Smokers who crushed computer-simulated cigarettes as part of a psychosocial treatment program in a virtual reality environment had significantly reduced nicotine dependence and higher rates of tobacco abstinence than smokers participating in the same program who grasped a computer-simulated ball, according to a study described in the current issue of CyberPsychology and Behavior.

The study randomly assigned 91 smokers enrolled in a 12-week anti-smoking support program to one of two treatment groups. In a computer-generated virtual reality environment, one group simulated crushing virtual cigarettes, while the other group grasped virtual balls during 4 weekly sessions.

The findings demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in nicotine addiction among the smokers in the cigarette-crushing group versus those in the ball-grasping group. Also, at week 12 of the program, the smoking abstinence rate was significantly higher for the cigarette-crushing group (15%) compared to the ball-grasping group (2%).

Other notable findings include the following: smokers who crushed virtual cigarettes tended to stay in the treatment program longer (average time to drop-out > 8 weeks) than the ball-grasping group (< 6 weeks). At the 6-month follow-up, 39% of the cigarette crushers reported not smoking during the previous week, compared to 20% of the ball graspers.

"It is important to note that this study increased treatment retention. All too often individuals drop out of treatment prior to completion. It will be interesting now to go further and compare this to other popular treatments such as the nicotine patch," says Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA, Editor-in-Chief of CyberPsychology and Behavior, from the Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, CA.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091027161539.htm

An addict's brain looks different than the average brain on multicolored brain scans. The prefrontal cortex, with its decision-making function, lights up like a bonfire with rapid-firing synapses linked to craving and compulsive behavior.

In color MRI images, an average person's brain resembles a broad meadow of soft green, with pockets of soothing yellow and a few flecks of red. An addict's brain is marked by large, fiery explosions of red embedded in a sea of harsh yellow surrounded by small islands of green.

Scientists can measure the effects of this brain disease. Addiction is not a character flaw or sign of moral weakness, they note, and it's not the exclusive to humans. In experiments with lab mice, the rodents will continue to take ever-increasing amounts of alcohol and drugs until they die.

"Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder. The brain structure and how it works is changed by long-term alcohol and drug abuse," said David Friedman, co-founder and director of the Addiction Studies Program at Wake Forest University of Medicine.

Source: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=857105&category=ALBANY&TextPage=1

Convinced of the need for new and better treatments for addiction, the government is focusing its efforts on vaccine development as a new way to treat and possibly prevent addiction to a range of addictive substances.

Scientists at Yale University identified an “addiction gene” that puts Caucasian women at a higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse.

Dilaudid is often used as an alternative to morphine. It is a semi-synthetic drug and is both an opiate and a true narcotic, which unbeknownst to many of those taking the drug, is very similar to heroin.