Alcohol Dependence News and Research

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Updated analysis helps clarify the relationship between alcohol consumption and epilepsy

Epilepsy, a common neurological disorder associated with stigma, psychiatric comorbidities, and rising healthcare costs, affects approximately 50 million people globally. A common risk factor associated with the development of epilepsy and seizures is alcohol consumption.

28 Jan 2022

Alcohol use decreases steadily among men, but problem drinking increases during the pandemic

Alcohol consumption during the coronavirus pandemic declined among men, while it remained steady among women, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

25 Jan 2022

In-jail buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder may reduce rearrest and reconviction

A study conducted in two rural Massachusetts jails found that people with opioid use disorder who were incarcerated and received a medication approved to treat opioid use disorder, known as buprenorphine, were less likely to face rearrest and reconviction after release than those who did not receive the medication.

18 Jan 2022

Bmal1 gene present in the striatum influences alcohol consumption in both male and female mice

It's a commonly heard question after New Year's: "Why do we drink the way we do?" A group of researchers has found that at least some of it has to do with a particular protein in the part of the forebrain that regulates, among other things, decision-making and reward perception.

11 Jan 2022

Study reveals how stigma has changed over two decades for mental health disorders

For the first time since national data have been tracked in the United States, stigma toward people with depression has dropped significantly, according to a study by Indiana University researchers.

21 Dec 2021

Do pre-existing mental disorders and their co-occurrence affect COVID-19 clinical outcomes?

Researchers conducted a study to assess how pre-existing mental disorders are associated with a SARS-CoV-2 infection and how different clusters of mental disorders affect COVID-19 clinical outcomes.

27 Oct 2021

Mental health problems are common among smokers and adults with substance use disorders, study finds

Mental health problems are common among adults who smoke cigarettes and those with substance use disorders, illustrating a need for treating smoking and mental health problems together, according to a new study by Indiana University.

21 Oct 2021

Withdrawal from psychostimulants alters functional architecture and patterns in the brain

Addictive psychostimulants, from nicotine in cigarettes to illicit drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine, affect different regions of the brain. The same is believed true during withdrawal; finding a common brain pathway has proved elusive.

27 Sep 2021

Research demonstrates a clear link between nicotine withdrawal and poor eating habits

New data collected by University of Minnesota Medical School researchers demonstrate a clear connection between nicotine withdrawal and poor eating habits.

23 Sep 2021

Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder is underutilized in Sweden, finds study

Only a minority of Swedes with alcohol use disorders are prescribed alcohol medication, a situation that has remained largely unchanged in the country since the mid-2000.

13 Sep 2021

People living with HIV have higher risk of sudden cardiac death, finds study

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than people who do not have HIV, especially if the virus is not well-controlled or if they have other heart disease risk factors.

8 Sep 2021

Frontline healthcare workers need improved support to overcome mental health burden

Frontline healthcare workers need a range of 'flexible', 'easily accessible' and 'consistent' psychological support to overcome the significant mental health burden resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, finds a new study of NHS and community-based staff, led by UCL researchers.

2 Sep 2021

Study shows joint effects of perceived risk and availability on cannabis use

Combined perceptions of the risk and availability of cannabis influence the risk of cannabis use more than perceived risk and perceived availability alone, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

16 Jul 2021

Performance-enhancing substance use is longitudinally associated with criminal offending

Despite research showing associations between anabolic steroid use and criminal offending, the possibility of a similar association between legal performance-enhancing substance use, such as creatine, and criminal offending remained unknown.

25 Jun 2021

Adolescent marijuana and alcohol use did not significantly change during the pandemic

Adolescent marijuana use and binge drinking did not significantly change during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite record decreases in the substances' perceived availability, according to a survey of 12th graders in the United States.

24 Jun 2021

Social support, age associated with remission from alcohol dependence and optimal mental health

New research published online in the journal Substance Use & Misuse is good news for those struggling with alcohol dependence: the possibility of ending this dependency gets easier with age.

10 Jun 2021

Study: Pharmacies can be a significant access barrier to key medication for addiction

One in five pharmacies refuse to dispense a key medication to treat addiction, according to new research.

27 Apr 2021

New data shows a clear trend of supersized alcopop consumption among underage drinkers

Supersized alcopops are ready-to-drink flavored alcoholic beverages with high alcohol content that are disproportionately consumed by underage drinkers. There can be up to 5.5 standard alcoholic drinks in a single 24 ounce can, so consuming only one can of supersized alcopop is considered binge drinking, and consuming two cans can cause alcohol poisoning.

26 Mar 2021

Study highlights the importance of social connections in preventing opioid misuse

As opioid use disorders and overdoses continue to skyrocket in the United States, a study by researchers from Syracuse University and Pennsylvania State University shows that unmarried young adults who do not have children are mostly likely to misuse opioids.

24 Mar 2021

Study indicates neural pathway that provides pain relief, reduces cravings for opioids

Researchers have discovered that there may be a new pathway in the brain that provides pain relief and reduces cravings for opioids.

26 Feb 2021