Addiction

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 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.

Food manufacturers use the same design tactics as the tobacco industry to create compulsive consumption, a new analysis suggests. Researchers propose regulating ultra-processed foods as addictive substances to address rising rates of physical and mental illness.

Scientists have identified a pathway from traits like vulnerable narcissism to compulsive technology use. The findings indicate that social media apps often trigger broader phone dependency in emotionally fragile users.

Research tracking 1,500 adults suggests that problem gambling ripples through social networks. The data indicates that family connectedness buffers this risk, while peer relationships fail to provide a similar defense.

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.

New research demonstrates that gambling disorder alters the way the brain processes rewards and forms habits. By measuring gray matter and chemical signals, researchers have identified specific targets for future medical and stimulation therapies.

Psychology researchers have found that frequent pornography use and problematic use represent distinct profiles. The findings show that positive motivations link to healthy sexual regulation, whereas coping motives associate with dysfunction.

A new meta-analysis of nearly 150,000 participants reveals that Internet Gaming Disorder affects about 6 percent of young adults globally, challenging the assumption that video game addiction is solely a teenage problem.

Researchers have identified specific brain connectivity deficits in individuals with chronic heroin addiction. The findings suggest that a breakdown between generation and evaluation networks leads to rigid thinking patterns that may hinder recovery.

Treatments for autoimmune disorders might offer hope for methamphetamine addiction. Research published in Science Signaling indicates that blocking a specific immune protein dampens the drug's effect on the brain's reward centers.

Fentanyl overdose deaths have fallen sharply due to a supply shortage, according to a study in Science. The findings point to Chinese regulations on chemical precursors—likely spurred by US diplomacy—as the primary cause of the decline.

A new study suggests cannabidiol may prevent sensitization to combined cocaine and caffeine. The findings link this protective effect to specific gene expression changes in the brain’s extracellular matrix.