Substance Use Disorder News and Research

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Study finds treatment gap for young ADHD patients with substance use disorders

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 12%–13% of adolescents in the United States, according to some studies.

12 Mar 2026

Cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines linked to higher stroke risk

Cannabis and other illicit drugs are associated with higher stroke risk, underscoring the importance of addressing substance use disorders in health strategies.

11 Mar 2026

GLP-1 drugs may be effective at treating and preventing substance use disorders

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis show in a new study that GLP-1 medications may be effective at treating and preventing substance use disorders across all major addictive substances studied, suggesting these drugs target a common biological pathway underlying addiction.

4 Mar 2026

Psychedelic effects of ketamine do not predict sobriety

The psychedelic effects recreational users often seek from taking ketamine do not predict the therapeutic benefits for people being treated for alcohol use disorder.

16 Feb 2026

New research initiative examines impact of legal psychedelic services in community settings

A federally funded research initiative will enable researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and other organizations to assess the safety and effectiveness of state-regulated access to psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.

12 Feb 2026

Addiction consults improve care for drug-related eye infections

Eric Gaier, MD, PhD, and Dean Eliott, MD, of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, are co-authors of a paper published in Ophthalmology Retina, "Substance Use Disorder Interventions and Ophthalmic Outcomes for Injection Drug Use-Associated Endogenous Endophthalmitis."

10 Feb 2026

Artificial intelligence enables faster detection of substance use disorder

Diagnosing substance-use disorder can be difficult because of patient denial related to the stigma attached to addiction.

5 Feb 2026

UC Davis team creates new class of serotonin-effecting drugs

UC Davis researchers have developed a new method that uses light to transform amino acids - the building blocks of proteins - into molecules that are similar in structure to psychedelics and mimic their interaction with the brain.

8 Jan 2026

New study reveals productivity losses from substance use disorder in the U.S.

A new study shows that in 2023, substance use disorders led to nearly $93 billion in lost productivity in the United States from missed work, reduced job performance, inability to work, and lost household productivity.

9 Dec 2025

Study finds early neural markers of addiction risk differ between boys and girls

The roots of addiction risk may lie in how young brains function long before substance use begins, according to a new study from Weill Cornell Medicine.

21 Nov 2025

Experts highlight the impact of unregulated health and AI apps for substance use reduction

In a commentary published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers at Rutgers Health, Harvard University and the University of Pittsburgh discuss the impact of unregulated mobile health and generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications that claim to assist in substance use reduction.

18 Nov 2025

Childhood trauma affects two in five Australian adults and raises lifelong health risks

A University of Sydney-led study published today has found 42 percent of Australian adults - more than eight million people - experienced a traumatic event as children.

18 Nov 2025

Risk assessment models could improve support for patients leaving hospital against medical advice

Risk prediction tools might help identify patients at the highest risk of overdose and death after a "before medically advised" (BMA) hospital discharge according to new research in CMAJ.

11 Nov 2025

One concussion can raise your car crash risk by nearly 50%

Research shows that concussions elevate the risk of motor vehicle crashes, particularly in the weeks following injury, necessitating enhanced safety measures.

10 Nov 2025

Sock hops and concerts: How some places spent opioid settlement cash

Officials in Irvington, New Jersey, had an idea. To raise awareness about the dangers of opioid use and addiction, the township could host concerts with popular R&B artists like Q Parker and Musiq Soulchild.

3 Nov 2025

Researchers to study the economics of substance use disorder treatments with $4 million NIDA grant

A team led by Weill Cornell Medicine and University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine investigators has been awarded a five-year, $4 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for health economics research.

30 Oct 2025

Adequate support needed to address Canada's rising youth opioid use

Youth opioid use is increasing in Canada, as are related emergency department visits and deaths, yet governments are not providing adequate support to address this public health crisis, argue the authors of a CMAJ.

27 Oct 2025

Evaluating bed-based care for substance use disorder in Canada

Is expanding hospital inpatient, or bed-based, care a way to help address the overdose crisis? An analysis article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.240955 describes the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance), which can help provinces determine whether bed-cased care is effective.

27 Oct 2025

Wearable device can help lower relapse risk in early addiction recovery

A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham shows that a non-drug, wearable device can help people with substance use disorders (SUD) manage stress, reduce cravings, and lower their risk of relapse in real time.

2 Oct 2025

Processed food addiction is more common than alcohol or tobacco in older Americans

The addiction to ultraprocessed foods in older Americans is linked to health issues, with over 20% of women aged 50-64 meeting addiction criteria.

1 Oct 2025