Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Drugs of Abuse and Neurotoxicity

Methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, PMA , GHB, and various solvents are the most widely abused drugs in Europe, the United States, Central America, South America, and Asia; and their use has dramatically increased over the last two decades. These drugs of abuse are known to cause neurotoxicity in several species, including not only rodents, dogs, and nonhuman primates, but also humans. The precise neurochemical mechanisms underlying this drug-induced neurotoxicity remain unclear. This volume explores this question, specifically addressing the following aspects: (1) the role of genomics and proteomics in drug-induced neurotoxicity, (2) drugs of abuse and medication development, (3) molecular biology and free radicals in drug-induced neurotoxicity, (4) substituted amphetamine-induced neurochemical changes and relationship to neurotoxicity, (5) drugs of abuse and imaging brain structure and function. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member