine Blues (Trad.), as performed by Johnny Cash

Early one morning while makin' the rounds

I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my baby down

I shot her down then I went to bed

I stuck that lovin' forty-four beneath my head

Woke up next morning and I grabbed that gun

I took a shot of cocaine and away I run

Made a good run but I run too slow

The overtook me down in Juarez Mexico

In the hot joint takin' the pill

There walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill

Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown

You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down

Yes so my name's is Billy Lee

If you've got a warrant you better read it to me

I shot her down 'cause she made me sore

I thought I was her daddy but she had five more

When I was arrested I was dressed in black

They threw me on a freight train and hauled me back

Had no friend who'd go my bail

They stuck my dried-up carcass in the county jail

Early next morning 'round half past nine

I saw the sheriff comin' down the line

That sheriff yelled as he cleared his throat

Said come on you dirty hackin' to the district court

Into the courtroom my trial began

Where I was judged by twelve honest men

Yes as the jury started walkin' out

I saw that little judge commence to look about

In about five minutes then walked a man

Holding the verdict in his right hand

The verdict read in the first degree

I shouted Lordy Lordy please have mercy on me

The judge he smiled when he picked up his pen

Ninety-nine years in the Folsom Penn

Ninety-nine years underneath that ground

But I can't forget that day I shot that bad bitch down

Come on you hotheads you listen to me

Stay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be!!!

[martin_fierro]

Photo of Clinton allegedly zonked on cocaine.

Roger's mug shot

[hole_n_one]

[hole_n_one]

figures

lol!

[Slyfox]

I am so depressed.

I need me a fix.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"`Ninety-five percent of studies of drug abuse are in animals,' he adds. `We're showing the change in humans.'"

Where does a person sign up if they want to volunteer to be part of the study? Of course it would only be out of an interest in, and respect for, science.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Right on. Thanks!

[SupplySider]

I hope this gives pause to the Freepers who make light of drug use. Crudely assaulting the most refined machine in the universe just for fun is very, very dumb.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"Cocaine users seek pleasure, but the more they indulge in the drug, the less likely they are to feel the pleasure they're seeking."

Gee, that's what my friends tell me about marriage. At first the sex is great, and they do it for pleasure. But the more they do it, the less pleasure it gives them. In some cases it gets so bad they end up trying a new drug.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

This is useful research. We know now that Cocaine is much safer to use in combination with dopamine supplements.

Cool.

[hole_n_one]

[Slyfox]

Now we know he's thinking the bridge of his nose and not the Bridge to the 21st Century.

[nmh]

Ah but what about the LIBERALtarians that want to legalize this shi*? We might hurt their widdle feelings if the truth came out. The majority of the are on drugs! Those who are and are LIBERALtarians are heartless, selfish people who only care about themselves.

Good post!

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Are you stoned?

[nmh]

"As my Grandmother used to say "Why do you think they call it dope?" "

I applaud your Grandmother. Obviously she was a dope, er LIBERALtarian.

[nmh]

You're quite forgetable. Most LIBERALtarians are. Nothing of value to offer. It is reflected in your sad replies. They're not funny, just sad.

[nmh]

"Are you stoned?"

Stoned cold sober. Unlike you, I don't need to avoid reality or destroy myself. The truth is, I feel sorry for you. You're the sad joke.