Alcohol

New imaging reveals that drinking disrupts long-distance neural communication. As brain activity moves into isolated clusters, subjective feelings of intoxication increase.

Researchers found that dynorphin-expressing neurons in the mouse amygdala light up significantly more when drinking alcohol compared to other liquids. This unique brain signature could help explain the mechanisms behind excessive alcohol consumption.

Swapping a beer for a cannabis drink could reduce alcohol-related harms. New research indicates that consumers of infused beverages are likely to use them as substitutes, resulting in fewer weekly drinks and less bingeing.

A new longitudinal analysis suggests that specific PTSD symptoms, particularly hyperarousal, drive hazardous drinking in military reservists. The findings indicate that male soldiers are uniquely at risk for alcohol problems stemming from physiological agitation.

A new study using machine learning reveals that adolescent mice with a sweet tooth and lower sociability are more likely to prefer alcohol. Interestingly, these behavioral patterns did not predict alcohol preference in adult mice.

A new study suggests that people with masculine personality traits are more likely to drink alcohol after a romantic argument. The research indicates that intense negative emotions, such as anger and powerlessness, drive this behavior.

New research shows that smoking cannabis with 7.2% THC reduced alcohol intake by nearly a third in heavy drinkers.

Does alcohol help social bonding? A study finds it boosts feelings of empathy but makes it significantly harder to recognize angry expressions.

A study of Spanish Army personnel suggests that consuming alcohol every day is associated with lower emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-esteem, potentially undermining the mental fortitude required for service.

While clinical trials investigate psychedelics for addiction treatment, new population-level research indicates that LSD is associated with reduced alcohol use disorder in naturalistic settings.

New research suggests that alcohol use disorder triggers a specific immune response. This activation prompts astrocytes to damage neurons, providing a pathway for alcohol-related neurodegeneration.

Variations in a single gene can significantly alter alcohol responses, according to new research. The study indicates that the chrna3 gene functions as a behavioral brake, with mutations leading to higher alcohol intake.

A review in Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation challenges simple views on alcohol and marriage. Researchers found that while drinking fuels violence, couples with matching habits—even heavy ones—often face lower divorce risks than those with mismatched patterns.

In a recent laboratory experiment, cannabis use was associated with reduced alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers. This substitution effect appears to be driven by a significant decrease in the self-reported urge to drink.

A large study published in JAMA Psychiatry finds that lower IQ scores at age 18 are linked to increased risk of alcohol use disorder. Genetic factors and societal conditions both appear to influence how this risk develops over time.