Stop-Smoking Drug Chantix Does Not Increase Risk of Psychiatric Problems
A new analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of the stop-smoking drug varenicline (brand name Chantix in the US and Champix elsewhere), has…
Addiction
Smoking Cannabis Significantly Impairs Vision – But Many Users Are Unaware of It
A study carried out by the University of Granada indicates that smoking cannabis significantly alters key visual functions, such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, three-dimensional…
Gene Changes Linked to Severe Repetitive Behaviors Seen in Autism, Schizophrenia, and Drug Addiction
Graybiel lab identifies genes linked to abnormal repetitive behaviors often seen in models of addiction and schizophrenia. Extreme repetitive behaviors such as hand-flapping, body-rocking, skin-picking,…
Vaping Marijuana Causes More Lung Damage Than Vaping or Smoking Nicotine
Adolescents who vape cannabis are at greater risk for respiratory symptoms indicative of lung injury than teens who smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape nicotine,…
“Skeleton Key” Can Unlock a Brain: New Realm of Personalized Medicine With Brain Stimulation
Millions of patients suffering from neurological and mental disorders such as depression, addiction, and chronic pain are treatment-resistant. In fact, about 30% of all major…
Marijuana Use Typically Drops at the Beginning of Each Year, Then Climbs in Summer and Fall
Seasonal variation may be explained by new year’s resolutions. Marijuana use increases throughout the calendar year, with use up 13 percent on average at the…
Access to Legal Cannabis Stores Linked to Reduction in Opioid Deaths
Findings may have implications for tackling opioid misuse. Access to legal cannabis stores is associated with a reduction in opioid related deaths in the United…
How Hope Can Make You Happier With Your Lot in Life
Having hope for the future could protect people from risky behaviors such as drinking and gambling — according to new research from the University of…
Brains of Binge-Drinkers Have to Work Harder to Feel Empathy for Others
People who binge-drink show more extensive dysfunction across their brains than previously realized, a new study from the University of Sussex has shown. The research…
New Research Shows Every Week of COVID Lockdown Increases Harmful Binge Drinking
Study participants who regularly drank at harmful levels shown to consume six drinks per session, compared to two alcoholic beverages for those less regular binge…
Breathing Problems in Teens: COVID-19 or Vaping Lung Injury?
Vaping-related lung injury and COVID-19’s shared symptoms can be confusing. A UC Davis Health pediatric team presented a powerful case series of three teenagers who…
Data From Over 80,000 Samples Shows Cannabis Strength Soared Over Past 50 Years
Largest study on how cannabis has changed over time finds increased strength putting consumers at greater risk of harm. New research shows that over the…
Simple New Method Is Proven to Accelerate Elimination of Alcohol From the Body
A Potential Game-Changer to Reverse Alcohol Intoxication A staggering 3 million deaths occur every year as result from harmful use of alcohol, according to the…
Too-Little Sleep Can Increase the Rewarding Properties of Cocaine, Paving Way to Addiction
Sleep deprivation increases rewarding properties of cocaine through motivation peptide. Sleep deprivation may pave the way to cocaine addiction. Too-little sleep can increase the rewarding…
Contrary to Some Claims, Cannabis Use Appears to Encourage, Not Replace, Opioid Use
Contrary to some claims, people in the U.S may not be substituting cannabis for opioids, according to new research at Columbia University Mailman School of…
Clubs Closed During COVID-19 Pandemic? Partygoers Turn to Virtual Raves and Happy Hours
Social distancing during COVID-19 creates new contexts for drug use. People have traded in nightclubs and dance festivals for virtual raves and Zoom happy hours…
Scientists Built a Simulated Sea Slug – It Quickly Became Addicted to an Intoxicating Drug
Scientists built a computer model of a simple brain network based on that of a sea slug, taught it how to get food, gave it…
Opioid Overdose Deaths May Be Grossly Underestimated: Many Found to Be Misclassified As Sudden Heart Attacks
Findings suggest that national estimates of opioid overdose burden may be grossly underestimated. A 7-year comprehensive study of deaths attributed to out of hospital cardiac…