Alcohol Use Disorder News and Research

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Hospitals can play key role in treating alcohol use disorder

Nearly 30 million adults in the United States experience alcohol use disorder (AUD), but the vast majority of people with this condition do not receive treatment.

21 Apr 2025

Stress and depression help explain intertwined alcohol, sleep problems

Insomnia and hazardous drinking are so closely intertwined that estimates suggest at least one-third, and as many as 91%, of people who have a hard time with sleep also misuse alcohol.

14 Apr 2025

Alcohol reshapes reward learning differently in male and female rats

Chronic alcohol exposure causes lasting impairments in decision-making in male rats, altering how the brain processes reward-based learning. A new study reveals sex-specific neural changes in the striatum, with female rats showing resilience despite altered brain activity.

10 Apr 2025

Can psychedelics break compulsive eating habits in obesity?

A review by Oxford researchers explores how psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD may help disrupt compulsive eating behaviors in subsets of obese individuals. The paper outlines proposed neurobiological, epigenetic, and gut-brain mechanisms while emphasizing the need for human trials.

10 Apr 2025

Combined use of alcohol and cannabis could fuel addiction risks

Many young adults drink alcohol and use cannabis together, at the same time, as a coping mechanism or to relieve stress.

10 Apr 2025

Study reveals long-term decision-making deficits due to heavy alcohol use

For the first time researchers demonstrate in an animal how heavy alcohol use leads to long-term behavioral issues by damaging brain circuits critical for decision-making.

2 Apr 2025

Oklahoma researcher uses technology to combat alcohol use disorder in primary care

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 7 adults in the United States will experience a substance use disorder during their lifetime. University of Oklahoma College of Medicine faculty member Brandi Fink, Ph.D., is working with primary care clinics and health care systems to identify people with an alcohol use disorder and intervene early before the problem worsens.

25 Mar 2025

Impact of excessive alcohol consumption on digestive health

Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern, responsible for approximately 6% of all deaths and contributing to 5.1% of the global disease burden.

12 Mar 2025

Nearly 17 million children affected by parental substance use disorders in the U.S

Nearly 17 million children and adolescents in the United States are estimated to live with a parent who has a substance use disorder, according to a study led by Texas State University, University of Michigan and Wayne State University.

4 Mar 2025

Researchers assess how isolation and alcohol exposure alter ketamine intake

Ketamine can effectively treat depression, but whether depressed patients with alcohol use disorder can safely use ketamine repeatedly remains unclear clinically.

24 Feb 2025

Psychedelic treatments show promise for treating PTSD and depression

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is leading ground-breaking clinical research that has the potential to transform treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.

14 Feb 2025

Low-dose semaglutide reduces alcohol consumption and cravings in early trial

Research reveals semaglutide's effectiveness in decreasing alcohol consumption and cravings, highlighting its potential for treating alcohol use disorder.

13 Feb 2025

Blockbuster drug for diabetes and obesity could also help reduce alcohol intake

The blockbuster drug semaglutide, better known as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity, could also help people cut down on their alcohol intake, according to new USC research.

12 Feb 2025

Fruit fly research uncovers brain signals behind alcohol-induced insomnia

Alcohol use disorder, which affects over 10% of Americans, can lead to persistent and serious insomnia. Difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep can last even after months of sobriety, increasing the risk of relapse.

6 Feb 2025

Alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations in Canada surged during the COVID-19 pandemic

Alcohol-related health issues surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 17.6% rise in mortality, calling for enhanced prevention and treatment strategies.

5 Feb 2025

People with alcohol use disorder and depression report high pleasure from drinking

A new study from the University of Chicago Medicine reveals that people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression experience high levels of stimulation and pleasure when intoxicated, similar to drinkers who do not have depression.

4 Feb 2025

Alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations increased significantly during pandemic

Alcohol-related deaths increased 18% during the pandemic, as did hospitalizations related to alcohol use, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241146.

3 Feb 2025

Mayo Clinic researchers create organoid models for uveal melanoma study

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed organoid models to study uveal melanoma, one of the most common types of eye cancer in adults.

29 Jan 2025

Study highlights the growing crisis of methamphetamine-related deaths in the U.S.

Methamphetamine deaths in the U.S. rose 61-fold from 1999 to 2021, according to a new study, highlighting a growing crisis in addiction and public health.

13 Jan 2025

Psilocybin shows potential for treating mental health disorders in people with cancer and addiction

One or two doses of psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, may improve the mental health of cancer patients when accompanied by psychotherapy, a new report suggests.

2 Jan 2025