New York, April 22: Researchers have found that activity in decision-making brain regions of people who use recreational stimulants can predict who will discontinue their use and who will develop a drug use disorder.
The findings of the study, led by Martin Paulus of Laureate Institute of Brain Research in Oklahoma, suggested that an inability to learn from previous risky decisions in some people may predispose them to continue drug use despite the negative consequences.
"Our sample of recreational users offers a unique approach to studying addiction," said first author Melanie Blair, a doctoral student in the laboratory of Jennifer Stewart of City University of New York.
"By finding differences between our groups prior to problematic use, our results suggest that certain brain patterns might be existing vulnerabilities that predispose an individual to addiction," Blair added.
For the study, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, researchers used brain imaging to measure the activity of several brain regions involved in decision making in 144 young adults.
The study measured brain activity in young adults using recreational stimulants, including cocaine and the prescription amphetamines Adderall and Ritalin, and followed up three years later to determine the participants' outcome.
During the brain scans, the participants performed a task requiring them to make risky or safe decisions. Although all participants in the study were experimenting with stimulants at the time, some showed a tendency for making riskier choices.
"Compared to individuals who stopped using, those who later developed problem use were more reactive to rewards and showed weaker activity in regions of the brain that are critical for decision making," Blair said.
These participants had lower activity in a brain circuit that provides feedback on risky decisions, suggesting they might not be as good at adapting their behaviour-based on previous experiences, the researcher added.
Weaker brain activity in regions associated with decision making also predicted greater marijuana use in the future, they noted.
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Blast at illegal firecracker unit in Banaskantha kills 21, triggers outrage
AHMEDABAD: A powerful explosion and fire at an illegal firecracker storage and manufacturing facility in Banaskantha district claimed at least 21 lives, including women and children, on Tuesday. Six others sustained injuries in the incident.
The blast, which occurred around 9:30 am at Deepak Firecrackers' warehouse in Deesa, led to a massive fire, trapping several workers inside. The intensity of the explosion reduced an adjacent structure to rubble, scattering debris over a 200-meter radius. Firefighters and rescue teams, including the SDRF, launched operations to contain the blaze and recover victims.
Authorities confirmed that many of the deceased were migrant laborers from Madhya Pradesh who had recently arrived for work. Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Akshayraj Makwana stated that ongoing efforts were being made to ensure no one remained trapped inside. District Collector Mihir Patel described the explosion as severe enough to collapse the factory's slab, affecting nearby residential areas.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced compensation of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. However, grieving families criticized the aid as insufficient, demanding stricter accountability. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav assured full assistance to affected workers and their families while maintaining communication with Gujarat authorities.
The incident has sparked political reactions, with Congress accusing the state government of negligence. Party President Shakti Sinh Gohil criticized repeated industrial disasters and the administration’s delayed response.
Police have arrested the owner of the godown and confirmed that the operation was running illegally without regulatory approvals. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion and identify further liabilities.
