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Alterations of Stress-Related Glucocorticoids and Endocannabinoids in Hair of Chronic Cocaine Users

Clarissa D Voegel, Sara L Kroll, Marc W Schmid, Ann-Kathrin Kexel, Markus R Baumgartner, Thomas Kraemer, Tina M Binz, Boris B Quednow. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2022 Mar 17;25(3):226-237.

Observational studyHumans

Design
Observational study
Subjects
48 recreational cocaine users, 25 dependent cocaine users and 67 stimulant-naive controls
Dose used in the study
Not stated in the abstract; no treatment was given
Duration
Not stated in the abstract
What was measured
Hair concentrations of cortisone, cortisol, 2-AG, AEA, OEA and palmitoylethanolamide, hair drug concentrations, and self-reported substance use

What the authors reported

The study found:

  • Hair cortisone was higher in both cocaine user groups than controls.
  • OEA and PEA were significantly lower in dependent users than in recreational users and controls.
  • Higher cocaine in hair predicted higher glucocorticoids and lower OEA.
  • Higher MDMA in hair correlated with higher cortisone, AEA, OEA and PEA, while more cannabis use went with lower endocannabinoids.

Limits of this study

A cross-sectional study that measured natural palmitoylethanolamide in hair; it did not test PEA as a treatment and cannot show cause. Funding and conflicts not stated in the abstract.

Source

PubMed 34676867 · doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyab070

Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.