Substance Abuse News and Research

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Historic pledges made to protect children from violence worldwide

More than 100 governments today made historic commitments to end childhood violence, including nine pledging to ban corporal punishment – an issue that affects 3 out of every 5 children regularly in their homes.

7 Nov 2024

Low-carb diet may improve beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes patients

This study shows a carbohydrate-restricted diet boosts β-cell function in type 2 diabetes, offering a sustainable approach to manage the disease effectively.

24 Oct 2024

Expanded treatment options linked to 37% reduction in drug overdose deaths

Expanded treatment options, increased naloxone distribution and targeted education campaigns likely led to a 37% reduction in overdose deaths from opioids combined with stimulant drugs other than cocaine, according to the results of a large federally funded study.

21 Oct 2024

Smoking cessation programs could help combat opioid epidemic

Smoking is recognized as a leading cause of preventable disability and death. New research shows that as smokers increase their daily number of cigarettes, they report higher rates of chronic pain, more prescription opioid use, severe work limitations due to pain, and poor mental health.

9 Oct 2024

A decade of CCBHCs enhances access to mental health care across the U.S.

A decade after the establishment of the certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) model, more than 60 percent of the US population has access to such facilities and the mental health and substance use disorder treatment services they provide, according to a new study led by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health.

4 Oct 2024

Lower attention ability in adolescence can predict substance use in young adulthood

Lower attention ability in adolescence can predict cigarette and cannabis use in young adulthood, according to new research from Trinity College Dublin.

30 Sep 2024

Study reveals impact of overdose deaths on U.S. children

An estimated 1.4 million U.S. children -- 2% of all children nationwide - had lost a family member to a drug overdose as of 2019, according to a study by researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Pennsylvania State University.

30 Sep 2024

California voters consider tough love for repeat drug offenders

California voters are considering whether to roll back some of the criminal justice reforms enacted a decade ago as concerns about mass incarceration give way to public anger over property crime and a fentanyl crisis that has plagued the state since the covid-19 pandemic hit.

30 Sep 2024

Study highlights urgent need for improved care for schizophrenia

New research finds that adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have high rates of comorbid mental and substance use disorders and significant social and economic disadvantages, and only 26% received minimally adequate treatment.

23 Sep 2024

U.S. health system underperforms despite massive spending, while Australia and the Netherlands excel

A recent Commonwealth Fund report compares health systems across 10 countries, revealing that the U.S. ranks last overall despite high healthcare spending, with significant gaps in health outcomes, equity, and access to care.

22 Sep 2024

New online platform aims to empower Latino families in mental health and behavior

Cory Cobb, PhD, an assistant professor of health behavior at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, is leading a research team that has been awarded a three-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to create an online platform for the intervention program they developed for United States-based Spanish-speaking Latino parents and their children.

20 Sep 2024

New curriculum aims to address substance use disorders in medical education

Nearly 6,000 opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in California in 2021, many due to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.

19 Sep 2024

Primary care physicians face rising complexity of mental health concerns

An examination of millions of patient visits to primary care physicians shows that mental health concerns are second only to musculoskeletal complaints in everyday care.

19 Sep 2024

Genetic analysis challenges the idea that loneliness directly causes diseases

Research reveals that loneliness is linked to numerous diseases observationally, but genetic analysis shows it's likely a marker rather than a cause.

18 Sep 2024

Loneliness may not be a direct cause of disease

A study reveals loneliness correlates with 13 illness categories, highlighting its role as a potential proxy marker rather than a direct risk factor.

17 Sep 2024

How stress reduces sperm motility by altering mitochondria

Researchers investigate the effects of perceived stress on sperm motility and maturation.

16 Sep 2024

Machine learning reveals sleep quality and anxiety as major predictors of depression

Researchers applied machine learning to predict depressive symptoms, revealing sleep quality and anxiety as key factors across diverse populations and datasets.

12 Sep 2024

APDI provides $200,000 in grants to advance pediatric substance use disorder devices

The Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation (APDI), a nonprofit consortium led by Children's National Hospital and funded through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announces today the recipients of grants totaling $200,000 to advance pediatric medical devices that improve the monitoring, diagnosis or treatment of youth suffering from substance use disorder and addiction.

4 Sep 2024

PCORI announces $100 million funding for pediatric comparative effectiveness research

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) today began inviting proposals through eight new funding opportunities, including three PCORI Funding Announcements (PFAs) for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER).

4 Sep 2024

Psychedelics: A new hope for substance abuse treatment

Study explores the history and current state of psychedelic research for treating substance abuse disorders, highlighting challenges like restrictive policies, lack of funding, and the need for recognition of traditional and modern therapeutic practices.

28 Aug 2024