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Substance abuse and cerebral blood flow
1Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Drugs of abuse significantly impact cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism. Chronic use can reduce CBF, increasing stroke risk, but some effects may reverse with abstinence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Drugs of abuse exert complex effects on the brain.
- Understanding these effects on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the acute and chronic effects of various drugs of abuse on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism.
- To discuss the clinical significance of these CBF and metabolism changes.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of human research reports from refereed journals.
- Inclusion of select animal studies, book chapters, and abstracts for relevance.
Main Results:
- Ethanol causes dose-dependent changes in CBF; chronic alcoholism reduces CBF and metabolism.
- Sedatives, antianxiety drugs, caffeine, and marijuana affect CBF, with chronic use often leading to reduction.
- Inhalants and solvents are vasodilators, with chronic abuse decreasing CBF; several drugs increase stroke risk.
Conclusions:
- CBF changes associated with chronic use of certain drugs are partially reversible upon abstinence.
- Future research should explore regional brain function, addiction potential, withdrawal effects, and stroke mechanisms.