Anti-ecstasy/meth antibodies

Researchers applied for a patent on antibodies that bind to methamphetamine-like compounds such as Ecstasy to quickly remove the drug from a user's bloodstream. Developed by University of Arkansas scientists, the antibodies could eventually be used to prevent some of the drugs' side effects before they occur. From New Scientist:

The team have not yet tested the antibodies in humans, only in rats, but they say that a single injection can reduce the level of drug within the bloodstream for several days. By binding to drug molecules, the antibodies prevent them from reaching tissues like the heart and brain, and mark the compounds for clean up by the body.

Link to New Scientist, Link to patent application

David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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Takuan

so? new drugs will emerge.
anwaya

@8:

Yay for Puritanical, Calvinist beliefs.

That’s a little too much enthusiasm, jso – settle down, settle down.
PukeBazooka

This has been looming on the horizon for a while now and seems unlikely to go away any time soon. For those of you who are really, really want to know more, the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics has a pretty detailed report on their website:

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/issues/pharmacotherapy.html

NOTE: One of the download links on the page is broken. To read the report, click on the rectangular “Download” button to the left of the broken link. Actually, just for good measure, here’s an actual link to the PDF download:

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/pdf/Pharmacotherapy%202004.pdf
Enochrewt

@BUGS: No one has anything positive to say because this isn’t a solution for drug dependence. It doesn’t seem to have any effectiveness for the recovery process, it’s just to sober them up when their medically in danger like Narcan. Basically it doesn’t matter what you try and do to the drug addict, if that person isn’t ready to quit and get help they’ll go back to using the first chance they get. The addict’s willingness to change is always the first step.
desiredusername

@BUGS: I think posters are more interested in the disruptive aspects of this, and any, new scientific discovery rather than the constructive aspects. Disruption presents the greater risk and reward.

If we are taking this to a your level, critically, then I have to admit I don’t know whether it can have a “positive” effect or not. I fear the damage meth can do to the dopamine pathways in the brain. I even fear for nicotine’s brain altering influences. I would be more excited about neuroplasticity therapies, rather than drugs that clean up a current dose.
Antinous

What next? A vicodin magnet? A percocet filter? It’s bad enough stealing my stash: Don’t suck it out of my bloodstream.
desiredusername

Does this mean legalized meth?
donopolis

This will lead to very expensive medication that will not be used to help addicts instead it will allow uncover cops to be able to use without becoming addicted….

Don
ZippySpincycle

Wow. A literal buzzkill.
Takuan

guess immunizations will be compulsory for prisoners first, then the military, then Walmart employees, then children…..
Enochrewt

If it’s fairly simple to replicate, this will be used much more to pass UAs (if it really “cleans” up the body and bloodstream) than to save freaking out meth addicts.

I’d say you’d be able to buy it any headshop when it hits market, but it’ll probably be a controlled substance as well. I could see people dealing meth/ecstasy and this to get clean along with them.
Antongarou

@13:that is, until they find out that long-term intensive use causes harm….And then you’ll see multi billion lawsuits.
acb

There won’t be any need for this. In the future, all schoolchildren will, by law, be immunised against the pleasurable effects of drugs.
Bugs

Some scientists come up with a new therapy for treating drug dependance and not a single person has something positive to say?

The idea is to offer treatment to addicts, so even if their resolve breaks any drugs they take will have little or no effect on their recovery process. Why assume that it’s intended to crush your right to take (currently illegal) drugs?
tomic

Is this stuff addictive? That would be kool.
Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator

Sounds like Naloxone (Narcan) for meth and ecstasy. That’ll be good for treating an immediate emergency, but I doubt it’ll be good for longer-term interdiction as a treatment for habituation. Narcan is in and out of your system in maybe an hou, taking all the opioids with it. This stuff sticks around for days. I can’t think it’s a good idea to given addicts and habituated users a treatment that gives them a variable level of tolerance to their favorite drug.
IWood

Aerosolized versions will be deployed in certain clubs to make everyone sad and go home…
lamarlowe

Yeah, sure, but does it pass the “piss” test?
Jeff

I think it will come in handy if one is treating addicts. There are problems with X, but far more with Tina. Still, this does not address the real issue of why the drugs are used, how to prevent their misuse, and ensuring that help is available for people who know they have a problem. Lots of money is needed for talk therapy and plans for public health care hardly talk about this.
jso

@5:

There won’t be any need for this. In the future, all schoolchildren will, by law, be immunised against the pleasurable effects of pleasure.

Yay for Puritanical, Calvinist beliefs.