Addiction

A large new study cuts through the hype to find the true rate of video game addiction. Analyzing data from over 149,000 young adults, researchers discovered that roughly 6% suffer from a clinical loss of control over their gaming habits.

While eating well slightly lowers inflammation, new research shows it is not enough to reverse the damage caused by frequent alcohol consumption. Moderate and heavy drinking were linked to significant inflammatory spikes, regardless of diet quality.

People increasingly turn to artificial intelligence to answer sensitive behavioral health questions. A recent study evaluating how well a popular chatbot explains addiction found that while the platform provides accurate overviews, it frequently misses necessary medical nuances.

New research reveals that the brain stores competing memories of alcohol addiction and recovery within the same type of cell. This discovery suggests that preventing relapse requires strengthening recovery circuits, not just weakening addiction pathways.

An experimental drug developed using artificial intelligence shows promise in treating opioid use disorder. The medication significantly lowered fentanyl intake in rodents by targeting serotonin receptors, promoting healthy brain adaptation without relying on traditional opioid-based treatments.

People with a persistent desire for more are particularly vulnerable to gambling harms. A new study reveals that dispositional greed is linked to flawed thinking patterns, frequent betting, and an inability to walk away from the game.

A study of university students links watching violent pornography to a higher risk of committing sexual aggression. This association is especially strong among viewers who believe the explicit scenes reflect reality and who have victim-blaming friends.

Whether addicted to alcohol, cocaine, or nicotine, people with substance use disorder share identical "short circuits" in their brain's reward networks. A massive new meta-analysis maps these specific neural disruptions, offering a potential blueprint for future treatments.

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.