Addiction News and Research

RSS

Hemp brands exploit social media to market intoxicating products to youth

Brands that market hemp-derived, intoxicating cannabinoid products are capitalizing on lack of oversight on social media platforms to reach consumers, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

19 Aug 2026

NYU study shows diverse cannabis use patterns signal heavier use

Nearly half of adults in the United States who use cannabis mainly smoke it, but about 1 in 7 use it in nearly every form available, a behavior tied to daily cannabis use and increased addiction risk, a new study shows.

19 Aug 2026

OIST startup aims to develop effective pain relief without severe side effects

For severe and chronic pain management, opioids are often the only option. This class of drugs comes with well-documented risks, including addiction, respiratory problems and overdose.

18 Aug 2026

Health visitor support helps mothers stay smoke-free after childbirth

Women who receive health visitor support alongside smoking relapse prevention advice are more likely to remain smoke-free after childbirth, according to University of East Anglia (UEA) research.

18 Aug 2026

Review examines mental health impact of prolonged collective trauma

A new systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychiatry brings together 68 studies from the first two years after the October 7 attacks, offering insights that extend far beyond Israel into how prolonged conflict, cumulative exposure and continuing threat can shape post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression and addiction-related outcomes.

17 Aug 2026

Tobacco quit services remain scarce across low-and middle-income countries

Only 13 low-and middle-income countries offer smokers the full support needed to help them quit, leaving around 1.3 billion people without access to effective care, according to a new study.

13 Aug 2026

Social media isn’t simply good or bad for young people, and this review shows why

Social media can support connection, self-expression, help-seeking, and community among adolescents and young adults, but problematic use is associated with depression, anxiety, loneliness, poor sleep, and body image concerns. The review finds that mental health effects depend less on screen time alone than on how social media is used, what content people encounter, and their individual, developmental, and cultural context.

12 Aug 2026

Aging clock analysis identifies key genes in opioid dependence

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging on July 27, 2026, titled "Transcriptomic aging clock analysis identifies key genes in opioid dependence."

12 Aug 2026

New study uncovers metabolic vulnerability in high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center have identified a previously unknown metabolic weakness in the stem cells that drive high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a discovery that could lead to more targeted treatments for this aggressive blood cancer.

10 Aug 2026

Targeting small group of brain cells may reduce opioid addiction risk

Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine are investigating how to keep opioids' pain-relieving benefits while reducing their addictive potential. In a study published in Nature, they report a step toward that goal.

7 Aug 2026

Neuroscience-informed therapy provides massive cost-savings for opioid addiction treatment

A new economic evaluation from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has revealed that Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) - an innovative, evidence-based, neuroscience-informed therapy for opioid misuse and chronic pain - provides $12 in cost savings for every dollar spent, between two and six times more cost effective than other addiction treatments such as residential or intensive outpatient treatment.

5 Aug 2026

Study uncovers brain mechanism that drives sustained motivation

What enables us to sustain effort toward goals, even when the task becomes increasingly difficult? A recent study by researchers at Nagoya University in Japan revealed the underlying brain mechanism, showing that orexin neurons play a crucial role in driving and regulating motivated behavior.

3 Aug 2026

Controlled breathing shows promise for reducing substance use cravings

Controlled breathing interventions can reduce cravings in people who use substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, according to a new review published in the scientific journal Addiction.

29 Jul 2026

Street-based mobile addiction services can improve care for disconnected populations

A study co-led by investigators at Mass General Brigham reveals that mobile addiction services can be implemented across multiple organizations and communities to bring addiction treatment, harm reduction services and basic healthcare directly to people who use drugs, especially those disconnected from traditional care.

28 Jul 2026

Individualized treatment speeds recovery for babies with opioid withdrawal

A major new study shows that individualized treatment for babies born with opioid withdrawal can speed recovery and reduce time spent in the hospital.

24 Jul 2026

Proactive telehealth program helps cancer patients quit smoking

For patients diagnosed with cancer, continuing to smoke during treatment may shorten survival.

23 Jul 2026

AI platform uncovers promising target for chronic pain treatmen

Despite the widespread availability of analgesics, pain management remains one of the most significant and pervasive challenges in modern medicine, with more than 20% of the global population suffering from chronic pain, especially chronic neuropathic pain characterized by central sensitization.

22 Jul 2026

Dementia addiction and psychiatric disorders show distinct patterns of accelerated brain aging

People with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, alcohol addiction, or psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia show increased brain aging, each in specific patterns within the brain, according to a study published July 21st in the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Shile Qi from the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China, and colleagues.

21 Jul 2026

Low-nicotine cigarettes do not cause increased compensatory smoking

People who switch to cigarettes with dramatically reduced nicotine levels are unlikely to smoke more cigarettes or inhale more smoke to compensate for the lower nicotine content, according to a new study led by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and published in JAMA Network Open.

15 Jul 2026

Tracking Lassa fever survivors provides crucial clues for future vaccines

The University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), has announced the launch of a research study to understand how Lassa fever survivors fight and overcome Lassa virus infection.

14 Jul 2026