Drug abuse

A research team has examined the link between adverse childhood experiences and the risk of mental health problems later in life. The researchers have found that the risk of suffering from mental illness later in life among those experiencing significant adversity in childhood can be partly explained by factors shared by family members, such as genetics and environment. A research team has examined the link between adverse childhood experiences and the risk of mental health problems later in life, according to a study in JAMA Psychiatry. The researchers from Karolinska Institutet and University of Iceland have found that the risk of suffering from mental illness later in life among those experiencing significant adversity in childhood can be partly explained by factors shared by family members, such as genetics and environment. Several previous studies have shown that people who have experienced various types of adverse childhood experiences have a higher risk of suffering from psychiatric illness later in life. Now, a new study from Karolinska Institutet, using a special type of twin research design, can confirm the link, show a clear dose-response relationship and at the same time broaden the picture. The researchers can now show that there are also significant genetic and environmental factors that play a role and contribute to mental illness. The researchers used three different cohorts of the Swedish Twin Registry, comprising over 25,000 individuals. The twins' responded to a large web-based questionnaire and answered questions about different types of adverse childhood experiences including family violence, emotional abuse or neglect, physical neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, rape and hate crime. In addition, information about adult psychiatric disorders was obtained from the Swedish Patient Registry. "These are of course very difficult questions to answer, but this is the best data source we have access to," says Hilda Björk Daníelsdóttir, a doctoral student at the University of Iceland and visiting doctoral student at the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet and the study's first author. By identifying twin pairs who reported different experiences of abuse while growing up in the same family and then following those who later received a psychiatric diagnosis, the researchers have been able to sort out how much of the increased risk is due to the abuse itself and how much is due to genetics and environment. "Most previous studies on the mental health effects of childhood adversity have not been able to take these things into account. Now we can show that the increased risk of mental health problems after adverse childhood experiences can be partly explained by factors shared by family members, such as genetic factors or factors in the childhood environment," says Hilda Björk Daníelsdóttir. She argues that this finding should therefore lead to health care interventions addressing risk factors within the whole family, not just the affected child or children. The more different types of childhood adversities individuals experienced, the higher the risk was of receiving a psychiatric diagnosis later in life. The researchers can also show that sexual abuse and rape in childhood as well as having experienced three or more types of adversities were the experiences most strongly linked to future mental health problems. This is something that is also important knowledge when treating vulnerable children and their families. "I hope that our study can raise awareness of childhood circumstances as possible causes of psychiatric disorders in adulthood and how to best address them,' says Hilda Björk Daníelsdóttir. The research was funded by the European Research Council, the Icelandic Research Center and the EU's Horizon 2020.

New patent strengthens Adial’s patent portfolio and covers AD04’s unique ability to target the serotonin transporter gene for the potential treatment of opioid use disorderCHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Feb. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADIL; ADILW) (“Adial” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for the treatment and prevention of addiction and related disorders, today announced patent number 11,905,562 was issued on February 20, 2024 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent covers the Company’s lead investigational new drug product, AD04, and its ability to target the serotonin transporter gene for the potential treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). “We are proud to be awarded another important patent that broadens our Intellectual Property portfolio and covers meaningful aspects of our lead asset, AD04, including its unique ability to target the serotonin transporter gene,” commented Cary Claiborne, CEO of Adial Pharmaceuticals. “We believe AD04 has significant potential to treat OUD and other drug dependencies in addition to our initial indication of alcohol use disorder. We remain focused on advancing AD04 toward commercialization for the treatment of alcohol use disorder and look forward to advancing OUD and other indications in the future.” About Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Adial Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for the treatment and prevention of addiction and related disorders. The Company’s lead investigational new drug product, AD04, is a genetically targeted, serotonin-3 receptor antagonist, therapeutic agent for the treatment of AUD in heavy drinking patients and was recently investigated in the Company’s ONWARD™ pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for the potential treatment of AUD in subjects with certain target genotypes identified using the Company’s proprietary companion diagnostic genetic test. ONWARD showed promising results in reducing heavy drinking in heavy drinking patients, and no overt safety or tolerability concerns. AD04 is also believed to have the potential to treat other addictive disorders such as opioid use disorder, gambling, and obesity. Additional information is available at www.adial.com. Forward Looking Statements This communication contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Such statements are based upon various facts and derived utilizing numerous important assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "plans" and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may" and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. The forward-looking statements include statements regarding AD04 having significant potential to treat opioid use disorder and other drug dependencies in addition to the initial indication of alcohol use disorder, advancing AD04 toward commercialization for the treatment of alcohol use disorder, advancing OUD and other indications in the future and the potential of AD04 to treat other addictive disorders such as opioid use disorder, gambling, and obesity. Any forward-looking statements included herein reflect our current views, and they involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, among others, our ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, our ability to develop strategic partnership opportunities and maintain collaborations, our ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund our research and development activities, our ability to complete clinical trials on time and achieve desired results and benefits as expected, regulatory limitations relating to our ability to promote or commercialize our product candidates for specific indications, acceptance of our product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of our products, our ability to maintain our license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of our patent estate and our ability to retain our key employees or maintain our Nasdaq listing. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statement included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, unless required by law. Contact:Crescendo Communications, LLCDavid Waldman / Alexandra SchiltTel: 212-671-1020Email: ADIL@crescendo-ir.com

Parliamentary Assembly wants an investigation, an official apology, and reparation payment to European survivors of child abuse in the state or religious institutions STRASBOURG, France, Jan. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council of Europe, to which 46 states with over 600 million citizens belong, today voted in favor of dealing with past cases of abuse along the lines of Switzerland. Accordingly, the suffering of survivors of child abuse should be officially recognized in the member states, those affected should receive a reparation payment - regardless of any statute of limitations - and a scientific investigation should take place in the respective countries. The Assembly calls on all member States to take stock of the situation of violence committed in public, private, or religious institutions against children to create the right conditions for victims to speak out. The ground-breaking recommendations of the Council of Europe correspond to the demands of the European "Justice Initiative", which was launched by the Swiss Guido Fluri Foundation. Continue Reading Justice Initiative Portraits (PRNewsfoto/Justice Initiative - Guido Fluri Stiftung) The past cannot be ignored "Those who ignore the abuse cases of the past cannot effectively combat the abuse cases of today and tomorrow," says the Swiss rapporteur Pierre-Alain Fridez to the Parliament of the Council of Europe. "In Europe, we must never again turn a blind eye to the abuse of children, whether they have been victims of sexual predators, gratuitous violence or ill-treatment in public, private or religious institutions that are supposed to be safe havens.". This argument convinced the majority. A report on the situation in Europe with clear recommendations was approved today. Like the responsible commission of the Council of Europe, which had already unanimously spoken out in favor of a comprehensive reappraisal, a clear majority in Parliament also wants the cases of abuse in Europe to be reappraised according to the Swiss model; the suffering of the victims should be recognized throughout Europe and reparations should be made in the respective countries. This includes abuse in private, state, and church homes, abuse in care institutions, and forced adoptions. Reappraisal based on the Swiss model In Switzerland, a popular initiative, the "Reparation Initiative" of the Guido Fluri Foundation, led to a state law that focuses on the recognition of injustice, scientific reappraisal, and solidarity payments. As a result, over 12,000 survivors of child abuse have received official recognition of the injustice and a solidarity payment, and the cases of abuse have been dealt with by the state. As a result of this successful reparation, victims' groups and child protection organizations from all over Europe joined forces in the "Justice Initiative" and campaigned for a similar bill at the Council of Europe level. This project was again supported by the Guido Fluri Foundation. "The fact that the Council of Europe has decided on a comprehensive reappraisal is a great moment for survivors from all over Europe! The European community must do everything to ensure that those affected by child abuse receive some form of justice during their lifetime". The Council of Europe's solution serves as a model The Council of Europe demands that member states take stock of the situation of child abuse in institutions in our countries (Doc. 15889 - Report - Working document (coe.int). The investigations must be wide-ranging and cover physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. The circumstances enabling such abuse must be assessed on a country-by-country basis and include institutional care in public, private, or religious settings, inadequate care, foster care in private homes, children being removed from parents who are deemed "unfit", forced adoptions, and forced sterilizations. The authorities should then recognize the suffering inflicted and offer appropriate care for its effects, if at all possible. This should be followed by a formal, official apology by the authorities to past and present victims. Lastly, victims must be granted compensation, regardless of their age: there must be official redress for all victims, for all children who have been subjected to any form of physical, sexual, or psychological violence, and without any time limit on the period in which to establish the facts. Accordingly, the length of time between the perpetration of the abuse and its disclosure by the victim may not be a justification for the refusal of any reparation. The amount of compensation awarded must be substantial and commensurate with the harm and suffering that was caused. States must embark on a comprehensive program of prevention and awareness-raising measures, including monitoring institutional care facilities and any situation in which children are taken into care, to minimise risks and detect problems at the earliest possible stage. Survivors and child protection groups from across Europe celebrate the Council of Europe's decision The Council of Europe's decision is an important signal for survivors of abuse from all over Europe. António Grosso, a 71-year-old survivor from Portugal says: "This current silence is unacceptable and unworthy of a democracy like Portugal. If Portugal recognizes this injustice, as the Council of Europe demands, then we are on the right track." "Today, 26 January 2024, I am here on a very important date, which gives us recognition and visibility. An advanced society, in the twenty-first century, cannot continue to hide its crimes and neglect the care of its children", emphasizes Francisco Javier, a 49-year-old Spanish victim. "All forms of sexual violence leave indelible scars. Survivors should receive more justice." – Finnish survivor, member of the Our Voice survivor advocacy group. Politicians and leading child protection organizations are also celebrating the Council of Europe's decision. According to Domagoj Hajduković, a member of the Croatian Parliament and the Croatian delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, "This is a very good resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe because it addresses a very painful problem, which is the abuse of children in institutions." "Nothing can compensate for the horrors experienced then, the lost childhoods. And the guilt of the state cannot be erased. Compensation is needed. We can no longer put off making peace with the past," said the Romanian USR Senator Irineu Darău. "The most important thing now is to continue to listen to the experiences of survivors and ensure that the law serves its purpose," says Ann-Kristin Vervik, Secretary General of ECPAT Norway. According to the Director of the Greek Hub of Justice Initiative Angeliki Vergitsi, "The decision of the Council of Europe is important for Greece because institutional care is still the dominant child protection system. "We stand in solidarity with victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation. We also celebrate the Council of Europe's decision, which reflects a crucial step towards ensuring justice for those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and exploitation." Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Executive Director from the Finnish child protection organization Suojellaan Lapsia, Protect Children ry. Media Corner: Download all the information here: General information: [email protected] You can find the digital version of the book "SHAME - European Stories" Photo - Logo - SOURCE Justice Initiative - Guido Fluri Stiftung