André Luiz Monezi Andrade

Administration of the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB-242084 into the nucleus accumbens blocks the expression of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in Albino Swiss mice

Behavioral sensitization to the stimulating effect of ethanol (EtOH) or other drugs, which can be observed in mice as an increase in locomotor activity after repeated administration, has been associated with neuroadaptations within the dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway. In the nucleus accumbens (NAc), an afferent region of the mesolimbic pathway, dopamine (DA) release can be modulated by serotonergic 2C receptors (5-HT2CR). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the function of 5-HT2CR in the expression of EtOH-induced behavioral sensitization in Albino Swiss mice with various levels of sensitization to EtOH. In the four experiments that we performed, the mice were given saline or 2.2 g/kg EtOH daily for 21 days. Based on their locomotion on day 21, the EtOH-pretreated mice were assigned to one of two groups, highly sensitized or weakly sensitized to the stimulating effect of EtOH. In each experiment, 2 weeks after the 21-day treatment (withdrawal period), the mice were submitted to four pharmacological challenges of two drug treatments each. The mice in experiments 1 and 2 received two i.p. injections, whereas the mice in experiments 3 and 4 received an intra-NAc administration followed by an i.p. injection. The challenges were: saline+saline; saline+EtOH; SB-242084 (a 5-HT2CR antagonist; 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg i.p. or 1.0 or 2.0 μg/side intra-NAc)+EtOH; and SB-242084 (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg i.p. or 1.0 or 2.0 μg/side intra-NAc)+saline. At all tested doses, i.p. administration of SB-242084 did not affect the stimulating effect of EtOH in the highly sensitized mice. However, when delivered by intra-NAc administration, SB-242084 reduced (at 1.0 μg/side) or completely blocked (at 2.0 μg/side) the expression of EtOH-induced behavioral sensitization in the highly sensitized mice. These findings suggest that the expression of behavioral sensitization to the stimulating effect of EtOH depends on accumbal 5-HT2CR activity.

Web-based self-help intervention reduces alcohol consumption in both heavy-drinking and dependent alcohol users: A pilot study.

As part of a multicenter project supported by the World Health Organization, we developed a web-based intervention to reduce alcohol use and related problems. We evaluated the predictors of adherence to, and the outcomes of the intervention. Success was defined as a reduction in consumption to low risk levels or to <50% of the baseline levels of number of drinks. From the 32,401 people who accessed the site, 3389 registered and 929 completed the full Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a necessary condition to be considered eligible to take part in the intervention. Based on their AUDIT scores, these participants were classified into: low risk users (LRU; n=319) harmful/hazardous users (HHU; n=298) or suggestive of dependence users (SDU; n=312). 29.1% of the registered users (LRU=42; HHU=90; SDU=82) completed the evaluation form at the end of the six-week period, and 63.5% reported low-risk drinking levels. We observed a significant reduction in alcohol consumption in the HHU (62.5%) and SDU (64.5%) groups in relation to baseline. One month after the intervention, in the follow-up, 94 users filled out the evaluation form, and their rate of success was similar to the one observed in the previous evaluation. Logistic regression analyses indicated that HHU participants presented higher adherence than LRU. Despite a relatively low adherence to the program, its good outcomes and low cost, as well as the high number of people that can be reached by a web-based intervention, suggest it has good cost-effectiveness.

Relationship between Stress Symptoms and Drug use among Secondary Students

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between drug use and four kinds of stress symptoms in 954 Brazilian students from the 6th to the 11th grades, in 4 public and 5 private schools in the city of Sao Paulo. Based on their answers to the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI-R) and to the Stress Scale for Adolescents (SSA), we compared regular drug users with non/occasional drug users regarding the frequency of four kinds of stress symptoms (psychological, cognitive, physiological, interpersonal), and the period in which it happened. When compared to non/occasional drug users, regular drug users presented higher levels of psychological, cognitive and physiological symptoms of stress and these symptoms were in the most severe spectrum of severity (near to exhaustion and exhaustion). The association between drug use and stress was even stronger in the youngest age group (11 to 13 years old). Most of the regular drug users were 16 years old and over, from upper-middle class families, had poor family relationships and more academic problems. These results confirm the association between drug use and stress in adolescents and highlight the need for early screening and intervention in both drug use and stressful situations.

Evaluation of the Implementation of Brief Interventions to Substance Abuse in a Socieducative Context

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and the difficulties of professionals who work in socio-educational contexts on the performing of screening and brief intervention (SBI) with youth in conflict with the law. Method: One hundred two professionals filled a specific questionnaire regarding SBI. Results: lack of time for application of SBI as well as the belief that this procedure is not efficient for these youths were the main difficulties observed. Those who concluded a prior course about substance abuse had fewer chances of adherence. Besides, the difficulties observed for applying SBI reduced their motivation to perform it. Conclusion: These data indicate the necessity to change some components of these training programs by introducing an environment for dialogue as well as supervision of all procedures adopted.

ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE GRAVIDEZ INDESEJADA, DOENÇAS SEXUALMENTE TRANSMISSÍVEIS E USO DO ÁLCOOL DURANTE A ADOLESCÊNCIA

The use of substances seems to be associated with sexually transmitted diseases. However, there are few studies in the literature reviewing this theme. Objective. To investigate risky behavior for sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy in adolescents. Method. A systematic review of the literature was conducted, and the articles were researched on data. Results. We found 302 articles that were submitted to the criteria of inclusion and exclusion, 17 references were included in this review. Results. The data of the main studies here included point to the fact that alcohol use, even when casually, is associated with risky sexual behavior, and also that the prevalence of the inconsistent use of a condom is high. The study demonstrates that the early start of sexual activities, the multiplicity of partners, the sporadic use of condoms and the use of alcohol FRANCO, Cassia Aparecida et al 284 predispose towards the development of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy during adolescence. Conclusion. The results suggest the necessity of integrating the prevention of the use of drugs with the sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy in adolescence.

Avaliação da depressão pós-parto e uso de substâncias em mulheres em situação de vulnerabilidade social na cidade de São Paulo

Leila Regina da Silva Teixeira Universidade Anhembi Morumbi Adriana Scatena Universidade Federal de São Paulo Ricardo Abrantes do Amaral Universidade Anhembi Morumbi Universidade de São Paulo André Luiz Monezi Andrade Universidade Anhembi Morumbi Universidade Federal de São Paulo _______________________________________________________________________________________ Como citar: TEIXEIRA, Leila Regina da Silva et al. Avaliação da depressão pós-parto e uso de substâncias em mulheres em situação de vulnerabilidade social na cidade de São Paulo. In: II SIMPÓSIO NACIONAL SOBRE ADOLESCÊNCIA: VULNERABILIDADE, PROTAGONISMOS E DESAFIOS, 2. 2016, São Paulo. Anais...[S.I]: 2016. p. 57-58. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22388/2525-5894.2016.037 _______________________________________________________________________________________

Neurobiology of Substance Abuse

Drug dependence is understood as a complex disorder associated with biological, emotional, and social factors. Consequently, an individual might develop dependence as a result of the interaction of those factors or even one of them alone, which favors the repetitive use that leads to dependence.

The Effect of Laying-on of Hands on the Substance Abuse

Among the many resources available for the therapeutic handling of patients under treatment for the use of psychoactive substances, there are several Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (ICHPs) such as meditation, music therapy, and many techniques of laying-on of hands that have been gaining more and more prominence in this specialized area of care.