Substance Abuse News and Research

RSS

Researchers receive $1.35 million grant to reduce impact of substance abuse in Appalachia

McDowell County--in the southern coalfields of West Virginia--is the second-most at-risk in the nation for an HIV outbreak related to drug injection. Neighboring Wyoming and Mercer Counties follow close behind. All three have some of the highest rates of acute hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the United States.

14 Oct 2020

Dopamine and serotonin play role in perception and decision-making

Scientists at Wake Forest School of Medicine have recorded real time changes in dopamine and serotonin levels in the human brain that are involved with perception and decision-making.

12 Oct 2020

Researcher receives NIH award to explore effect of women's hormones on postpartum opioid relapse

When most people think of opioid addiction, they typically do not think of pregnant women. Unfortunately, however, the prevalence of opioid addiction during pregnancy has increased nearly 500% during the past 15 years.

8 Oct 2020

Fear of COVID-19 can increase risk of substance abuse

Long after a COVID-19 vaccination is developed and years after the coronavirus death toll is tallied, the impact on mental health will linger, continuing to inflict damage if not addressed, according to new research.

29 Sep 2020

Combination of alcohol and nicotine during pregnancy increases health risk in newborns

University of Houston researchers have found that during early pregnancy, the mix of alcohol and nicotine significantly alters the gene regulatory pathways of the developing fetus, which can lead to major deficiencies in brain development.

24 Sep 2020

Psychological and physical impacts of childhood sexual abuse are closely tied, shows study

A new Canadian study reveals that the psychological and physical effects of childhood sexual abuse are closely tied.

22 Sep 2020

Three question, yes-or-no survey for identifying chemically intolerant individuals

Intolerances to chemicals, foods and drugs impact 8%-33% of individuals, studies suggest, yet few people are screened for it at their doctors' offices.

22 Sep 2020

Cory Gardner’s bill has as much to do with politics as preexisting conditions

Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican running in a tight race for reelection in Colorado, says he wants to protect people with medical conditions.

18 Sep 2020

UTEP's MARC receives federal grant to fight opioid abuse in West Texas rural counties

The University of Texas at El Paso's Minority AIDS Research Center (MARC) is the subrecipient of a $1 million implementation grant to target substance use disorders and opioid use disorders in five rural counties along the Texas-Mexico border.

16 Sep 2020

Doctors develop new data mining method to detect young people with emerging psychosis

Doctors have developed a new data mining method to detect many young people with emerging psychosis.

14 Sep 2020

New emergency program provides mental health care across Colorado

The COVID-19 pandemic's effects run deep - far beyond the virus's immediate infections. From loss of livelihoods to drastic decreases in social connection, people across the country are suffering ongoing emotional strain.

2 Sep 2020

Clinicians may have to look beyond opioids to tackle nation’s substance use epidemic

Overcoming the nation's opioid epidemic will require clinicians to look beyond opioids, new research from Oregon Health & Science University suggests.

28 Aug 2020

IUPUI study proposes a primary prevention strategy for substance use disorder

There are well documented risk factors associated with developing substance use disorder across all age groups.

20 Aug 2020

AI algorithm could help predict susceptibility to substance abuse among homeless youth

While many programs and initiatives have been implemented to address the prevalence of substance abuse among homeless youth in the United States, they don't always include data-driven insights about environmental and psychological factors that could contribute to an individual's likelihood of developing a substance use disorder.

14 Aug 2020

OU Health Sciences Center awarded five-year grant for suicide prevention

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has been awarded a five-year, $38 million grant to lead and expand a national program dedicated to suicide prevention.

6 Aug 2020

Sanford Burnham Prebys receives NIH grant to identify new therapies for mental disorders

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute has been awarded a $4.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify new therapies for mental health disorders.

6 Aug 2020

Americans are adjusting their use of social media platforms amid COVID-19 pandemic

As national tensions rise, a new national survey of 2,000 people commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds more Americans are adjusting how they use social media platforms.

3 Aug 2020

Lithium in drinking water may have a protective effect against suicide

Naturally occurring lithium in public drinking water may have an anti-suicidal effect - according to a new study from Brighton and Sussex Medical School and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London.

27 Jul 2020

NIDA funding allows Temple scientists to continue critical substance abuse research

Substance abuse is a major public health problem in the United States, with some 21 million Americans diagnosed with at least one substance use disorder.