News di Alcologia

The effects of methylphenidate -- a stimulant used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- are interesting. The

drug clearly helps many people with ADHD with mental focus and concentration. And although many parents fear giving the

medication to children diagnosed with ADHD because it is a drug (and drugs can be abused), studies show that those children

and teens who benefit from the medication are less likely to abuse drugs. Kids with ADHD who are untreated are at higher risk

for substance abuse issues.
Now a study has come along that ties the benefits of methylphenidate with treatment for substance abuse. The study found that

giving Ritalin, a brand name for methylphenidate, to people with cocaine addiction seemed to help them with impulse control.

Impulse control is, of course, a major reason why people succumb to substance abuse even when they know it's bad for them.
Researchers from Yale University gave 10 volunteers Ritalin and then used functional MRI to scan their brain activity while

they engaged in a computer task that assessed impulse control. When the 10 subjects received Ritalin, they were better able

to control their impulses than during a separate session, two days later, when they received a placebo instead of the

medication. Functional MRI scans showed changes from Ritalin use in brain areas that reflect inhibitory control, particularly

a region called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain seems to be crucial to "behavioral control during

emotionally difficult situations," the authors wrote. And Ritalin appears to help normalize it.
The study was small, however, and future research will be needed to determine whether Ritalin could be part of the arsenal of

treatment options for people with addictions. The study was released Monday in the early edition of the Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences.