Alcohol Dependence News and Research

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GLP-1 receptor agonists show promise in treating substance use disorders

A systematic review reveals that GLP-1 receptor agonists may help reduce certain substance use disorders, but findings are inconsistent due to study variability and patient differences.

9 Sep 2024

Renewed interest in psychedelics as potential addiction therapies

After years of being seen as dangerous "party drugs," psychedelic substances are receiving renewed attention as therapies for addiction -- but far more research is needed, according to a new special series of articles in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, published at Rutgers University.

26 Aug 2024

Exploring the impact of xylazine on wound care needs

The animal tranquilizer xylazine is increasingly found in the illicit opioid supply nationwide, leading to severe wounds among people who use drugs. New research led by a University of Pittsburgh physician-scientist and published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence seeks to understand the wound care experiences of this population.

22 Aug 2024

Study finds rising methamphetamine-related psychiatric hospitalizations in the U.S.

A new study, out now in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, that details trends among psychiatric hospitalizations between 2015-2019 finds that while most hospitalizations did not involve any substances, methamphetamine-related hospitalizations have increased while overall number of psychiatric hospitalizations remained stable.

16 Aug 2024

Vaping linked to higher risk of cigarette smoking and drug use in teens, young adults

U.S. teens and young adults who vape are much more likely to start smoking cigarettes or to begin using cannabis or other drugs, a new University of Michigan study found.

16 Aug 2024

Study shows how segregated communities face challenges in filling OUD medications

Patients with a prescription for an opioid use disorder medication may have a tough time getting it filled if their pharmacy is in a community that's racially and economically segregated, according to a new study led by scientists at Oregon State University and Johns Hopkins University.

14 Aug 2024

Study pinpoints brain area critical to oxycodone relapse prevention

Even years after they have recovered, a person who once struggled with alcohol or opioid addiction can relapse-;and that relapse is more likely to occur during particularly stressful times.

9 Jul 2024

Study finds lower cancer risk with alcohol abstinence and rehabilitation

A new study conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Bordeaux University Hospital, France, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that individuals with alcohol dependence who undergo rehabilitation or maintain abstinence experience significantly lower risks of developing alcohol-associated cancers.

26 Jun 2024

WHO report highlights global burden of alcohol and drug-related deaths

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that 2.6 million deaths per year were attributable to alcohol consumption, accounting for 4.7% of all deaths, and 0.6 million deaths to psychoactive drug use.

25 Jun 2024

Can cocoa lower your heart disease risk?

Researchers review the effects of cocoa consumption on the risk of cardiovascular disease.

21 Jun 2024

Study shows vaccines cut long COVID risk, especially for those with preexisting conditions

A study in JAMA Network Open found that women and individuals with preexisting cardiovascular conditions are more likely to suffer from long COVID, but vaccinations, especially multiple doses, significantly reduce this risk.

18 Jun 2024

Alcohol consumption higher in regional and affluent areas, wastewater analysis reveals

People from a higher socioeconomic status drink more alcohol on average than those of lower socioeconomic background, according to new research from The University of Queensland.

16 May 2024

Can psychedelics improve sexual functioning and satisfaction?

The influence of psychedelics on sexual functioning.

15 Apr 2024

Cannabis compound d-limonene reduces anxiety-inducing effects of THC

A Johns Hopkins Medicine-led research team has added to evidence that a chemical found naturally in cannabis (also known as marijuana) can -; in the right amounts -; lessen the anxiety-inducing effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive sister chemical found in cannabis.

12 Apr 2024