Feature Channels: Addiction

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Released: 28-Aug-2020 8:10 AM EDT
Can’t be away from your phone? Study finds link to higher levels of obsession-compulsion
Ohio State University

Feelings of panic when a person is away from their smartphone could be connected to general feelings of inadequacy and inferiority, a new study of young people in Portugal suggests.

   
Released: 27-Aug-2020 4:05 PM EDT
Algorithm aims to alert consumers before they use illicit online pharmacies
Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences

In a study, a team of Penn State researchers report that an algorithm they developed may be able to spot illicit online pharmacies that could be providing customers with substandard medications without their knowledge, among other potential problems.

   
Released: 27-Aug-2020 11:15 AM EDT
Why 'one day at a time' works for recovering alcoholics
Yale University

"One day at a time" is a mantra for recovering alcoholics, for whom each day without a drink builds the strength to go on to the next. A new brain imaging study by Yale researchers shows why the approach works.

   
19-Aug-2020 9:00 AM EDT
Clubs Closed? Study Finds Partygoers Turn to Virtual Raves and Happy Hours During Pandemic
New York University

People have traded in nightclubs and dance festivals for virtual raves and Zoom happy hours as a result of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic—yet, many are using drugs in these socially distanced settings, according to a new study by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at NYU School of Global Public Health.

Released: 24-Aug-2020 9:00 PM EDT
New Remote Learning Program to Prevent Drug Abuse
National Health Promotion Associates

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid misuse and addiction continue to devastate communities around the US.

   
Released: 24-Aug-2020 12:50 PM EDT
COVID poses hardships for people with substance abuse problems
University of Michigan

FACULTY Q&ABoth fatal and nonfatal overdoses have increased this year compared to last, according to a recent report by the Overdose Data Mapping Application Program. And, anecdotal information suggests that compared to last year, people in recovery are relapsing at alarming rates.Faculty from the University of Michigan School of Nursing’s Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health discuss why the pandemic has hit people with substance abuse problems especially hard and the expanded role of virtual recovery programs.

Released: 20-Aug-2020 11:25 AM EDT
IUPUI study looks at prevention strategy for substance use disorder
Indiana University

A recent study from IUPUI found risk factors for substance use disorder affect age groups differently and proposes a primary prevention strategy for substance use disorder that is individualized for people within defined age groups.

   
Released: 18-Aug-2020 3:05 PM EDT
COVID poses hardships for people with substance abuse problems
University of Michigan

Both fatal and nonfatal overdoses have increased this year compared to last, according to a recent report by the Overdose Data Mapping Application Program. And, anecdotal information suggests that compared to last year, people in recovery are relapsing at alarming rates. Faculty from the University of Michigan School of Nursing's Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health discuss why the pandemic has hit people with substance abuse problems especially hard and the expanded role of virtual recovery programs.

16-Aug-2020 8:55 AM EDT
Live Press Conference: Negative side effects of opioids could be coming from users’ own immune systems (video)
American Chemical Society (ACS)

A press conference on this topic will be held Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. Eastern time online at www.acs.org/fall2020pressconferences.

14-Aug-2020 1:35 PM EDT
Patients taking long-term opioids produce antibodies against the drugs
University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists have discovered that a majority of back-pain patients they tested who were taking opioid painkillers produced anti-opioid antibodies. These antibodies may contribute to some of the negative side effects of long-term opioid use.

11-Aug-2020 8:00 AM EDT
Negative side effects of opioids could be coming from users’ own immune systems (video)
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Opioid users can develop chronic inflammation and heightened pain sensitivity. These side effects might stem from the body’s own immune system, which can make antibodies against the drugs. The researchers will present their results at the American Chemical Society Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting & Expo.

13-Aug-2020 10:25 AM EDT
Patients’ Access to Opioid Treatment Cumbersome
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

The “secret shopper” study used trained actors attempting to get into treatment with an addiction provider in 10 U.S. states. The results, with more than 10,000 unique patients, revealed numerous challenges in scheduling a first-time appointment to receive medications for opioid use disorder, including finding a provider who takes insurance rather than cash.

Released: 11-Aug-2020 12:15 PM EDT
Economists conclude opioid crisis responsible for millions of children living apart from parents
University of Notre Dame

Affiliates with Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities found that greater exposure to the opioid crisis increases the chance that a child’s mother or father is absent from the household and increases the likelihood that he or she lives in a household headed by a grandparent.

Released: 10-Aug-2020 4:05 PM EDT
Young adults' risks from first-time opioid prescriptions may not be as high as previously thought
Indiana University

Young adults and adolescents who are prescribed opioids for the first time may be at a slightly greater risk of developing a substance-related problem later in life, according to a new study co-authored by Indiana University researchers. However, the risk may not be as high as previously thought.

Released: 7-Aug-2020 2:25 PM EDT
Alcoholism treatment is potentially effective against COVID-19
National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE)

A team of chemists from HSE University and the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry used molecular modelling to find out that two medications that have been known for a long time can be used to fight SARS-CoV-2.

Released: 5-Aug-2020 8:55 AM EDT
Study Suggests Drug Overdose Linked to PTSD
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Drug overdoses are psychologically traumatic events that can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study focused on female sex workers in Baltimore City led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

24-Jul-2020 12:00 AM EDT
Trial Finds Drug Safe and Effective in Treating Hep-C During Pregnancy
Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

Critics of the universal hepatitis C screening argue that it’s wasteful to test pregnant women for a disease that can’t be immediately treated, but results of a small phase I clinical trial suggest otherwise: pregnancy could be an excellent time to diagnose and cure hepatitis C infection.

Released: 21-Jul-2020 10:05 AM EDT
Flavored Cigarette Ban Significantly Reduced Youth Smoking
George Mason University

George Mason University study finds 2009 US Food and Drug Administration flavored cigarette ban reduced smoking by underage youth by 43% and young adults by 27%

Released: 20-Jul-2020 3:05 PM EDT
Legal marijuana may be slowing reductions in teen marijuana use, study says
University of Washington

A longitudinal study of more than 230 teens and young adults in Washington state finds that teens may be more likely to use marijuana following legalization – with the proliferation of stores and increasing adult use of the drug -- than they otherwise would have been.

Released: 20-Jul-2020 10:20 AM EDT
Can't get off of Snapchat or Facebook? Research reveals differences between platforms
Michigan State University

Researchers from Michigan State University and California State University-Fullerton conducted the first study comparing problematic use between Facebook and Snapchat — while also uncovering surprising findings about users' personality traits.

Released: 16-Jul-2020 9:35 AM EDT
Tufts awards seed funding for work in prevention and treatment of opioid addiction
Tufts University

Tufts awards seed funding to 8 projects that seek to address the complex individual & community challenges wrought by the opioid epidemic. The inaugural awards of the Tufts Initiative on Substance Use and Addiction demonstrate a multidisciplinary drive to address this pressing public health crisis.

Released: 15-Jul-2020 8:00 AM EDT
Experts Strongly Recommend Varenicline Over the Patch for Adult Smokers Hoping to Quit
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Smoking cessation initiatives notwithstanding, along with provocative public health campaigns and clinical guidance, quitting tobacco has remained elusive for many smokers. The American Thoracic Society’s new clinical practice guideline on treatment for tobacco dependence in adults addresses how clinicians may deal with patients’ reluctance to quit, one of a number of issues not previously assessed in the older guidelines.

Released: 13-Jul-2020 2:05 PM EDT
Cigarette sales declining by 20 million a month after advent of standardized packaging
University of Bath

The introduction of standardised packaging for cigarettes in the UK, combined with stricter taxation measures on cheaper cigarettes, has led to a significant fall in sales for cigarettes, according to new analysis from researchers at the University of Bath.

   
Released: 9-Jul-2020 12:15 PM EDT
How vaping companies are using Instagram to market to young people
Aalto University

E-cigarettes are highly addictive nicotine products with unclear health impacts, particularly on young people. Instagram is a visual social media platform which is wildly popular, particularly with young people

Released: 1-Jul-2020 2:05 PM EDT
New study confirms high prevalence of depression during the menopause transition
North American Menopause Society (NAMS)

Depression has been shown to be prevalent during menopause, affecting as many as 70% of women transitioning into menopause

29-Jun-2020 3:05 PM EDT
Barriers to addiction care fell because of COVID-19, experts say; now the challenge is keeping them down
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

The opioid epidemic didn’t go away when the coronavirus pandemic began. But rapid changes in regulations and guidance could also help many more people get care for addiction, experts say. They caution that it will take more changes to truly lower barriers that stand in the way of delivering evidence-based addiction care to more people via telemedicine.

Released: 30-Jun-2020 9:55 AM EDT
Clearing the Air on E-Cigarettes
University of Kansas Cancer Center

Researchers at The University of Kansas Cancer Center are studying vaping to better understand its effects on our health, as well as reduce vaping among adolescents.

Released: 18-Jun-2020 11:00 AM EDT
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every Tuesday throughout the duration of the outbreak.

12-Jun-2020 4:05 PM EDT
Not All Is Lost for Alcohol Relapsers: Low Risk Drinking and Abstinence Have Similar Effects on Brain Health Measures After Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Research Society on Alcoholism

A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research provides support for treatment goals based on reducing drinking, and not necessarily stopping completely, for people recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD is linked to damaging reductions in the gray and white matter of certain brain regions. This tissue loss, particularly in the frontal brain lobes, can contribute to cognitive deficits and may increase the risk of relapse following treatment. In people with AUD who quit alcohol completely, brain tissue volumes can increase quite dramatically during abstinence, in parallel to cognitive improvements. Complete abstinence is also associated with improvements in general health and quality of life - therefore abstinence is the usual goal of treatment for AUD.

     
Released: 16-Jun-2020 4:15 PM EDT
Roth Leads $26.9 Million Project to Create Better Psychiatric Medications
University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a team of internationally acclaimed researchers led by UNC School of Medicine’s Bryan L. Roth, MD, PhD, aims to create new medications to effectively and rapidly treat depression, anxiety, and substance abuse without major side effects.

12-Jun-2020 1:00 AM EDT
Study Finds Evidence That Loneliness Makes It Harder to Quit Smoking
University of Bristol

In a study published today (15 June 2020) in Addiction, University of Bristol researchers have found evidence for a causal link between prolonged experience of loneliness and smoking.

Released: 15-Jun-2020 8:25 AM EDT
Researchers flush out worrying trend of designer drug use
University of South Australia

In a sign that designer drugs are becoming more prevalent in Australia, synthetic cathinones – commonly known as ‘bath salts’ – have been detected in the nation’s wastewater in the largest study of its kind in the country.

Released: 3-Jun-2020 12:45 PM EDT
Negative emotions cause stronger appetite responses in emotional eaters
Frontiers

Turning to a tub of ice cream after a break-up may be a cliché, but there's some truth to eating in response to negative emotions. Eating serves many functions - survival, pleasure, comfort, as well as a response to stress.

Released: 2-Jun-2020 12:20 PM EDT
Tulane social work professor awarded grant to reduce substance abuse and violence among Native American families
Tulane University

The $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will enable researchers to identify interventions that will lead to a healthier, more resilient Native American community.

26-May-2020 1:40 PM EDT
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults at Higher Risk for Substance Use
New York University

Middle-aged and older adults who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have higher rates of using certain substances in the past year than those who identify as heterosexual, according to a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at NYU School of Global Public Health.

Released: 1-Jun-2020 11:55 AM EDT
Female college students more affected academically by high alcohol use than men
Binghamton University, State University of New York

Female college students appear to be more affected by high alcohol use than men, which may lead to less interest in academics, according to new research including by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Released: 28-May-2020 3:50 PM EDT
Users of high-potency cannabis four times more likely to report associated problems
University of Bristol

Users of high-potency cannabis are four times more likely to report associated problems, and twice as likely to report anxiety disorder, than users of lower-potency strains, according to new research from the University of Bristol.

Released: 28-May-2020 9:00 AM EDT
Adolescent exposure to anesthetics may cause alcohol use disorder, new research shows
Binghamton University, State University of New York

Early exposure to anesthetics may make adolescents more susceptible to developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Released: 26-May-2020 9:00 AM EDT
Multi-partner programs serving moms in recovery focus of new UofL study
University of Louisville Health Science Center

A University of Louisville study will evaluate how health care, public health and social services organizations are working together to improve the health and well-being of individuals served through Freedom House programs in Louisville and Manchester, Ky.Freedom House, operated by Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOAMID), is a residential treatment program for alcohol and/or drug dependent pregnant women and women with young children.

Released: 19-May-2020 9:55 AM EDT
Exposure to TV alcohol ads linked to drinking behavior
Cornell University

New research from Cornell University shows the more alcohol ads someone was exposed to, the more likely they were to report consuming at least one alcoholic drink in the previous month. And among drinkers, exposure to more ads correlated to consuming more drinks.

   
Released: 14-May-2020 10:25 AM EDT
HEALing Communities Strategy Fast-Tracked Due to COVID-19
University of Kentucky

When Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the early release of some Kentucky inmates due to COVID-19 concerns, the team behind the HEALing Communities Study worked quickly to fast-track one of the evidence-based practices for preventing opioid deaths that was due to launch later this year: the distribution of naloxone to individuals at highest risk for overdose, particularly those being released from local jails.

Released: 13-May-2020 1:45 PM EDT
Job skills training leads to long-term reduction in drug abuse
Ohio State University

Job skills training for low-income youth does more than just help them get better jobs – it makes them significantly less likely than others to use some illicit drugs, even 16 years later.

Released: 11-May-2020 11:35 AM EDT
Planting seeds for a safe and healthy society
West Virginia University - Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

A new West Virginia University research collaborative is working to address the many challenging conditions facing the state and Appalachia.

Released: 6-May-2020 11:55 AM EDT
Grant will fund pilot program to expand opioid use disorder treatment in Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB is launching a pilot program aimed at getting more opioid users into treatment, using telemedicine in three rural counties and emploing the Alabama One Health Record®, a statewide health information exchange, to track outcomes in these patients.

Released: 5-May-2020 2:45 PM EDT
Financial Incentives Boost Doctor Training in Opioid Treatment Medication
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Offering $750 to emergency medicine physicians exponentially increased those trained to prescribe buprenorphine.

Released: 4-May-2020 2:55 PM EDT
Addiction Campuses Launches Vertava Health: Nationwide Virtual Mental Health And Substance Misuse Treatment Platform
Addiction Campuses

Addiction Campuses, a leading provider of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery services, is proud to announce the launch of Vertava Health, a new nation-wide virtual care mental health and substance misuse treatment platform, offering services via smart mobile devices or personal computers.

Released: 4-May-2020 11:05 AM EDT
Study Shows Need for New Focus in Anti-Vaping Efforts for Teens & Young Adults
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

They know it’s addictive, linked to dangerous lung diseases, and delivers more nicotine than the cigarettes it’s supposed to replace. But the social aspects of vaping drives young people to use e-cigarettes, according to nearly two-thirds of teens and young adults in a new study.

30-Apr-2020 4:15 PM EDT
Drug Overdose Epidemic is Transmitted from Old to Young, Study Shows
Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

The generation a person was born into – Silent Generation, Baby Boomer, Generation X or Millennial – strongly predicts how likely they are to die from a drug overdose, and at what age. Within each generation, there was a steady march toward greater overdose risk at younger ages.

Released: 30-Apr-2020 8:00 AM EDT
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas From Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins Medicine

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every Tuesday throughout the duration of the outbreak.



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