Addiction

Two new studies suggest psychedelic compounds could help treat cocaine addiction. A human trial found psilocybin combined with therapy reduced cocaine use, while an animal study indicated that environmental support is needed to prevent long-term relapse.

People with alcohol use disorder experience automatic emotional reactions to alcohol-related images that disrupt their decision-making processes. New research shows the brain attempts to offset these cognitive disruptions by increasing activity in regions associated with deliberate thought.

Patients in addiction treatment are increasingly receiving prescriptions for the nerve pain drug gabapentin, despite a lack of evidence for its effectiveness. Meanwhile, unprescribed use of the drug remains high among patients testing positive for multiple substances.

New research reveals how genetic risk and trauma symptoms combine to influence tobacco use. Individuals with a lower genetic predisposition to smoking may actually be more vulnerable to using tobacco in response to severe post-traumatic stress symptoms.

New research suggests adolescents who feel emotionally unnoticed are more likely to engage in addictive behaviors. A newly developed psychological scale reveals how this “sense of absence” acts as a bridge connecting family struggles to teen addiction.

A mouse study reveals that heavy alcohol use during adolescence alters hippocampal nerve cells, creating a lifelong sensitivity to alcohol. Fortunately, scientists found that a medication used for alcohol use disorders can restore normal brain function.

As animals learn to self-administer cocaine, specific brain networks rapidly expand and then shrink. Using advanced imaging, researchers discovered that the cells controlling this addictive habit constantly swap in and out, revealing a highly flexible neurological process.

A new study reveals that regularly employed patients are more likely to drop out of outpatient alcohol treatment than those without steady jobs, suggesting standard clinic hours create hidden barriers to addiction recovery.

Researchers analyzing nationwide survey data found that adults using psilocybin infrequently alongside alcohol reported less anxiety and depression than non-psilocybin users, suggesting potential benefits outside clinical settings.

Patients being treated for addiction often experience a sharp drop in their daily cravings simply by taking a placebo. New research explores how human expectation and medical routines can alter the harsh biological realities of dependence.

Individuals who dread losing mental control are highly likely to experience severe anxiety during a hangover. New research shows this specific psychological fear reliably predicts morning-after panic, helping professionals identify young adults at risk for future alcohol problems.

Individuals with a cocaine addiction may fall into three hidden behavioral types. Scientists mapped the brains of people who use cocaine, revealing new biological targets that could help personalize rehabilitation regimens and improve overall recovery rates.

A new study highlights the distinct emotional triggers behind behavioral addictions. Researchers found that while compulsive gambling is largely driven by the thrill of positive excitement, compulsive video gaming serves primarily as a way to manage distress.

While physical fitness is vital for health, it can sometimes cross the line into a harmful behavioral addiction. However, a new scientific review warns against over-pathologizing athletes, noting that true exercise addiction is often misunderstood and overstated.

Rats exposed to the psychoactive component of cannabis before birth display differing teenage binge drinking habits based on their biological sex. Females consistently drank more alcohol, while males initially avoided it before rapidly escalating their consumption.