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Experimental drug could offer pain relief without the side effects of opioids

An experimental drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine could offer powerful pain relief without the dangerous side effects of opioids.

19 May 2025

Prisons routinely ignore guidelines on dying inmates’ end-of-life choices

Brian Rigsby was lying with his right wrist shackled to a hospital bed in Montgomery, Alabama, when he learned he didn't have long to live.

15 May 2025

Researchers uncover key role of peri-LC neurons in the brain arousal system

A small cluster of cells deep within our brains, called the locus coeruleus, affects how awake and attentive we are, how we respond to stress, how we cope with anxiety and fear, and how we create memories and learn.

14 May 2025

Early physical activity linked to mental health benefits in later childhood and adolescence

Physical activity in early childhood, especially taking part in organised sports,may ward off several mental health disorders in later childhood and adolescence, suggests research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

14 May 2025

Study highlights the growing toll of parental substance use on American children

A large percentage of American children are growing up in households with at least one parent who uses alcohol or other drugs in problematic ways-raising the risk that those children will go on to do the same, a new study suggests.

13 May 2025

Readers scrutinize federal cuts and medical debt

The recent KFF Health News article "Beyond Ivy League, RFK Jr.'s NIH Slashed Science Funding Across States That Backed Trump" (April 17) struck a nerve.

13 May 2025

More screen time, less happiness? New study links phones to poorer child and adolescent health

Smartphone use and symptoms of problematic smartphone use (PSU) have increased among children and adolescents between 2018 and 2024. The study links this trend to a decline in quality of life, particularly in girls and younger children, though causality remains unclear.

13 May 2025

Researchers unlock new paths toward treating stress-related psychiatric disorders

In a comprehensive Genomic Psychiatry review article published today, researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center have synthesized decades of research on stress hormone systems in primate brains, potentially unlocking new paths toward treating stress-related psychiatric disorders.

13 May 2025

NHS funding cuts could undermine progress in reducing smoking during pregnancy

Unprecedented progress in reducing the number of women smoking during pregnancy in England could be put at risk by NHS funding cuts, according to a UEA addiction expert.

12 May 2025

Hearing aids may help older adults combat social isolation

Providing hearing aids and advice on their use may preserve social connections that often wane as we age, a new study shows.

12 May 2025

Study reveals low rate of opioid addiction medications after overdose

Medications proven to effectively treat opioid addiction are rarely given after emergency department visits for overdose, and who gets them varies, sometimes greatly, depending on race, ethnicity or geography, University of Michigan researchers say.

12 May 2025

Ultra-processed food boosts addiction and worsens mood, study finds

A cross-sectional study of 3,997 adults in Türkiye found that ultra-processed food (UPF) intake is strongly linked to food addiction and negative mood. Surprisingly, no association was found between UPF consumption and hedonic hunger.

11 May 2025

Trump team faces key legal decision that could put mental health parity in peril

The Trump administration must soon make a decision that will affect millions of Americans' ability to access and afford mental health and addiction care.

9 May 2025

Research reveals how psychedelics reshape communication between the brain and immune system

In a compelling Genomic Press interview published today, rising scientific star Dr. Michael Wheeler unveils revolutionary findings about how psychedelics reshape communication between the brain and immune system, potentially transforming treatments for psychiatric disorders and inflammatory diseases alike.

6 May 2025

Rethinking the social side of problem drinking

When picturing a "typical" alcoholic, people tend to imagine a person drinking at home alone. But that focus overlooks the social origins of many serious alcohol problems, say the authors of a new review paper in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

6 May 2025

An Arm and a Leg: Why ‘The Pitt’ is our fave new drama

People who work in real-life emergency rooms have raved about how the new TV drama "The Pitt" accurately captures the complex dynamics of their workplaces and the medical details of their cases

5 May 2025

Medicaid unwinding may have put opioid recovery care at risk

The massive national effort to return the Medicaid enrollment process to its pre-pandemic rules starting in April 2023 may have disrupted the care of people receiving treatment for opioid addiction, a new University of Michigan study suggests.

3 May 2025

Machine learning provide new insights into how the brain responds to heroin use

Object recognition software is used by law enforcement to help identify suspects, by self-driving cars to navigate roadways and by many consumers to unlock their cell phones or pay for their morning coffee.

30 Apr 2025

Study: Nicotine pouch use nearly doubles among U.S. high school students

The use of nicotine pouches - small, easily concealed sachets of nicotine and additives that are placed between the gum and lip - nearly doubled among U.S. high school students between 2023 and 2024, according to a new USC study.

30 Apr 2025

Mindfulness-based therapy found to decrease opioid cravings and improve emotional health

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have found that Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) can help rewire the brain's response to natural healthy pleasure, leading to improved mood, greater attention to positive experiences and reduced opioid cravings.

30 Apr 2025