Substance Use Disorder News and Research

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What are the neuropsychiatric effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Researchers investigated cognitive deficits associated with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

27 Sep 2022

Women experiencing food insecurity may be at greater risk for highly processed food addiction

A new study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published by Elsevier, finds that women experiencing food insecurity more frequently report symptoms of food addiction, such as compulsive eating of certain types of food, unsuccessful attempts to cut down and withdrawal symptoms.

20 Sep 2022

More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, data shows

More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, according to 2017-2019 data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees, which are representatives of diverse clinical and non-clinical backgrounds who review the circumstances around pregnancy-related deaths to identify recommendations to prevent future deaths.

20 Sep 2022

Expansion of telehealth during the pandemic for opioid use disorder-related care associated with beneficial outcomes

The expansion of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with individuals staying in treatment longer and reducing their risk of medically treated overdose, according to a new study.

13 Sep 2022

EEG tests reveal fentanyl's effects on the brain

Fentanyl is used to supplement sedation and to relieve severe pain during and after surgery, but it's also one of the deadliest drugs of the opioid epidemic.

30 Aug 2022

Scientists demonstrate safety of neurosurgical procedure used to measure dopamine and serotonin

Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have demonstrated that a neurosurgical procedure used to research and measure dopamine and serotonin in the human brain is safe.

24 Aug 2022

ER physician shows how empathy, creativity, and imagination are the cornerstones of clinical care

To be an emergency room doctor is to be a professional listener to stories. Each patient presents a story; finding the heart of that story is the doctor's most critical task. More technology, more tests, and more data won't work if doctors get the story wrong.

16 Aug 2022

What is the role of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders?

A new study aimed to determine the clinical applications of psychedelic drugs along with psychedelic-assisted therapy for different psychiatric disorders.

25 Jul 2022

Genes underlying cigarette smoking linked to the perception of pain and response to food

Have you ever wondered why one person can smoke cigarettes for a year and easily quit, while another person will become addicted for life? Why can't some people help themselves from abusing alcohol and others can take it or leave it?

20 Jul 2022

People with substance use disorder found to be largely resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic

Stay-at-home orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted many facets of our lives and created many barriers, particularly for those in recovery for substance use disorder.

12 Jul 2022

'Phantom' networks undermine access to mental health care for patients most in need, study says

Amid a surge in demand for mental health care, a new report from researchers at Oregon Health & Science University finds almost six out of 10 in-network providers listed under Oregon Medicaid provider directories are not actually available to see patients.

5 Jul 2022

Kratom: A dangerous or beneficial plant?

A new study summarizes the traditional and modern uses of kratom, as well as its pharmacology, benefits, and adverse health impacts.

23 Jun 2022

New pain medications with high abuse potential more likely to be successfully developed

Despite the prevalence and societal costs of pain in the United States, investment in pain medication development is low, due in part to poor understanding of the probability of successful development of such medications

21 Jun 2022

States extend Medicaid for new mothers — even as they reject broader expansion

Until last year, Georgia's Medicaid coverage for new moms with low incomes lasted 60 days.

17 Jun 2022

Temple researcher receives NIH award to study the link between HIV, substance use and heart disease

With prompt diagnosis and the right treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives. In recent years, however, gains in survival among people with HIV have exposed a new concern – an increase in the incidence of early-onset cardiovascular disease associated with long-term HIV.

14 Jun 2022

Pandemic-era changes to prescribing opioid use disorder treatment improved treatment outcomes

Pandemic-era changes to prescribing guidelines for the lifesaving drug buprenorphine led to improved treatment outcomes for patients with opioid use disorder in Philadelphia, according to a recently published study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports from researchers at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health.

3 Jun 2022

Molecular 'connector' may underlie gender differences in cocaine’s effects, mice study shows

Scientists have long known that cocaine works by latching on to molecular connectors on the surface of brain cells, allowing dopamine, a chemical that promotes feelings of pleasure and reward, to accumulate in the space between brain cells.

3 Jun 2022

Treating pediatric psychiatric disorders with psychotropic drugs reduces later substance use disorder risk

One half of psychiatric and substance use disorders start by the age of 18; three-quarters by age 24. While these are concerning statistics, a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital finds that treating psychiatric disorders with psychotropic medications in children and adolescents does not increase the risk of developing substance use, misuse, or substance use disorder (SUD).

19 May 2022

University of Arizona, Oklahoma State University join forces to combat opioid crisis and chronic pain

Robert C. Robbins, MD, president of the University of Arizona, and Kayse Shrum, DO, president of Oklahoma State University, today announced the two institutions’ academic medical centers have joined forces to combat the opioid crisis and chronic pain through research, treatment and education.

30 Apr 2022

Analysis finds reductions in cigarette use among people with major depression, substance use disorder

Significant reductions in cigarette use were found among U.S. adults with major depression, substance use disorder, or both from 2006 to 2019, according to a new analysis of nationally representative survey data published today in JAMA.

26 Apr 2022