All articles tagged: Addiction

Results from a national survey, appearing in JAMA Network Open, indicate that many Americans, 61%, are unaware that primary care physicians can prescribe medications for opioid use disorder, and 13% incorrectly believed that they could not.

Opioid-related drug overdoses cause 130 deaths per day in the U.S. Access to treatment and prevention programs are key to addressing the opioid crisis, as is access to overdose reversal drugs like naloxone, which has emerged as one of the most effective tools for saving the lives of people struggling with opioid addiction.

New revelations, published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, reveal the recent activities of Philip Morris International (PMI) and its Japanese affiliate, Philip Morris Japan (PMJ).

Psilocybin mushrooms are the psychedelic substance most often used in the U.S., with its popularity outpacing other psychedelic drugs such as MDMA (known as ecstasy), according to a new RAND report.

This week Victorian premier Jacinta Allan announced the state will trial a drug checking service beginning this summer festival season, describing it as a "simple and commonsense way to save lives."

A new study of drinking patterns across Europe from 2000 to 2019 shows that drinking occurs in stable, beverage-specific clusters that seem to be partly determined by geography. The study was published today by the scientific journal Addiction.

The Australian Senate is set to pass a bill that will see the end of all vape sales—regardless of nicotine content—from general retailers. From July 1, non-nicotine vapes will no longer be permitted for sale outside of pharmacies.

Young adults (aged 18–25) who use alcohol have varying personal reasons for not drinking on some days—reasons that could be harnessed to improve the effectiveness of programs preventing and treating alcohol use disorder (AUD), a new study suggests.

A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), titled "Mental health service use before first diagnosis of a psychotic disorder" and published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that nearly 75% of young Ontarians with a psychotic disorder had at least one mental health service visit within the three years prior to their first diagnosis of the disorder.

The proportion of vapers using high-strength nicotine has increased sharply in England since 2021, when disposable e-cigarettes first became popular, according to a new study by UCL researchers.

In France, the majority of people with an opioid use disorder—87%—receive access to medication designed to treat it. In the United States, where more than 100,000 people are dying annually from drug overdoses, less than 20% of people with opioid use disorder receive methadone or buprenorphine.

Childhood use of candy cigarettes, which are fake cigarettes made out of sugar, is associated with cigarette use among users, and yet there has been no research into the availability of these products or how they are currently being marketed. In a recent study led by UNC undergraduate student Dov Bearman with co-authors and mentors from the UNC Tobacco Prevention and Evaluation Program (TPEP), res

Tapping into the vast amount of data now available on social media, a new study from scientists at the University of California San Diego introduces a powerful new approach to understanding the nation's health, in this case the vaping epidemic.

When people get a prescription for the opioid addiction medication called buprenorphine, they almost always fill it—even if they have to pay more out of their own pocket, a new study shows. The paper is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

As marijuana use becomes legal and more accepted across America, more seniors are developing unhealthy relationships with the drug, a new report suggests.

Researchers from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) at St. Michael's Hospital and Public Health Ontario have analyzed health data from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario and ICES, and found that there were 210 accidental opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters between January 2018 to May 2022, with the number of deaths more than tripling during the study period (48 bef

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are aware of and engage in modifications of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), according to a study published online June 17 in Pediatrics.

Researchers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that among a cohort of 137,000 Medicare beneficiaries who experienced a nonfatal overdose in 2020, almost 24,000 (17.

Physical and sexual abuse, having parents who misuse substances, and witnessing violent crime are tragic events that don't remain locked in a single point in time. Rather, they are termed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and 64% of American adults who participated in a recent survey reported experiencing at least one ACE prior to turning 18 years old.

A rigorous, comprehensive synthesis of evidence from 62 studies related to the use of oral nicotine pouches by Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists and colleagues provides a much-needed assessment of how these products could lead to potential harmful consequences if used by young people.

A data-driven intervention that engaged communities to rapidly deploy evidence-based practices to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths—such as increasing naloxone distribution and enhancing access to medication for opioid use disorder—did not result in a statistically significant reduction in opioid-related overdose death rates during the evaluation period, according to results from the National

Patients are less likely to fill prescriptions for naloxone when they face increases in out-of-pocket costs, according to research by the University of Michigan.

Use of nicotine and cannabis products in varying forms including smoking and vaping by young adults is growing at a time of increased reports of mental health stressors—anxiety, depression and discrimination—by this age group.

Opioid giant Mallinckrodt, selling more than Purdue Pharma in the US, was forced by the courts to publish more than 1.3 million internal documents.

Baltimore went its own way and has won the first leg of a potentially billion-dollar lawsuit against opioid distributors.

A new review of research about antidepressant withdrawal has confirmed it does exist, but also reports that it's less common and severe than previously found.

A wide range of measures, including anonymous and targeted counseling, are needed to reduce the use of illegal opioids and benzodiazepines among young people. This is the conclusion of the Criminological Observatory at the University of Copenhagen in a new report with seven specific recommendations.

Research tells us that people who are homeless generally have poor health and premature aging compared to the general population and have traditionally been excluded from mainstream health promotion services.

E-cigarette packaging could be used to encourage smokers to switch to vaping and deter non-smokers from taking up the habit, according to new research from the University of Stirling.

Adolescents with an internet addiction undergo changes in the brain that could lead to additional addictive behavior and tendencies, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

About 37 million children ages 13 to 15 around the world use tobacco, according to a 2024 report from the World Health Organization.

Zyn's synthetic nicotine offers the kick of a cigarette or dip without the cancer-causing smoke and chemicals of tobacco, packaged in a pouch that can be discreetly tucked into the upper lip. But that doesn't mean they're risk-free. Very little is known about how nicotine pouches could affect health or addiction trends in the U.S. Moreover, tobacco companies are selling the products in dosages and

As the opioid addiction crisis continues to lay waste to American life, a new survey finds that nearly a third of U.S. adults now know someone who's died of a drug overdose.

Stress during childhood is associated with earlier substance use in male and female adolescents, according to a study presented Saturday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass. Traumatic events may increase substance use risk for males, while environmental stress and early puberty may increase the risk for females, the researchers found.

Here in the rugged foothills of California's Sierra Nevada, the streets aren't littered with needles and dealers aren't hustling drugs on the corner.

Pennsylvania has been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, having the fourth highest number of overdose deaths in the country in 2020. Also, the rate of overdose deaths among Black persons is significantly higher than that of white persons in the state. A recent analysis published in Addiction reveals that compared with white people in Pennsylvania, Black individuals are less likely

Overall nicotine use has risen among adults in England since disposable vapes started becoming popular, due to a rapid increase in vaping among young adults coupled with a modest overall decline in smoking, finds a new study by University College London (UCL) researchers.

A new study examining how state Medicaid programs are helping people with substance use disorders (SUD) uncovered the need to expand the programmatic features to assist individuals who are transitioning in and out of the criminal justice system.

A coalition of researchers at The University of New Mexico have just taken a huge step forward for addiction research, in emphasizing a recovery process that has long been needed for a specific drug.

New University of Canterbury research has found vape stores are proliferating in Aotearoa New Zealand's most deprived communities—with many also located near schools.

A new paper in Nicotine and Tobacco Research shows that advertising and sales of vaping products is common on TikTok, the video sharing platform popular among teenagers. Users pushing these items often use hashtags like #puffbundles to disguise vaping products by including things like lip gloss and candy in the packages for sale.

U.S. states vary widely in their laws and legal approaches to managing drug paraphernalia and opioid prevention centers (OPCs), according to new research published by the Center for Public Health Law Research at the Temple University Beasley School of Law. This creates a patchwork of laws that could affect efforts to prevent overdose and overdose death.

A study led by researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center (NDARC) outlines the profiles and circumstances of 43 deaths related to LSD or psilocybin (commonly known as magic mushrooms) in Australia between 2000 and 2023.

Now that smoking has replaced injecting as the most common way to consume fentanyl, UCSF researchers have uncovered an increased risk of fatal overdose from the residue that accumulates in smoking equipment.

Despite measures to reduce young people's access to vapes, many countries are recording rising use by underage adolescents, especially since refillable "pod mods" and disposable devices have become widely available.

Drug overdose deaths spiked following Kentucky's COVID-19 stay-at-home and business closure orders of March 2020. But the industries that suffered the most overdose deaths were surprising, according to research conducted by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC) at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health (CPH).

The desire for a sculpted physique is driving some amateur gymgoers to experiment with synthetic steroids—specifically, testosterone supplements. This trend is largely being driven by social media, with thousands of posts discussing ways to boost testosterone levels, and high-profile influencers promoting the supposed benefits of using the synthetic hormone—and even recommending products that anyo

People from a higher socioeconomic status drink more alcohol on average than those of lower socioeconomic background, according to new research from The University of Queensland.

The more time spent on social media, the greater the likelihood that children and young people will both smoke and/or vape, suggests research published online in the respiratory journal Thorax.

University of Florida researchers have developed a system designed to identify patients at high risk of discontinuing buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.

A new study suggests that the tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI), is successfully increasing public trust in industry-funded science by portraying itself as a generous supporter of scientific research while simultaneously concealing its involvement through third parties.

The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Wednesday.

Are gift cards and cash one way to help ease the drug overdose crisis?

In a new study published in Health Promotion Journal of Australia, La Trobe University researchers found large support for a browser plug-in that blocks online alcohol-related imagery to prevent young people being influenced to start drinking alcohol or drinking to excess.

Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) have published findings in JAMA Pediatrics that show the hospital's revised clinical guidelines for reporting substance-exposed newborns support family health.

Rural Americans are less likely to initiate care for substance use disorders and to receive ongoing care compared with those who live in urban areas, according to a new study.

Fentanyl deaths among Missouri babies, toddlers and teens spiked as child welfare officials struggled to adequately investigate the cases, a state panel found in a newly released report.

New research, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, examined a broad range of potential predictors of substance use among adolescents and found sociodemographic variables were the most robust predictors of substance use initiation.

The U.S. opioid epidemic is a story of failed policy initiatives, missed opportunities, and more than 600,000 deaths. It's also a story with no end in sight, and for that, two economists say, we can blame relationships.

Drug overdose rates skyrocketed in the United States during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 92,000 people died due to overdose in 2020. Public health experts worried early in the pandemic that lockdowns and other measures to control the spread of the virus could lead to more overdoses.

A decade-long decline in the number of cigarettes a smoker has per day has stalled, with some people actually smoking more, according to a new study by UCL researchers.

In cases of cannabis intoxication in children, resource utilization is less likely in states with recreational legalization of cannabis, according to a study published online May 1 in Pediatrics.

Authorities in Texas are investigating at least nine deaths this week in connection with an unusual spike of opioid overdoses in Austin that health officials are calling the city's worst overdose outbreak in nearly a decade.

For as long as statistics about opioid overdose deaths have been collected in the United States, white individuals have been much more likely to die than Black individuals of the same age. With the rapidly increasing rate of fentanyl overdoses in the late 2010s, that trend began to reverse—by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more Black Americans began to die of opioid overdoses and from

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have revealed new trends in drug consumption that shed light on how people are adapting to the evolving risks associated with unregulated drug use in the United States. The findings could help policymakers and public health officials better tailor interventions to meet the needs of vulnerable populations and reduce the public health burden of

Frequent teen vaping might boost the risk of exposure to lead and uranium, potentially harming brain and organ development, suggests research published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

Gary Horejsi wrestled with the decision before him, knowing a life could be in his hands. It was the third time that the woman had used drugs or alcohol since coming to CRI-Help, which runs a 135-bed residential facility in North Hollywood where people are treated for substance use disorder.

The number of health care professionals able to write a prescription for a key medication to treat addiction quadrupled at community health clinics from 2016 to 2021, according to a new study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.

Medical education provider Medscape has bowed to pressure and agreed to permanently remove a series of accredited medical education courses on smoking cessation funded by the tobacco industry giant Philip Morris International (PMI), The BMJ and The Examination have found.

Most ex-cons are unlikely to receive substance use treatment following their release from prison, even though odds are high they are struggling with addiction, a new study finds.

The tobacco industry has long appealed to youth through targeted marketing that glamorizes smoking with imagery of candy-flavored products, celebrity endorsements, social settings, and other enticing tactics. That marketing approach appears to be particularly effective on social media, according to a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers.

MPs have recently voted to ban anyone in England born after 2009 from buying cigarettes, as part of the government's plan to achieve a smoke-free generation.

Health concerns are still the primary motive for more than half of those who say they want to stop smoking in England, but cost is now a key factor for more than 1 in 4, finds an analysis of national survey responses, published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health.

A simple and convenient method to collect drug use data from the surface of a smartphone has been revealed for the first time in a new study published in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM). By helping clinicians understand which drugs people are taking in certain contexts, the research could protect public health and improve the treatment of patients suspected of overdosing.

There are no silver bullets, magic tricks or secret hacks to solving complex public health problems. Taking on the global tobacco industry and reducing the devastating consequences of smoking has taken decades of incremental reforms.

Certain drinking behaviors beyond just the quantity of alcohol consumed may predict the likelihood a person will experience an alcohol-induced blackout, a condition where someone is conscious and engaging with their surroundings but will be unable to remember some or any of what occurred. While in this condition, people are at higher risk for a range of consequences, including violence or sexual a

The results of a new study, utilizing the most recent data on adolescent substance use to evaluate the effect of recreational cannabis legalization and retail sales on youth's use of cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol, appear in JAMA Pediatrics.

A combo of an allergy drug and a blood pressure med appears to lower daily drinking in folks battling severe alcoholism, French researchers report.

A study published in the scientific journal Addiction has found that people who are maltreated as children may be three times more likely to be admitted to hospital for alcohol and substance use disorders by the age of 40, compared with those who are not maltreated.

A new study has found that by offering stop-smoking support as part of the national lung cancer screening program, there is potential to save lives, and dedicated funding must be considered by policymakers.

Opioid dependence in Scotland remains high but largely stable, according to a new University of Bristol-led analysis published in Addiction. The study is the first to estimate the number of people dependent on opioid drugs (such as heroin), and who are in or could benefit from drug treatment, among Scotland's population since 2015/2016 estimates were published.

The US saw a 22% decline in rates of prescription-opioid overdose related emergency department (ED) visits in children 17 and younger between 2008 and 2019, but an uptick in the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Henry Xiang of Nationwide Children's Hospital, US, and colleagues. The authors also note that rates o

People with a nonfatal opioid overdose who have access to a peer support program while in the emergency department are more likely to initiate treatment and less likely to have repeated overdoses, according to a Rutgers Health study.

The Australian government is currently considering a bill to implement the next stage of reforms to vaping regulation.

A 17-year-old boy with shaggy blond hair stepped onto the scale at Tri-River Family Health Center in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

Premature deaths related to opioids doubled between 2019 and 2021 across Canada, with more than 1 in 4 deaths among young adults aged 20–39 years attributable to opioids, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Findings from a new University of Otago, Christchurch, study suggest alcohol harm is becoming more prevalent among older New Zealanders but less so among youth, with alcohol-related presentations placing a significant but preventable burden on the motu's over-stretched hospital emergency departments.

Xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer linked to horrific side effects, is now widespread in the UK illicit drug market.

Experiencing the sort of job insecurity in early adulthood that is often linked to the gig economy, is linked to a heightened risk of a serious alcohol-related illness in later life, suggest the findings of a long term study published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

Using data from a top video game streaming service, Puneet Manchanda, Isadore and Leon Winkelman Professor of Marketing, and Ph.D. student Bruno Castelo Branco have challenged preconceived notions of high addiction rates in the video game-playing community.

They slow down breathing. First, you lose consciousness, then your heart stops beating.

For patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, a femoral nerve block (FNB) is associated with a lower incidence of excessive opioid consumption than adductor canal block (ACB), according to a study presented at the 49th Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, held from March 21 to 23 in San Diego.

Nasal-administered naloxone is more cost-effective and could help reduce the number of opioid-related fatalities compared to the current publicly funded intermuscular version, a new study has found. The study, "An economic evaluation of community pharmacy dispensed naloxone in Canada," was published in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal.

The prevalence of problem and at-risk gambling has not significantly changed since casinos were introduced in Massachusetts beginning in 2015, according to the first statewide population survey that compares gambling behavior and attitudes before and after the opening of three casinos in the commonwealth.

Xylazine is an FDA-approved sedative and pain reliever for use in animals, but it has severe adverse effects when used in humans. It is now illicitly being added to opioids, like fentanyl and heroin, as well as cocaine—leading to a sharp rise in overdose deaths.

A new paper in Nicotine & Tobacco Research finds that smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes are now more likely to stop smoking regular cigarettes. In the past, smokers who began using electronic cigarettes mostly continued smoking. The paper is titled, "Divergence in cigarette discontinuation rates by use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS): Longitudinal findings from the U.S. P

Fire Capt. Jesse Blaire steered his SUV through the mobile home park until he spotted the little beige house with white trim and radioed to let dispatchers know he'd arrived.

It turns out that money isn't the only thing sports gamblers are risking. According to a new study, bettors who wager on sporting events, esports, and daily fantasy sports are much more likely than other individuals to binge drink.

For adults hospitalized for alcohol-related reasons, receiving a prescription for an alcohol use disorder (AUD) medication at the time of discharge may lower their risk of returning to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, including emergency room visits and readmissions.

People with symptoms of insomnia may be likely to increase their drinking over time, according to a study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Former prisoners with substance use and co-occurring disorders are at an alarmingly high risk of reincarceration, according to a new Simon Fraser University-led study.

Compared to taking a daily pill, a monthly dose of long-acting injectable (LAI) buprenorphine can be a simpler and more effective treatment for people with opioid use disorder. But do substance use treatment facilities in the United States take advantage of this highly effective medication?

In homes across America, an invisible threat may be lurking—one that could affect the health of our youngest and most vulnerable. Recent findings presented this month at the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners conference in Denver shed light on the often-overlooked danger of secondhand e-cigarette vapor, particularly its impact on children.

Differences in how young adults metabolize THC, the main part of cannabis that makes people feel "high," can influence how they feel after taking the drug as well as their potential risk for developing cannabis use disorder, or CUD.

The couple that drinks together might live longer together, too, says a University of Michigan researcher.

More Australians than ever are vaping, according to recently released data.

A newly discovered feedback loop involving estrogen may explain why women might become dependent on nicotine more quickly and with less nicotine exposure than men. The research could lead to new treatments for women who are having trouble quitting nicotine-containing products such as cigarettes.

A free smartphone app, Drink Less, can help people who would benefit most from reducing their alcohol consumption to do so successfully, according to a large randomized controlled trial led by UCL researchers and involving University of Bristol academics.

Vaping is a pressing public health issue. While adult smoking rates continue to fall, vaping rates are rising. Some 7% of adults now vape daily, up nearly three-fold since 2019. Most alarmingly, the rate of current vape use—on a daily, weekly or monthly basis—among 18-to-24-year-olds has climbed from 5% in 2019 to 21% in 2023.

Nearly 108,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2022, according to final federal figures released Thursday.

The worry of gaining weight is a common excuse for smokers not to quit. A new study published today in the journal Addiction has found that both starting smoking and lifetime smoking may increase abdominal fat, especially visceral fat, the unhealthy fat deep inside the abdomen that is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia.

Making alcohol-free beer more widely available on draft in pubs and bars may help people switch from alcoholic to alcohol-free beer, a new study published in Addiction has found. Pubs and bars taking part in the University of Bristol-led trial saw an increase in sales of healthier non-alcoholic draft beer.

New research by The George Institute for Global Health, published March 19 in Drug and Alcohol Review, has revealed Australia's largest alcohol retailers are failing to display mandatory pregnancy warnings on their websites, potentially putting customers' unborn children at risk of lifelong harms including permanent brain damage.

One in seven adults who smoke in Great Britain report using menthol-flavored cigarettes despite UK legislation that aimed to curb their use, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with suicide mortality, with a similar association seen across the sexes, according to a review and meta-analysis published online March 12 in JAMA Network Open.

Men have historically, and still do, drink more than women. But in recent years there has been an uptick in women's drinking, particularly among women in their late 30s through to their 60s.

Australia currently has the most restrictive tobacco and vaping policies in the developed world. Australian smokers are taxed at one of the highest rates among comparable nations, with taxes set to further increase at rate of 5% per year. Meanwhile, Australia is the only country to have a prescription model for accessing vaping products.

A new study suggests that delta-8-THC, an intoxicating substance typically made from hemp, is being used by a substantial number of young people across the United States and could potentially pose a significant public health risk.

Health providers and addiction experts warn the funding structure is unstable for a California initiative that steers patients with substance use disorder into long-term treatment after they are discharged from emergency rooms, which has already led some critical employees to leave their jobs.

Among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), the use of disposable electronic cigarette devices is associated with increased risks for persistent e-cigarette use patterns, according to a study published online on March 11 in Pediatrics.

The Oregon Poison Center at Oregon Health & Science University is reporting a dramatic increase in cases of young children exposed to fentanyl. The poison center managed 16 cases of illicit fentanyl exposure in children younger than 6 years old in 2023, an increase from just 2 in 2021 and 0 in 2020.

Legislators in a handful of states are offering bills to address the rise in the misuse of xylazine, a cheap animal sedative not intended for human consumption.

While overall smoking rates among U.S. adults are declining, many communities remain disproportionately burdened by commercial tobacco use and the associated negative health consequences. Smoking prevalence among rural adults stood at 19.2% in 2020, compared to 14.4% for their urban counterparts. Previous research also shows rural people start smoking at younger ages and smoke more heavily than no

There are about five times more people smoking non-cigarette tobacco in England now than there were a decade ago, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

Testing of illicit drugs bought online found that 35% were not what they said they were, highlighting the urgent need for more local drug testing facilities in Australia to prevent harm and overdose.

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new generation of high-performance DNA aptamers and highly accurate drug sensors for cocaine and other opioids. The sensors are drug-specific and can detect trace amounts of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine—even when these drugs are mixed with other drugs or with cutting agents and adulterants such as caffeine, sugar, or procaine. The

New research from Flinders University has revealed that parents are feeling conflicted, confused and concerned when it comes to zero-alcohol beer, wine and spirts and adolescents.

Primary care pediatricians feel less prepared to manage adolescents' opioid use disorder (OUD) compared with other substances, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Pediatrics.

Vancouver may be considered by many as the "best place" to live, but many young people living in the city are facing unprecedented challenges that are making their futures more precarious than ever. Hundreds of youth who call Vancouver home are standing at the intersection of a housing affordability crisis and a toxic drug poisoning public health emergency.

Although Dry January is behind us, the non-alcoholic beverage trend is showing no signs of slowing. Sales of alcohol alternatives are growing 20% every year.

Medications to treat opioid use disorder, including methadone and buprenorphine, have been shown to save lives, cutting overdose deaths by up to 60% and reducing the transmission of HIV by offering a safe alternative to injection drug use. Many patients take these medications, which are called opioid agonist therapies, for years or even decades, and may be at risk of overdose if they lose access t

Deaths where alcohol played a key role have climbed sharply in recent years, hitting women even harder than men, new government data shows. The study was published in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Methamphetamine, also known as ice or meth, is the drug Australians most associate with a drug problem and the drug they're most concerned about, according to the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey.

Andrew McClave Jr. loved to lift weights. The 6-foot-4-inch bartender resembled a bodybuilder and once posed for a photo flexing his muscles with former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.

The weight of the opioid crisis is heavy.

Treatment for cannabis use disorder (CUD) decreased since 2004, particularly in states with medical cannabis dispensary provisions, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Specialty treatment for the disorder did not meaningfully change among people with past-year CUD in states with recreational cannabis legislation.

Turning to the internet for health-related information has become commonplace—from using search engines to uncover possible diagnoses based on symptoms to asking for advice on social media when dealing with health issues.

Everyday discrimination can influence unhealthy coping behaviors such as smoking, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. However, the impact differs depending on one's identity, with Hispanic women experiencing the greatest risk for heart disease as a result of discrimination.

Flavored nicotine pouches are being promoted to young people on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

After states legalize the sale of weed for recreational use, on-the-job injuries rise among younger workers, new research shows.

Black voters support a ban on menthol cigarettes by a wide margin, refuting claims that such a ban would be strongly opposed by Black Americans, a new survey shows.

University of Waterloo researchers have developed a new blood testing method that can detect potent opioids much faster than traditional approaches and potentially save lives.

More than 40% of Americans know someone who has died of a drug overdose and about one-third of those individuals say their lives were disrupted by the death, according to a new RAND study.

A new paper published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research finds that banning the sale of menthol cigarettes would likely lead to a meaningful reduction in smoking rates.

Americans addicted to opioids who need the anti-addiction med buprenorphine are far more likely to find it if they live in a predominantly white neighborhood, new research finds.

The addition of electronic cigarettes to standard smoking-cessation counseling results in greater abstinence from tobacco use among smokers than smoking-cessation counseling alone, according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Smoking has surpassed injecting as the most common way of taking drugs in U.S. overdose deaths, a new government study suggests.

Safer drug consumption facilities (SDCF) and drug checking could be key to addressing drug harms in the city of Edinburgh, according to University of Stirling experts in substance use.

Maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) is associated with child neurocognitive deficits at ages nine to 12 years, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in JAMA Network Open.

Saint Louis University's Liz Chiarello, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, recently published an article in the American Sociological Review. The article explores pharmacists' use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and the ethical and practical application of PDMPs in health care.

Amid an overdose crisis that claimed more than 100,000 lives last year alone, newly released data show that laws in more than one-third of states restrict access to buprenorphine, a lifesaving treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD).

For many, elite sport is the quintessential human endeavor. It drives ferocious competition, captures unconditional tribal loyalty, and rewards the victors with fame and fortune.

Alcohol consumption among younger generations has been declining for years. And with many pubs and cocktail bars now catering to the sober and "sober curious", it's easier than ever to opt out.

Seizures by law enforcement officials of psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, have increased by 369% since 2017, a new study shows. The authors say their findings may signal growing availability and public awareness of the hallucinogenic drug, along with possible heightened risks associated with recreational and unsupervised use of the drug.

Reducing homelessness by 25% could save almost 2,000 lives lost to opioid overdoses, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

With more than 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in one year, communities need more than 'just say no' drug prevention education and abstinence-only addiction treatment to save lives, an expert has warned.

University of Texas at Dallas researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind, handheld electrochemical sensor that can accurately detect fentanyl in urine within seconds.

Gambling advertising has long been a contentious issue in Australia, with critics and regulators regularly raising concerns about the intensity and placement of ads in the media.

Does vaping offer an opportunity for smokers to kick their deadly tobacco habit, or pose a vast new health threat to the world's young people?

The prevalence of adolescents identifying as being in recovery and resolving problems with substances is estimated in a study published online Dec. 19 in PLOS ONE.

An intersectional study of alcohol treatment completion rates reveals striking disparities for racial and ethnic minoritized women when compared to white men. Overall, women complete treatment at slightly lower rates than men, but the completion rates for Black, Latina, American Indian, and Native Alaskan women compared to white men are significantly lower. In some cases, these intersectional disp

An extensive study led by the University of Stirling has laid out options and key considerations for Scotland's first drug checking services (DCS).

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello recently said she was concerned about the financial burden on people who smoke. She has requested advice on freezing the Consumers Price Index (CPI) adjustment applied annually to tobacco products, according to a leaked Ministry of Health document.

A neighborhood alcohol control project in Sacramento that reduced cases of child abuse and neglect soon after implementation still had a positive impact seven years later, a new study found. The study was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

In the U.S., young women who identify as LGBTQ+ are up 4.8 times more likely to smoke cigarettes than their heterosexual peers.

A study from the University of Georgia reveals a concerning pattern of binge drinking among women who own or manage farms.

Alcoholics Anonymous has long been a cornerstone of treating alcohol use disorders in the United States. But even today, Americans are not accessing it equally, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

As young people increasingly have access and exposure to online gambling, only one in four parents say they have talked to their teen about some aspect of virtual betting, a national poll suggests.

A new study by doctoral alumna Dr. Margaret Paschen-Wolff and colleagues, published in Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, offers concrete recommendations for delivering LGBTQ+-affirming care for substance use and disorders, which could reduce disparities and drug overdose mortality overall.

Supporters of the new government's plan to repeal Aotearoa New Zealand's smokefree legislation have claimed victory against "prohibition".

Individuals travel beyond their residential neighborhood and area of work to bars, but tend to travel to liquor stores closer to home, according to a new study at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The findings are published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

According to Greek mythology, Zeus punished Prometheus for giving fire to humans. He chained Prometheus up and set an eagle to feast on his liver. Each night, the liver grew back and each day, the eagle returned for his feast. In reality, can a liver really grow back?

Researchers from the Central Institute of Mental Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Technical University of Dresden have published study results in the American Journal of Psychiatry that provide a better understanding of the relationship between hormones and alcohol consumption.

A new drug called kush is wreaking havoc in west Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone where it is estimated to kill around a dozen people each week and hospitalize thousands.

Three new recreational drugs that have never been reported in Australia before have been identified by chemists at Australia's only fixed-site drug checking service, CanTEST, located in Canberra.

As with fashion and music, illicit drugs go through peaks and troughs of popularity. There are popular staples, such as cannabis, and more disruptive and transient substances, such as mephedrone. As with clothing fashion, the drugs that most people are able to buy are determined by the choices of designers, manufacturers, and logistical operations, rather than consumers.

The high taxes on tobacco are counterproductive in decreasing smoking. It only benefits the illegal cigarette trade—and its political masters.

As addiction and overdose deaths command headlines across the nation, the Medical Board of California, which licenses MDs, is developing a new program to treat and monitor doctors with alcohol and drug problems. But a fault line has appeared over whether those who join the new program without being ordered to by the board should be subject to public disclosure.

Overdose deaths in North America have skyrocketed, primarily because of the spread of illegally manufactured fentanyl. In a new study, researchers have analyzed an early and prominent fentanyl-selling operation on the dark web. The organization sustained a significant growth rate, which allowed it to offer consumers steep discounts. In light of these findings, the authors conclude that it might be

Cigarette smoking remains the leading avoidable cause of premature death in the United States, accounting for approximately 500,000 deaths or 1 in 5 deaths annually. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most adults who smoke cigarettes started before age 18, so preventing cigarette smoking in adolescents is important to reducing smoking in adults.

Reducing stimulant use was associated with significant improvement in measures of health and recovery among people with stimulant use disorder, even if they did not achieve total abstinence. This finding is according to an analysis of data from 13 randomized clinical trials of treatments for stimulant use disorders involving methamphetamine and cocaine.

Hepatitis linked to alcohol, the most severe form of alcohol-associated liver disease, is increasingly prevalent, severe, and likely to involve emergency departments, according to a new analysis. The findings reflect increased drinking and alcohol-linked liver disease in the general population.

While mobile methadone units make a difference in expanding methadone use for patients with opioid addictions, they are likely to be most impactful in rural areas, according to new research.

An artificial intelligence-based program efficiently and accurately identified patients' risky alcohol use by analyzing their health records, according to a study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. The artificial intelligence-based natural language processing algorithm accurately identified three times more patients with risky alcohol use compared to diagnostic codes alone.

Despite an alarming increase in overdose deaths among young people nationwide, a new "secret shopper"-style study led by Oregon Health & Science University researchers finds that access to residential addiction treatment centers for adolescents in the United States is limited and costly.

A mobile phone app which helps patients with alcohol-related liver disease to stay sober could help save hundreds of lives every year, according to researchers from UCL and the Royal Free Hospital who developed the app.

In the UK and much of the west, smoking rates have consistently declined since the turn of the millennium. But during some of the most anxiety-ridden months of the COVID pandemic in early 2020, that rate of decline slowed almost to a stop.

When I tell people that I research cannabis, I sometimes receive a furtive gesture that implies and presumes: "We're both stoners," as if two members of a secret society have met.

Good news for anyone who wants to quit smoking in the new year: In a recently published study, Innsbruck scientists show that ten-minute brisk walking sessions reduce the cravings of temporarily abstinent smokers and improve their overall well-being. The study is the first to compare the effect of indoor and outdoor activity on smoking cessation.

A non-prescription drug abuse crisis in Japan seems only one overdose away. The demand for a particular anti-cough drug has been rising, along with the social impact of its abuse due to its psychosomatic effects.

Californians—including minors—are still able to buy flavored electronic cigarettes online, even after the state's much-publicized ban went into effect. That's the key finding of my team's new study, published in JAMA Network Open.

Brian Suffoletto, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine, views interactions with patients in the Emergency Department as valuable opportunities to identify specific risks and then facilitate positive behavior changes post-ED discharge using digital devices.

In the week following any hospital visit for an overdose, only one in 18 people with opioid use disorder begin a treatment known to be highly effective in reducing illness and deaths, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Addiction is one of society's most misunderstood and rebuked health conditions. That stigma discourages many people from seeking treatment for substance dependence, according to a new report published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest.

An online treatment for insomnia may improve both sleep and problem drinking patterns in people who drink heavily, according to a study in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.

The NHS spends a lot of time and money looking after people who smoke, or drink too much or don't do enough exercise. Hospital admissions and treatments are an expensive business.

Those who binge drink and have a certain genetic makeup are six times more likely to develop alcohol-related cirrhosis, according to new research from UCL, the Royal Free Hospital, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

A decades-long decline in smoking prevalence in England has nearly ground to a halt since the start of the pandemic, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

When someone gets pulled over while driving under the influence, officers, friends and family don't fully understand the why—why did this person think they could drive while high or drunk?

Alcohol use on certain special occasions may contribute to harsher parenting by mothers, according to an innovative study. The findings compare drinking and parenting behaviors on Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine's Day and may help create environments conducive to positive parenting.

Learning that their peers' alcohol use is declining over time may help reduce young adults' drinking, according to the first study that tested this approach among community-based participants (versus college students). During young adulthood, drinking habits tend to become established. Young adults are known to be influenced by social norms, particularly their peers' drinking behaviors.

Doctors report they are seeing what they think is a new syndrome in babies who are exposed to fentanyl while in the womb.

Cocaine use is becoming normalized in parts of party culture, according to a new study of Roskilde festival attendees. It also shows that cannabis is now widely accepted and not even considered a "drug" by many young people.

A new study led by researchers at Columbia University indicates that patients who receive methadone take-home doses—a protocol expanded during the COVID pandemic—are no more likely to overdose or drop out of care than those whose methadone is delivered at government‐approved opioid treatment programs.

Vapes or e-cigarettes were introduced as a potentially safer alternative to traditional smoking to curb tobacco use. However, the popularity of vapes has risen among an age group they weren't intended for: adolescents.

Japan has passed a bill to legalize cannabis-based medicines in a landmark revision of its stringent drug laws, while toughening its ban on recreational use of marijuana.

The annual tobacco-related health care spend of US Minorities who smoke is double that of white adults who smoke, finds an analysis of national health and medical spend survey data, published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

The rise in child suicides in the U.S. since 2010 was fueled in part by the nation's opioid crisis, which previous studies found increased rates of child neglect and altered household living arrangements, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Between 2011 and 2022, there were significant decreases in smoking prevalence among younger adults, but not older adults, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in JAMA Health Forum.

More older Americans use cannabis now than before the pandemic, with 12% saying they've consumed a THC-containing substance in the past year and 4% saying they do so multiple times a week, according to a new study of people aged 50 to 80. Those who drink alcohol at risky levels have a much higher rate of cannabis use.

Playing video games is arguably the most popular leisure activity in the U.K. This Christmas, the sales of video game hardware and software are likely to be astronomical. But with all the media hype surrounding the more negative aspects of video game playing, should parents be worried about buying these games for their kids? Distinguished Professor Mark Griffiths, addiction expert and researcher e