Australia: Brains hotwired

TEEN drug experimentation might hotwire the brain for addiction as adults, according to Melbourne research.

Melbourne researchers found adolescent rats exposed to a small dose of amphetamines had increased sensitisation to the drug when they took it as adults.

The Howard Florey Institute scientists also found those adult rats were possibly more susceptible to heart attack after taking the drugs again.

"A teenager's early experimentation might be minor, but it can still have a damaging effect on their developing brain," said Dr Andrew Lawrence, who conducted the research with PhD student Cameron McPherson.

"As well as activating the brain's reward system, which is involved in addiction, amphetamine also affects brain regions that control heartbeat, blood pressure and temperature."

The study will be published in the International Journal of Neuropsycho-pharmacology.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Tue, 30th August 2005
Source: The Melbourne Herald Sun (Australia)
Author: Michelle Pountney
Email: hsletters@heraldsun.com.au
Copyright: 2005 The Melbourne Herald Sun
Website: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/