ROCKET SCIENCE
NIDA Study Finds Cocaine and Alcohol Combined are More Damaging To Mental
Ability Than Either Drug Alone /ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:00 P.M. EDT TODAY JUNE
26/
/ADVANCE/ WASHINGTON, Jun 26, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Scientists have
found that cocaine abuse coupled with use of alcohol leads to more impulsive
decision- making and to poorer performance on tests of learning and memory than
does use of either cocaine or alcohol alone. The negative effects on the ability
to think clearly persist for at least a month after the substance use stops,
according to an article about the study in the June 27 issue of Neurology.
"This study reveals important basic information about the way these substances
interact," says NIDA Director Dr. Alan I. Leshner. "It also has significant
implications for drug abuse treatment, which involves learning and remembering
concepts that help recovering drug abusers to change behaviors and avoid
situations where they might use drugs."
Dr. Jean Lud Cadet, of NIDA's Intramural Research Program in Baltimore, and Dr.
Karen Bolla, of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, studied the
interactive effects of cocaine and alcohol in 56 adult cocaine abusers. Roughly
half the study participants also consumed at least 10 alcoholic drinks per week.
All participants abstained from both cocaine and alcohol during the four-week
study.
During the first three days of the study the participants were given a battery
of tests to measure general intelligence, verbal memory and learning, and
attention, planning, and mental flexibility. The tests were repeated during the
fourth week of the study.
"The results of this study support the view that cocaine abuse can have a major
negative impact on the brain and these effects are compounded by the concurrent
use of alcohol," explained Dr. Cadet.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes
of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports more than
85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and
addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the
rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and
practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and other topics
can be ordered free of charge in English and Spanish through NIDA Infofax at
1-888-NIH-NIDA (644-6432) or 1-888-TTY-NIDA (889-6432) for the deaf. These fact
sheets and further information on NIDA research and other activities can be
found on the NIDA home page at drugabuse.gov.
SOURCE National Institute on Drug Abuse
CONTACT: Beverly Jackson or Michelle Muth, both of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, 301-443-6245
URL: drugabuse.gov
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