Psychopharmacology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Validity and reliability of a driving simulator for evaluating the influence of medicinal drugs on driving performance.
Although driving simulators (DS) are receiving increasing attention due to concern over traffic accidents under the influences of drugs, few DS are recognized for their reliability and validity. Therefore, the development of an evaluation system using DS for driving performance is urgently needed. ⋯ The new DS used in these studies has reliability, validity, and tolerability and is considered suitable for evaluating the influence of drugs on driving performance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Sex differences in the acute effects of smoked cannabis: evidence from a human laboratory study of young adults.
Animal studies have found robust sex differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, the human evidence remains equivocal, despite findings that women may experience more severe consequences of cannabis use than men. ⋯ Females experienced the same acute effects of smoked cannabis as males at a lower observed dose, highlighting the need for more research on sex differences in the pharmacology of THC, especially when administered by routes in which titrating to the desired effect is more difficult (e.g., cannabis edibles).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cannabinoid modulation of opioid analgesia and subjective drug effects in healthy humans.
Dozens of preclinical studies have reported cannabinoid agonist potentiation of the analgesic effects of μ-opioid agonists. ⋯ This study indicates that dronabinol did not enhance the analgesic effects of oxycodone and increased abuse- and impairment-related subjective effects. These data suggest that dronabinol may not be an effective or appropriate opioid adjuvant; it could potentially increase opioid dose requirements, while increasing psychoactive opioid effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition.
The main psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can impair driving performance. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabis component, is thought to mitigate certain adverse effects of THC. It is possible then that cannabis containing equivalent CBD and THC will differentially affect driving and cognition relative to THC-dominant cannabis. ⋯ Cannabis containing equivalent concentrations of CBD and THC appears no less impairing than THC-dominant cannabis, and in some circumstances, CBD may actually exacerbate THC-induced impairment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Do non-daily smokers compensate for reduced cigarette consumption when smoking very-low-nicotine-content cigarettes?
The Food and Drug Administration is considering severely restricting the nicotine in cigarettes, to reduce smoking. A study showed that non-daily, intermittent smokers (ITS) randomized to very-low-nicotine-content cigarettes (VLNCCs) reduced their cigarette consumption. ⋯ ITS did not increase their smoking intensity when switched to VLNCCs; indeed, their smoking intensity decreased. Reductions in cigarette consumption seen when ITS are switched to VLNCCs were not compensated by increased smoking intensity.