Addiction

Researchers have found that while negative thought patterns and emotional struggles both predict problematic pornography use, one does not cause the other. The path from psychological distress to addiction is more complex than expected.

Depictions of physical aggression in popular online pornography have substantially increased over the past quarter-century, new research finds.

In a recent laboratory experiment, cannabis use was associated with reduced alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers. This substitution effect appears to be driven by a significant decrease in the self-reported urge to drink.

A new study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine finds that cats and dogs are being poisoned by illicit fentanyl. The findings suggest the opioid crisis is reaching beyond humans and putting household pets at serious risk.

People who reported meaningful psychedelic experiences later showed reduced cannabis use and increased psychological flexibility. These findings suggest psychedelics might influence substance use behaviors in lasting ways, particularly when the experience is intense or transformative.

Findings from a new study indicate that morally conflicted pornography use among single men is associated with greater sexual shame and depressive symptoms. Supportive friendships seem to reduce the strength of these associations.

A large study published in JAMA Psychiatry finds that lower IQ scores at age 18 are linked to increased risk of alcohol use disorder. Genetic factors and societal conditions both appear to influence how this risk develops over time.

A new study suggests that semaglutide, a drug best known as Ozempic, may reduce cocaine use, motivation, and relapse in rats. These findings point to a possible role for GLP-1-based drugs in treating cocaine addiction.

Problematic pornography use and repetitive negative thinking appear to reinforce each other, according to new research in The Journal of Sex Research. The study tracked young adults over a year and found distinct patterns in how men and women are...

How does the brain learn to link alcohol with relief from withdrawal, creating a powerful cycle of relapse? A new study isolates a specific cluster of neurons that becomes highly active, essentially locking in this compulsive behavior.

New research finds a powerful tool against the opioid crisis inside jail walls. Providing addiction medication to incarcerated individuals is associated with a 52% lower risk of fatal overdose and a 12% lower risk of returning to jail.

Despite growing interest in cannabidiol as a treatment for substance use, a new study finds no evidence that a single dose alters brain function, craving, or drinking behavior in youth with alcohol use disorder.

A new study suggests the dopamine-boosting drug tolcapone may enhance self-control and reduce alcohol intake in people with alcohol use disorder by increasing activity in brain regions linked to inhibitory control, such as the inferior frontal gyrus and prefrontal cortex.

A new case report describes how a woman’s culturally rooted habit of eating clay escalated into a compulsion resembling addiction, leading to dangerous electrolyte imbalances, internal bleeding, and medical confusion.

A new study suggests that slower development in dopamine-related brain regions may help explain why some teens are more likely to use substances or need stronger rewards to stay focused during adolescence, a period marked by heightened sensitivity to incentives.