Addiction

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.

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.