The National Institute on Drug Abuse has given $5 million to the Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland VA Medical Center to launch the Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center (MARC), Medical News Today reported Sept. 22.

The center will study every aspect of methamphetamine addiction, from genetics to treatment, and will seek to swiftly translate research findings into practice.

"Very little is understood about meth. There are few, if any, effective pharmacological treatments for addiction. The rate of recidivism is pretty high," said MARC director Aaron Janowsky, Ph.D. "There's a significant amount of evidence showing that when you take just one dose, it has long-lasting effects. We're interested in preventing that one dose, but if it happens, reversing its effects."

The center's work will have both local and national implications: methamphetamine accounts for more treatment admissions in Oregon than any other illicit drug.

Research themes for MARC will include brain systems involved in craving and intoxication; genetic, nerve-cell, and brain-function changes related to meth use and withdrawal; the effect of stress on craving and relapse; and the study of impulsivity and decision-making regarding meth use.