Cocaine, Decision making, memory & Addiction

[Chuff]

I am new to the science side of substance's (though i have a basic grasp of dopamine/seratonine) and am interested in the effects of stimulants particuarily cocaine on the decision making process at a biochemical level, with particular regard to treatment interventions.

I am looking to evidence how treatment interventions should be tailored dependant on the level of compulsive use, IE daily use would involve a very different approach to bi-monthly use due to cognitive imparement, fixed thinking etc. I have been doing this intuitively for years but would really like to be able to clinically evidence best practice in working with crack/cocaine users.

Wow thats not a lot to ask is it

Any pointers to usefull papers or an idiots guide to brain chemistry would be super (Did you guess I'm British?) suggested reading, Generally I need to deconstruct stuff to really simle levels using metaphores then build it back up to really get stuff (I'm more an experiencial learner and a bad speller too boot)


Thanks


Cliff



Thanks

 

[BilZ0r]

Nature has just published a special feature of the neurobiology of drug addiction.
http://www.nature.com/neuro/focus/addiction/index.html

 

[fastandbulbous]

Cocaine & other psychomotor stimulants generally make people more impulsive in their decision making (biases the brain's reward system towards instant gratification. The longer the time between action & reward, the less likely it is to be the chosen course). Don't quite know how that fits into an intervention scheme though

PS Interesting read, thanks BilZ0r

 

[Chuff]

Thanks for that I will see if I can get in through a university to access the actual journal.

 

[BilZ0r]

It's free..

 

[Chuff]

thanks i only got the intro the first time I followed the link!