Alcohol

A new study in rats shows how experiencing social isolation during adolescence directly changes the brain’s chemical response to alcohol, altering dopamine pathways linked to reward and aversion and paving the way for future substance use issues.

In a controlled laboratory setting, heavy drinkers consumed up to 27 percent less alcohol after smoking cannabis. The findings offer new insights into how acute cannabis intoxication alters immediate drinking habits and delays the onset of alcohol consumption.

Scientists have discovered that poor sleep amplifies negative emotions in individuals with alcohol use disorder. Imaging shows that insomnia activates neural networks linked to rumination, suggesting sleep treatments could greatly improve emotional well-being during recovery.

A person's basic personality traits might help predict if they will start drinking again after alcohol withdrawal. A new study shows that people with a strong desire for new experiences are more likely to relapse within three months.

Many people use cannabis to help cut back on drinking. However, a new study reveals that smoking THC only reduces alcohol cravings for individuals with average or high working memory, leaving those with poorer cognitive control without this benefit.

A medication already approved for weight loss and diabetes may alter the brain's reward system to suppress the urge to drink. A new rodent study shows tirzepatide effectively cuts alcohol intake and blocks relapse-like behaviors.

New research shows that while impulsivity and neuroticism both increase the risk of teen alcohol use, they stem from almost entirely different brain networks. This highlights how multiple biological pathways can lead to risky behavior.

A new longitudinal study suggests that drinking larger amounts per occasion is linked to slightly higher future anxiety. However, frequent, low-quantity consumption is associated with lower anxiety levels in adults over 51.

A new study finds that while severe childhood trauma often leads to early alcoholism, specific genetic variants are more closely linked to the disorder developing later in life.

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.