Addiction

A non-intoxicating compound in cannabis could offer a breakthrough treatment for alcohol use disorder. New research shows CBD significantly reduces withdrawal symptoms, blocks cravings, and physically protects the brain from alcohol-induced cell death.

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.

While severe debt and isolation increase suicidal thoughts for anyone with a gambling problem, a new study reveals that at-risk alcohol use heightens this danger specifically for women, highlighting the need for personalized mental health support.

Experiencing multiple childhood traumas doesn't just increase the risk of a single addiction. A new study suggests it creates a dense, interconnected web of overlapping substance and behavioral addictions that reinforce one another in adulthood.

Individuals who exhibit dark personality traits spend more time consuming violent pornography. A recent study suggests this behavior creates a reinforcing cycle where aggressive media normalizes antisocial tendencies in viewers.

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.