Ana Deutsch

The effect of methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on peripheral endocannabinoid concentrations: a study in healthy adults - Psychopharmacology Rationale Stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine (MA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) can impact neurobiological systems implicated in stress, reward processing, and drug use. Although recent preclinical evidence implicates the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in these processes, little is known about the acute effects of stimulants on eCB levels in humans. Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of acute administration of the prototypical psychostimulant MA and the psychostimulant-empathogen MDMA on circulating eCB levels in healthy adults. Methods Using a within-subject, double-blind design, this study assessed the acute effects of MA (20 mg), MDMA (100 mg), and placebo on plasma eCB levels in healthy human participants (N = 22) during three separate sessions. Blood samples assessing concentrations of the eCBs anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) were collected between 150- and 180-minutes post-drug administration, and subjective measures of drug effects were collected at regular intervals. Results MA, but not MDMA, was associated with significantly lower 2-AG plasma concentrations compared to placebo. Neither drug impacted AEA concentrations. However, during the placebo condition, higher AEA concentrations were correlated with disliking the ‘drug effects’, suggesting a possible relationship between AEA levels and negative expectations of subjective drug effects. Conclusions These findings provide novel insights into how stimulant drugs act on the eCB system and may help to develop treatments for SUDs.

Congrats to @pact-lab.bsky.social PhD student @anadeutsch.bsky.social on her 1st first-author paper from the lab! 🎉

She explored how MDMA & methamphetamine impact cortisol, endocannabinoids, & BDNF levels in healthy humans and how this relates to the subjective drug experience 💊👇

@anadeutsch.bsky.social lead her first symposium on stress and psychedelics at #ebps2025 including her own talk alongside Dr. Gibson Cook and Dr. Helena Aicher. Go Ana 🥳

A great EBPS IDEA panel featuring panelists @anadeutsch.bsky.social , PhD student Luis Contreras, Dr. Tania Romacho, Dr. Stephanie Garnier, and Dr. Marianne Joëls

So nice to meet you too! ☺️

So happy I got to attend the first #GRCPsychedelics conference. Such an amazing opportunity to connect with other researchers & learn about the newest findings in the field.

Climbing with fellow scientists at Psychedelics GRC

Science together climb together - sneaked out with fellow #GRCPsychedelics attendees for a quick session 💪

Parallel Session 6 includes a symposium chaired by @anadeutsch.bsky.social exploring how psychedelic trips interact with stress response #EBPS2025

I am sensing we need to design a double-blind study to decide on the best chocolate out there

So glad we agree on those 😂

So grateful for my lab

@cerogers.bsky.social with my favorite comment of the day: "The benefit of aging- really, the only benefit– is that you care less what other people think of you" 👏👏👏 👵 #ACNP2024

Interested in #Cannabinoids and #PTSD? Come see my poster T186, where i’m presenting a study on the effects of #THC on emotion regulation in a PTSD population #ACNP. @anadeutsch.bsky.social is also two spots away, presenting some data on endocannabinoids from an MDMA/MA study I ran in Chicago.

#ACNP2024 karaoke night!! @connorhaggarty.bsky.social @anadeutsch.bsky.social @hannamolla.bsky.social @hannahmdouglass.bsky.social

A session on my favourite topic #Cannabis and a room full of #Cannabinerds.
Excellent symposium organized by @mayoonthebrain.bsky.social and @jaymemcreynolds.bsky.social #ACNP2024

Our postdoc @ryanntansey.bsky.social and PhD student @anadeutsch.bsky.social take on their first ACNP! #ACNP2024 🧠✨