Addiction

A new study shows that combining cocaine and alcohol changes the brain circuits responsible for drug relapse. This suggests treating people who use both substances will require entirely different medical approaches than treating those who only use cocaine.

A recent study finds that the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic significantly decreased heavy drinking in patients with obesity and alcohol use disorder. The findings suggest a potential new treatment path for millions of people.

Adolescents with a cannabis addiction are more likely to develop schizophrenia and depression than peers addicted to other substances. A recent study shows that this risk pattern reverses in adults, highlighting the vulnerability of the developing brain.

A new study reveals that subconsciously internalizing a "Surrender to God" coping strategy significantly reduces the risk of long-term addiction relapse in Christian patients. However, this faith-based approach did not reduce daily cravings or increase overall meaning in life.

A new study reveals that heavy drinking, smoking, and cannabis use in early adulthood can lead to memory problems decades later. The research highlights how habits formed in youth cast a long shadow over future brain health.

A single dose of psilocybin paired with behavioral therapy proved remarkably effective at helping cigarette smokers quit. A new clinical trial shows the psychedelic intervention substantially outperformed standard nicotine patches over a six-month tracking period.

Scientists have discovered that varying genetics alter how the brain responds to alcohol withdrawal. Testing a common anti-parasitic drug, researchers successfully reduced compulsive drinking in dependent rodents by boosting calming chemical signals in the brain's stress center.

By acting as an alternative fuel for a brain starved of alcohol byproducts, a simple ketone ester drink rapidly altered brain metabolism and reduced self-reported alcohol cravings by over 30 percent in a recent study.

A new study reveals that even mild opioid use disorder drastically increases a person’s risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Researchers urge doctors to screen all opioid patients for self-harm, rather than focusing only on severe addiction.

A new study reveals how feelings of social isolation can trigger a sequence of shopping behaviors, transforming private emotional compensation into public displays of status that ultimately foster online shopping addiction.

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.

While millions struggle with methamphetamine addiction worldwide, no approved medical treatments exist. Recent research shows that an affordable, common antidepressant called mirtazapine could provide a much-needed pharmacological tool to help patients reduce their meth 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 newly released neuroimaging study reveals that young adults who heavily overuse smartphones show altered functional connectivity in the amygdala. These specific neural differences correlate to everyday difficulties in managing negative emotions.

Traditional theories suggest people with addiction simply stop caring about negative consequences. However, a new Yale study reveals that severe substance users actually struggle to consistently apply what they've learned about costs to their future decisions.