Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are among one of the most widely prescribed drug classes in the United States. BZDs are a class of psychoactive drugs known for their depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS). They quickly diffuse through the blood–brain barrier to affect the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and exert sedative effects. Related to their rapid onset and immediate symptom relief, BZDs are used for those struggling with sleep, anxiety, spasticity due to CNS pathology, muscle relaxation, and epilepsy. One of the debilitating side effects of BZDs is their addictive potential. The dependence on BZDs generally leads to withdrawal symptoms, requiring careful tapering of the medication when prescribed. Regular use of BZDs has been shown to cause severe, harmful psychological and physical dependence, leading to withdrawal symptoms similar to that of alcohol withdrawal. Some of these withdrawal symptoms can be life threatening. The current treatment for withdrawal is through tapering with clonazepam. Many drugs have been tested as a treatment for withdrawal, with few proving efficacious in randomized control trials. Future research is warranted for further exploration into alternative methods of treating BZD withdrawal. This call to action proves especially relevant, as those seeking treatment for BZD dependence and withdrawal are on the rise in the United States.

Widespread concern has been expressed regarding unrealistic body image and adolescent eating disorder promoting content on social media (SM) platforms. Numerous research studies have examined the impact of SM on body image as well as social vulnerability on negative mental health outcomes. Despite this, few previous studies have examined the impact of SM on body image specifically in vulnerable, underserved, or predominantly minority communities. This study examines the impact of SM on body image issues (BII) in adolescents in a public school system where greater than 50% of the students live in impoverished households. In late 2019, high school student leaders in Northwest Louisiana developed a survey alongside Step Forward, a collective impact initiative. Questions investigated adolescent SM use and mental health in Caddo Parish, namely BII. Teachers within Caddo Parish Public School System administered the survey. Out of the 11,248 total high school students in the school system, nearly 50% were sampled for a sample size of 5,070. Hypotheses included: (1) females were more likely to use SM than males, (2) increasing time spent on SM would correlate with females reporting BII, with males remaining largely unaffected, and (3) highly visual social media (HVSM) platforms would be associated with greater reports of BII than non-HVSM platforms. Results showed females were more likely to use SM (p < 0.001) and report BII (p < 0.001) compared to males, while both sexes reported BII with increasing time spent on SM (p < 0.001). A diversity of platforms were associated with increased BII among SM users compared to non-users (p < 0.001): Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. This conclusion is tempered by the omission of race as a variable in the study design, the use of self-report, and the use of an unvalidated instrument. These findings suggest that the harmful association between SM use and BII may transcend culture and socioeconomic status for a broadly deleterious effect on adolescent mental wellbeing.

The role of previous life stress and trauma in addiction has been understudied and underappreciated. To date, much previous research has emphasized other aspects of the disease of addiction, including the reward-based neural circuitry. While previous research has offered tremendous value and shaped human understanding of addiction, an increased emphasis on the role of stress and trauma in addiction may provide new targets for therapeutic development. Here, we review both clinical and pre-clinical literature in support of the hypothesis that addiction is largely initiated and driven by significant previous life stressors and traumas. We describe some of the available quantitative molecular in vitro studies, systematic literature reviews, case-control studies, and cross-sectional studies to summarize the neurobiology of the reward pathway, the influence of stress-related hormones on the brain, and the role of childhood trauma in the development of substance abuse. The current perspective highlights the importance of early intervention during stressful life events for the prevention of future addiction behavior and suggests that elucidating the neurobiology of these systems may provide new targets for medication development for addiction.

The Na+ leak-current channel (NALCN) regulates the resting membrane potential in excitable cells, thus determining the likelihood of depolarization in response to incoming signals. Gain-of-function (gf) mutations in this channel are associated with severe dystonic movement disorders in man. Currently, there are no known pharmacological antagonists or selective modulators of this important channel. A gain-of-function mutation in NALCN of C. elegans [known as unc-77(e625)] causes uncoordinated, hyperactive locomotion. We hypothesized that this hyperactive phenotype can be rescued with pharmacological modulators. Here, we summarize the results of targeted drug screening aimed at identification of drugs that corrected locomotion deficits in unc-77(e625) animals. To assay hyperactive locomotion, animals were acutely removed from food and characteristic foraging movements were quantified. Drug screening revealed that 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-ABP), nifedipine, nimodipine, flunarizine and ethoxzolamide significantly decreased abnormal movements in unc-77(e625) animals. 2-APB also corrected egg release and coiling deficits in this strain. In addition, serotonin and dopamine both reduced hyperactive locomotion, consistent with regulatory interactions between these systems and the NALCN. 2-APB induced movement phenotypes in wild-type animals that faithfully mimicked those observed in NALCN knockout strains, which suggested that this drug may directly block the channel. Moreover, 2-APB and flunarizine showed significant structural similarities suggestive of overlap in their mode of action. Together, these studies have revealed new insights into regulation of NALCN function and led to the discovery of a potential pharmacological antagonist of the NALCN.

BackgroundThe evaluation of teens with self-harming thoughts (SHT) is a high-stakes task for physicians in community and emergency department (ED) settings. The lived experience of adolescents with stress and SHT provides an important source of insight for mental health professionals who evaluate and treat teens A snapshot of the lived experience of teens in northwest Louisiana was captured by the Step Forward Teen Advisory Council (TAC) in 2019. The TAC surveyed peers with the goal of identifying common stressors experienced by local teens in order to inform policy and practices in the local school system. The identification of stressors is a critical step in addressing SHT as adolescents who experience life stressors are at increased risk for self-harming thoughts (SHT), a known precursor to self-harm and suicide. Assessing youth for life stressors is a critical element of suicide prevention.MethodsLocal teens queried 5,070 peers attending Caddo Parish schools to better understand the stressors faced by high school students in Northwest Louisiana using a student developed survey. Results were presented to peers at a virtual summit where teens developed action items to reduce stress and presented findings to local leaders. Their efforts ultimately lead to increased supports for students in local schools.ResultsOver half of the teens surveyed reported stressors that negatively impacted their physical or emotional well-being. Students endorsing self-harming thoughts reported an average of 7.82 stressors as compared to 3.47 in peers without SHT. Teens with stressors at both home and school were more likely to experience SHT than teens with stressors in a single location.ConclusionThe Gen Z students who developed the TAC Survey identified stress as a major concern for teens in Northwest Louisiana. The TAC Survey data aligns local experience with established data regarding the association between stress, depression and SHT. Second, the results highlight the importance of diving deep to identify all stressors when assessing the risk of self-harm. Finally, the lived experience of local teens with SHT provides critical information for professionals to better understand risk for SHT and suicide in our region and beyond.