title: Drugs of abuse and Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The term "drug of abuse" is highly contextual. What constitutes a drug of abuse for one population of patients does not for another. It is therefore important to examine the needs of the patient population to properly assess the status of drugs of abuse. The focus of this article is on the bidirectional relationship between patients and drug abuse. In this paper we will introduce the dopaminergic systems of the brain in Parkinson's and the influence of antiparkinsonian drugs upon them before discussing this synergy of condition and medication as fertile ground for drug abuse. We will then examine the relationship between drugs of abuse and Parkinson's, both beneficial and deleterious. In summary we will draw the different strands together and speculate on the future merit of current drugs of abuse as treatments for Parkinson's disease.
authors: The Cure Parkinson's Trust, 120 Baker Street, London W1U 6TU, United Kingdom; Parkinson's Movement, 120 Baker Street, London W1U 6TU, United Kingdom; The University of Sussex, Life Sciences, Brighton BN1 9RH, United Kingdom.
authors: Leah R
authors: LR
authors: Mursaleen
authors: The Cure Parkinson's Trust, 120 Baker Street, London W1U 6TU, United Kingdom; Parkinson's Movement, 120 Baker Street, London W1U 6TU, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jon.stamford@parkinsonsmovement.com.
authors: Jonathan A
authors: JA
authors: Stamford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Cannabis; Cocaine; MDMA; MPTP; Methamphetamine; Nucleus accumbens