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…
Addiction
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…
Motherhood Overrides the Brain’s Decision-Making – Prioritizes Offspring Over Cocaine
Infralimbic cortex prioritizes offspring over drugs, promotes maternal behavior in rats. Motherhood takes over the brain’s decision-making regions to prioritize caring for offspring, according to…
New Molecule Offers Renewed Hope for Treatment of Pain, Anxiety, Stress, and Depression
Novel molecule targets a newly discovered opioid receptor with atypical properties and holds promise for alternative therapeutic strategies. Researchers at the Department of Infection and…
Loneliness May Make It Harder to Quit Smoking
In a study published today (June 15, 2020) in Addiction, University of Bristol researchers have found evidence for a causal link between prolonged experience of…
Even ‘Low-Risk’ Alcohol Drinking Can Result in Hospitalization and Death
It’s not just heavy drinking that’s a problem — even consuming alcohol within weekly low-risk drinking guidelines can result in hospitalization and death, according to…
Marijuana Concentrates Boost THC Levels but Not Impairment – Mobile Lab Offers First Glimpse of Real-World Use
Smoking high-potency marijuana concentrates boosts blood levels of THC more than twice as much as smoking conventional weed, but it doesn’t necessarily get you higher,…
Call for Expanded Fentanyl Testing by Hospitals After Drug Tops Fatal Overdose List
University of Maryland researchers launch the Maryland Emergency Department Drug Surveillance (EDDS) System — call for expanded fentanyl testing by hospitals. A new University of…
Sex Differences in Alcohol Abuse: Fluctuating Estrogen Levels May Make Alcohol More Rewarding
Fluctuating estrogen levels may make alcohol more rewarding to female mice, according to new research in JNeurosci. Untangling the involved signaling pathways could unveil sex-based treatments…
Shocking Research Shows That Antibiotic Use May Increase Risk for Opioid Abuse
When Sierra Simpson was in college, she was sick for a year with recurring fevers and vomiting. Her doctors couldn’t figure out what she had….
Spider Venom Key to Chronic Pain Relief Without the Risk of Addiction
Molecules in tarantula venom could be used as an alternative to opioid pain killers for people seeking chronic pain relief. University of Queensland researchers have…
Herbal Hangover Remedy Shows Multiple Benefits in USC Research
A well-known hangover drug not only helps soothe pounding headaches but also triggers profound changes that protect the liver, USC scientists report in new findings…
More Than 90% of Legal Marijuana Products Too Strong for Chronic Pain Relief
More than 90% of the legal marijuana products offered in medical dispensaries are much stronger than what clinical studies have shown that doctors recommend for…
Teen Vapers Less Likely to Go On to Smoke Than Peers Trying Out Other Tobacco Products
Observed ‘Gateway’ Effect of E-Cigarettes Among Teens ‘Likely to Be Small’ The observed ‘gateway’ effect of e-cigarette use among teens is “likely to be small,”…
Healthier and Happier Without Facebook – Reduce Usage to Feel Better All Around
People who reduce the time they spend on Facebook smoke less, are more active and feel better all around. Two weeks of 20 minutes less…
Comprehensive Analysis by Stanford: Alcoholics Anonymous Most Effective Path to Alcohol Abstinence
Alcoholics Anonymous, the worldwide fellowship of sobriety seekers, is the most effective path to abstinence, according to a comprehensive analysis conducted by a Stanford School…