World Congress on
Advances in Addiction Science and Medicine

I work in neuroscience research center of Shahid Beheshty University. I found I had a lot in common with this laboratory and I could accommodate myself with this team. I am a very responsible person and also because of my advanced skills in leadership and com-munication, and I published 10 articles .This Lab and it’s team assist me in learning more about re-ward system and new techniques in this field. In 2014 I was accepted in PhD position in Iran university of medical science. now I am starting my thesis, it is about relation to ad-diction and neurogenesis. I am confident that I will bring a high level of energy and enthu-siasm to your congress. it can good opportunity for finding post doc position so I hope to that.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug of abuse, addiction to which has increased to epi-demic proportions worldwide. It has been suggested that chronic use of Meth causes long-term cognitive deficits.Furthermore, Cannabidiol (CBD) has a large-spectrum therapeutic potential to treat many neuropsychiatric disorders, such as addiction .Several studies have indicated that learning and memory, and particularly contextual memories, play a critical role in establishing conditioned responses in addiction.The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CBD treatment after addicted Meth on two hippocampus-dependent memory tasks: Novel Ob-ject Recognition as a non spatial memory task and Y maze as a spatial memory task.Male rats were addicted with Meth (twice, 2.0 mg/kg, s.c.) for 10 days , Then, we evaluated the effect of CBD (50 μg/5 μl; ICV) on spatial working memory, by using Y maze test, and recognition memory, by using novel object recognition test (NORT), on extinction period (10 days). we found Meth-induced impairment in memory performance whereas CBD could improve the effect of Meth destruction also chronic METH had deficit effect on spontaneous behavior and recog-nition memory impairment obviously seen in METH group compared to control group in Novel Objective test ,more ever CBD administration could reverse long term memory .in conclusion CBD can be considered an agent that Reinforce learning and memory system however, this re-quires more investigation .

I am Saeideh Karimi-Hagighi. In my PhD thesis, I am working on “Effects of cannabidiol on methamphetamine-induced reinstatement in paradoxical sleep-deprivated rats: behavioral, molecular and electrophysiological study” at the Department of Neuroscience , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences under supervision Dr. Abbas Haghparast. I finished Behavioral (reward) and Molecular (Real-time) sections of my PhD thesis. We published the article “Cannabidiol inhibits priming-induced reinstatement of Methamphetamine in REM sleep deprived rats”. in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry”. Now I’m writing an article by our data that is extracted of molecular part of my thesis. Concurrently I’m recording LFP of CA1 and prefrontal cortex in freely moving animals in CPP task.

Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive psychostimulant that is associated with damage to regions of the brain that regulate cognitive function like prefrontal cortex (PFC). Evidence has shown that inflammatory factors play an important role in drug-rewarded behaviour. Also, non-selective reduction of neuroinflammation inhibits METH-induced reinstatement. This shows there is a synergism between CNS and central proinflammatory signaling underlying the rewarding effects of psychostimulant

SARChI Chair in Economic Development School of Built Environment and Development Studies University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban

The use of Whoonga and risky sexual behaviours amongst young people represent a huge public health and economic concern in South Africa and globally. The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has increased in South Africa. Whoonga is a relatively a new addition into the drug market and is mostly used by young people. It is a mixture of antiretroviral drugs, dagga (marijuana) or heroin and several other substances, including chemicals found in detergents and even rat poison. The need for this study was prompted by the devastating effects which this new arrival drug has had on the lives of young people. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship that the use of Whoonga has with risky sexual behaviours among the youth of Durban. The study relied on qualitative data drawn from 10 individual in-depth semi structured interviews with six males and four female’s participants who were active Whoonga users. The interviews were conducted at a rehabilitation centre in Durban.

Pat is a Licensed Professional Counselor, creator of the Motivational Assessment Prevention Program (MAPP) and author of PREHAB: Leveraging Perception to End Substance Abuse. Pat’s research focuses on the risk continuum for Substance Use Disorders from prevention to treatment. His research uncovered causes and effective education methods for all risk levels as evidenced by reduced negative consequences. His research experience is complemented by his clinical experience with Individual Psychology, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Myers Briggs Personality Type. Pat is a contributing member and speaker for regional and national conferences.

Statement of the Problem: The prevention paradox (Babor et al., 2010; Kreitman,1986; Rose, 2001) explains tragedies at both ends of the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) continuum. The reason is simple. The cause of SUDs remains hidden. Through data analysis of college freshmen responses to a new model and assessment, (Moore, 2016), perception development was revealed as the difference between low and high risk students. Perception development as defined by affective risk response attributes (Ropeik, 2010) is the necessary and sufficient cause of any Substance Use Disorder. All humans habituate. The order of attributes determines if habituation results in autonomy or dependence. In the short term, intervention before symptom progression and undesirable outcomes is effective as evidenced by MAPP assessment scores. In the long term, on campus alcohol arrests and citations declined 79% from 2013 during the research period 2014-2015 (KSU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, 2016). Removal of the cause is the most effective public health policy (Rose, 2001). Current prevention, treatment and aftercare interventions may cause harm without taking this finding into consideration. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: An elaboration model (Babbie, 2004, p.422) was used for multivariate analysis of evaluation and multiple time-series data based on an empowerment model and nonequivalent measures. Students assessed their own risk levels based on the Prehab presentation and MAPP model (Moore, 2016) over time. The elaboration model isolated the relationship between the primary affective risk response attribute (risk/benefit) and frequency of risk, mental and physical progression and other perception risk factors in convenient samples of first semester college freshmen. Findings: There is a affective risk response pathway common to all students at high or severe risk for Substance Use Disorders. The low risk majority of the sample (75%) use the same perception risk factors in a different order. Results suggest autonomy or dependence is decided in stage 1 of the MAPP model based on how the perception risk factor control is used with other perception risk factors at that time. Conclusion & Significance: As evidenced by research measurements and supported by campus outcomes, Substance Use Disorders can be identified and intervened on before symptoms and/or negative consequences. Likewise, in treatment, cessation is not change. The assumption that addiction delays development (Harrington, Harris & Wiebe, 2010, p.3) is mistaking correlation for causation. Perception development of one kind appears as delayed development of another. The cause remained hidden because there was no measure for it. One type of perception development must stop for another to start. Interventions based on perception development support three new objectives. Educate the low risk before progression or misinterpretation of others. Identify and intervene on the high risk before further progression or consequences. Prepare the severe risk for long term change and decrease the detox and die syndrome. Removing the causal variable through early intervention can end Substance Use Disorders in our time.