Feature Channels: Substance Abuse

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Released: 30-Mar-2023 10:45 AM EDT
A vicious cycle: How alcohol’s impact on the brain makes us more likely to drink
Binghamton University, State University of New York

Heavy alcohol use creates a vicious cycle: It changes signaling pathways in the brain, which in turn affects cognitive functions like decision-making and impulse control — and makes the individual more likely to drink. The mechanism behind this may involve the brain’s immune system, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

28-Mar-2023 7:40 PM EDT
Drug overdose fatalities among US older adults has quadrupled over 20 years, UCLA research finds
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

Overdose mortality among people age 65 and older quadrupled over 20 years, suggesting the need for greater mental health and substance use disorder policies addressed at curbing the trend.

Released: 29-Mar-2023 9:50 AM EDT
FDA’s approval of over-the-counter naloxone will save lives
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) urges the public to help fight the opioid epidemic by learning to recognize and respond to an overdose. This includes understanding how to use naloxone, a life-saving medication approved today for sale over the counter by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

20-Mar-2023 11:45 PM EDT
ACS Spring 2023 Media Briefing Schedule
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Recordings of media briefings will be posted by 10 a.m. Eastern Time on each day. Watch recorded media briefings at: www.acs.org/ACSSpring2023briefings.

   
Released: 28-Mar-2023 1:00 PM EDT
Naloxone Prescriptions Increased at U.S. Hospitals Between 2012 and 2019
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rates of prescriptions for naloxone to people at high risk for opioid overdose, as well as co-prescribing with opioids, has increased in emergency departments throughout the United States over the past decade, providing insight on the positive impact of federal policies and regulations, according to a Rutgers study.

Newswise: Fibromyalgia may worsen opioid addiction, study finds
Released: 28-Mar-2023 12:35 PM EDT
Fibromyalgia may worsen opioid addiction, study finds
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

There is new evidence that fibromyalgia, and the chronic pain associated with it, could worsen opioid use disorder. Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine and University of Michigan report their findings in the journal PAIN.

Released: 28-Mar-2023 8:00 AM EDT
Can Cannabis Use Disorder Be Accurately Diagnosed?
Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers University

Tammy Chung, director of the Center for Population Behavioral Health at Rutgers Institute for Health, explains cannabis use disorder and the challenges of diagnosing the disorder in the context of cannabis used for therapeutic purposes.

   
Released: 28-Mar-2023 5:05 AM EDT
HIV and hepatitis C virus monitoring needs to increase to achieve global elimination goals
University of Bristol

Countries must intensify efforts to track HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence among people who inject drugs, and to prioritise this group in prevention and elimination work, according to new University of Bristol-led research, published online in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Newswise: Marijuana-derived compounds could reverse opioid overdoses
20-Mar-2023 11:45 PM EDT
Marijuana-derived compounds could reverse opioid overdoses
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Naloxone can reverse potentially fatal overdoses, but it’s less effective against powerful fentanyl. To develop alternatives, researchers are looking to a component of marijuana, CBD. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

   
Released: 24-Mar-2023 6:05 PM EDT
Substance use disorders do not increase the likelihood of COVID-19 deaths
Boston Medical Center

New research from Boston Medical Center found that substance use disorders do not increase the likelihood of dying from COVID-19. Published in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, the study showed that the increased risk for severe COVID-19 in people with SUD that has been seen may be the result of co-occurring medical conditions.

Released: 24-Mar-2023 4:50 PM EDT
How one state beat national surgery opioid trends
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

A statewide effort to treat the pain of surgery patients without increasing their risk of long-term dependence on opioids has paid off in Michigan, a study shows.

Released: 24-Mar-2023 12:10 PM EDT
Buprenorphine After Nonfatal Opioid Overdose Results in Reduced Risk of Overdose Death
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Receiving medication for opioid use disorders, such as buprenorphine after an overdose, leads to lower mortality risk, according to a Rutgers study.

Newswise: New AI Model Using Social Media Posts May Help Predict Community Deaths from Opioid Use
Released: 22-Mar-2023 12:20 PM EDT
New AI Model Using Social Media Posts May Help Predict Community Deaths from Opioid Use
Stony Brook University

A study led by a team of computer scientists at Stony Brook University and published in Nature Digital Medicine presents a unique approach using artificial intelligence (AI) and social media posts to predict opioid mortality rates. The findings revealed that an AI algorithm that was able to surprisingly predict opioid death rates going back to previous years and actual rates.

   
20-Mar-2023 1:20 PM EDT
Multiple substance use disorders may share inherited genetic signature
Washington University in St. Louis

New research led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identifies a common genetic signature that may increase a person's risk of developing substance use disorders. The work eventually could lead to universal therapies to treat multiple substance use disorders and potentially help people diagnosed with more than one.

Released: 20-Mar-2023 3:45 PM EDT
Stigma-coping intervention empowers people with HIV and drug use to engage in health, substance use care
Boston University School of Medicine

A new study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has found that a brief stigma intervention that specifically targets people with HIV who inject drugs was effective in increasing engagement in substance use care as well as improving their ART adherence.

Released: 17-Mar-2023 5:20 PM EDT
Inmates With Opioid Addiction Report Peer Navigators Are Crucial for Successful Community Reentry
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Recently incarcerated people with opioid use disorder have trust in working with peer support specialists who recovered from addiction and faced similar life experiences, according to a Rutgers study.

Newswise: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Intensified the Ongoing Opioid Crisis
Released: 17-Mar-2023 9:00 AM EDT
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Intensified the Ongoing Opioid Crisis
California State University, Fullerton

Anthony DiStefano, professor of public health at Cal State Fullerton, believes that the sudden social isolation that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic had an influence on mental health and drug overdose deaths.

Released: 15-Mar-2023 3:45 PM EDT
Don't keep hitting that snooze button! Get the latest research news and expert commentary on sleep here.
Newswise

It's sleep awareness week, according to the National Sleep Foundation. It’s important to understand how sleep deprivation can impact your health. Most people recognize that if they don’t get enough sleep, their mood and memory will suffer the next day.

       
Released: 15-Mar-2023 12:45 PM EDT
Comparison with Canada highlights poor access to US methadone treatment
Washington State University

People living in the United States must travel significantly farther to access methadone treatment for opioid addiction than Canadians, suggests a new study led by Washington State University researchers.

Newswise: Antidepressant Medication May Be Key to Help People Stop Use of Cocaine While in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Released: 15-Mar-2023 12:05 PM EDT
Antidepressant Medication May Be Key to Help People Stop Use of Cocaine While in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Johns Hopkins Medicine

For some people receiving methadone for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), the co-use of opioids and stimulants such as cocaine is an issue. Now, a new study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that bupropion, an antidepressant medication also used for smoking cessation, may help people stop using cocaine while in treatment for OUD.

Newswise: New test quickly identifies patients whose postoperative pain can be effectively treated by hypnosis
Released: 14-Mar-2023 7:15 PM EDT
New test quickly identifies patients whose postoperative pain can be effectively treated by hypnosis
Elsevier

Investigators have developed a fast, point-of-care molecular diagnostic test that identifies a subset of individuals who are most likely to benefit from hypnosis interventions for pain treatment.

   
Released: 14-Mar-2023 6:45 PM EDT
COVID-19 pandemic has long-lasting effects on adolescent mental health and substance use
Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a long-lasting impact on adolescent mental health and substance use according to a new population-based study are based on survey responses from a nationwide sample of over 64,000 13–18-year-old North American and Icelandic adolescents assessed prior to and up to two years into the pandemic.

Released: 9-Mar-2023 2:45 PM EST
Reducing opioids prescribed after total knee and hip arthroplasty can be beneficial for patients and doctors
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients that are discharged after a total knee and hip arthroplasty. Patients are typically given larger prescriptions of opioids that can result in an excess of the medication in their home after recovery is over.

8-Mar-2023 9:00 AM EST
Study shows racial inequities in newborn drug testing
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

New findings expand on previous research suggesting that Black newborns are more likely to be screened for prenatal drug exposure compared to other racial and ethnic groups, even in the absence of risk factors for substance use disorders.

Released: 7-Mar-2023 4:20 PM EST
FDA mandate to limit acetaminophen in acetaminophen-opioid medications is associated with reduced serious liver injury
University of Alabama at Birmingham

A United States Food and Drug Administration mandate to limit the dosage of acetaminophen in pills that combine acetaminophen and opioid medications is significantly associated with subsequent reductions in serious liver injury.

Newswise: Upward trend in ‘deaths of despair’ linked to drop in religious participation, economist finds
Released: 7-Mar-2023 1:10 PM EST
Upward trend in ‘deaths of despair’ linked to drop in religious participation, economist finds
University of Notre Dame

Over the past 20 years, the death rate from drug poisonings in the U.S. has tripled and suicide and alcoholic liver disease death rates have increased by 30 percent — particularly among middle-aged white Americans. Daniel Hungerman, professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame, and his co-authors studied the connection between a sharp downturn of religious participation in the late 1980s and the swift rise in these "deaths of despair" among white Americans ages 45 to 54 in the early 1990s.

   
1-Mar-2023 9:05 PM EST
Older Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder Need Age-Appropriate Treatment Interventions
Research Society on Alcoholism

Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) seeking to moderate their drinking respond differently to interventions depending on their age, a new study suggests.

   
Newswise: Surge in nitrous oxide abuse: New guidelines to help clinicians recognise cases and prevent spinal cord damage
Released: 23-Feb-2023 1:05 PM EST
Surge in nitrous oxide abuse: New guidelines to help clinicians recognise cases and prevent spinal cord damage
Queen Mary University of London

Recommendations from research published today on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord damage caused by nitrous oxide abuse have been simultaneously adopted as official clinical practice guidelines by the Association of British Neurologists.

Released: 21-Feb-2023 2:05 PM EST
A New Catalyst For Recycling Plastic, New Antioxidants Found In Meat, And Other Chemical Research News
Newswise

Below are some of the latest articles that have been added to the Chemistry news channel on Newswise.

Released: 21-Feb-2023 11:35 AM EST
Pain management pathway reduces use of opioids after urethral repair surgery
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

For men undergoing surgery to repair scarring in the urethra (urethroplasty), a new approach to pain management can reduce the need for strong opioid drugs without compromising pain control, reports a study in Urology Practice®, an Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

18-Feb-2023 7:30 AM EST
Soldiers in Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder Who Experience Cardiovascular Withdrawal Symptoms May Benefit from Medication Targeting Brain Stress Response
Research Society on Alcoholism

Prazosin, a medication FDA-approved for hypertension and used off-label for alcohol use disorder, may help prevent drinking relapse in people with cardiovascular or behavioral symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, according to a new study involving active-duty soldiers.

   
Released: 20-Feb-2023 12:00 PM EST
New Jersey Regulation Not Associated With Curbed Opioid Prescriptions or Shortened Usage
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers research shows that it is difficult to dictate physician behavior, but that may be a good thing.

Newswise: New study reveals ketamine could be effective treatment for cocaine-use disorders
Released: 20-Feb-2023 10:40 AM EST
New study reveals ketamine could be effective treatment for cocaine-use disorders
Case Western Reserve University

As cocaine use continues to climb across the United States, scientists have struggled to develop an effective pharmacological approach to treat the devastating disorder. But by seamlessly combining artificial intelligence (AI), human intelligence, clinical testing and computer analysis, researchers at Case Western Reserve University have unearthed an existing option that appears to hold promise.

Newswise: Study finds 'staggering increase' in methamphetamine deaths tied to opioid co-use
Released: 20-Feb-2023 10:30 AM EST
Study finds 'staggering increase' in methamphetamine deaths tied to opioid co-use
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The U.S. methamphetamine mortality rate increased fiftyfold between 1999 and 2021, with most of the added deaths also involving heroin or fentanyl, researchers report in the American Journal of Public Health.

Newswise: How AI Can Help Design Drugs to Treat Opioid Addiction
13-Feb-2023 1:45 PM EST
How AI Can Help Design Drugs to Treat Opioid Addiction
Biophysical Society

ROCKVILLE, MD – Approximately three million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, and every year more than 80,000 Americans die from overdoses. Opioid drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone and morphine, activate opioid receptors. Activating mu-opioid receptors leads to pain relief and euphoria, but also physical dependence and decreased breathing, the latter leading to death in the case of drug overdose.

   
Released: 15-Feb-2023 10:55 AM EST
American Society of Anesthesiologists Express Strong Support for Over-the-Counter Naloxone Use
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

In a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) expressed its strong support of naloxone nasal spray products for non-prescription use. Naloxone, a safe life-saving medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose and significantly reduces the incidence of opioid overdose deaths, should be available to all patients across the United States as a nonprescription treatment, according to the ASA.

Newswise: Researchers Endorse Widespread Naloxone Over the Counter to Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths
Released: 15-Feb-2023 8:30 AM EST
Researchers Endorse Widespread Naloxone Over the Counter to Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths
Florida Atlantic University

Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist that rapidly reverses or blocks the effects of opioids, restores normal respiration and heart rhythm, and reverses the potentially fatal effects of an overdose. Although naloxone is included in U.S. CDC recommendations, the drug is currently prescribed to less than 1 in 70 patients prescribed high-dose opioid prescriptions. Researchers propose a call to action for all health providers and state medical societies to ensure the widest distribution and easy availability of naloxone, including over the counter, which is likely to be FDA-approved very soon.

Released: 14-Feb-2023 11:15 AM EST
Cocaine addiction makes the brain age faster, suggests study
Frontiers

A new study finds evidence from the DNA methylome that the biological age – different from the chronological age – of cells in Brodmann Area 9 of the prefrontal cortex might be greater in people with cocaine use disorder. This suggests that cocaine abuse makes these cells age faster according to the ‘epigenetic clock’. The authors also find differences in methylation in 20 genes, mainly involved in regulation of the activity of neurons and their connectivity. This post-mortem study is one of the first to directly look at the methylome of brain cells in human donors with cocaine use disorder, rather than in rodents.

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This news release is embargoed until 13-Feb-2023 5:00 PM EST Released to reporters: 7-Feb-2023 2:00 PM EST

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