by wadminw on February 16, 2021
Serum and brain endotoxin were measured using the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate QCL-1000™ (Lonza, Walkersville, MD) at 24 hrs after the last EtOH exposure as a measure of inflammation to EtOH alone that was present prior to and during the Meth injections. A subset of rats receiving ketoprofen during EtOH drinking were euthanized at the same time to assess the effects on LPS. The current study employed a paradigm that approximates the serial exposure of humans to alcohol and Meth by allowing rats to voluntarily and intermittently drink ethanol (EtOH) prior to challenge injections of Meth. It was hypothesized that voluntary ethanol drinking would produce a peripheral inflammatory response that increases the vulnerability to Meth neurotoxicity evidenced by the enhancement of long-term depletions in DA and 5HT content as well as DAT and SERT. Moreover, we posited that the blockade of the inflammatory response that is restricted to the time of EtOH exposure only, would mitigate the enhanced neurotoxicity observed after subsequent exposure to Meth.
The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and some ingredients may not be known. Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins when they take prescribed medicines or receive them from others who have prescriptions. However, drug tests can detect even tiny amounts of meth, so you’ll need to wait much longer before you can test negative on a drug screening. A hair test, on the other hand, could reveal meth usage up to 3 months after you last used meth. The euphoria you experience when using meth may last only a few minutes.
The authors would like to thank Dr. Eric Engleman and Alena Sentir for their assistance in measuring blood ethanol concentrations. Methamphetamine concentrations were determined by the University of Utah Center for Human Toxicology. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process.
An intervention presents a loved one with a recovery games for groups structured opportunity to make changes before things get even worse and can motivate someone to seek or accept help. Substituted cathinones, also called “bath salts,” are mind-altering (psychoactive) substances similar to amphetamines such as ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine. Signs and symptoms of drug use or intoxication may vary, depending on the type of drug.
The neuroinflammation that ensues from peripheral inflammation has been reported to contribute to Meth and alcohol abuse. Activation of microglia and consequently, the upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in the brain is known to play a key role in DA nerve terminal damage observed in mice after Meth exposure (Thomas et al. 2004). In contrast, COX-2 knockout mice are protected against Meth-induced toxicity (Thomas and Kuhn 2005). Alcohol consumption also increases COX-2 through activation of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) by LPS to produce other pro-inflammatory mediators and apoptosis in the brain. Interestingly, TLR4-deficient mice do not exhibit increased COX-2 and apoptosis after alcohol exposure (Alfonso-Loeches et al. 2010). Thus, inflammation is a common denominator in mediating the neurotoxicity to both alcohol and Meth.
If you inject meth with a needle, you also have a higher risk of contracting bloodborne viruses like hepatitis C. It’s also dangerous to combine meth with other stimulants, like cocaine. If you take more than one stimulant at a time, you have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack, and your body may overheat. A separate, subset of rats was exposed to a 20% EtOH gavage (6g/kg) once per day for 7 days. The data used in this study were obtained from the REWHARD consortium, supported by the Swedish Research Council.
To learn more about alcohol treatment options and search for quality care near you, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. If you’d like to stop using meth, you have options for confidential support and treatment.