Summary: Why does a stressful day at work make a drink feel like a necessity rather than a choice? Researchers have mapped a previously unknown “direct line” in the brain…
Tag: Addiction
Can you really be addicted to food? Researchers are uncovering convincing similarities to drug addiction
People often joke that their favorite snack is “like crack” or call themselves “chocoholics” in jest. But can someone really be addicted to food in the same way they could…
New website tracks how Pennsylvania’s $2.2B in opioid settlement funds is being spent
Pennsylvania is due to receive US$2.2 billion dollars from the national opioid settlements, and a new database shows the public where that money is going. Starting in 2021, a national,…
Balancing kratom’s potential benefits and risks − new legislation in Colorado seeks to minimize harm
David Bregger had never heard of kratom before his son, Daniel, 33, died in Denver in 2021 from using what he thought was a natural and safe remedy for anxiety.…
High-THC Cannabis Linked to Psychosis and Addiction
Summary: A systematic review of nearly 100 studies found that high-THC cannabis products are linked to negative mental health outcomes, particularly psychosis, schizophrenia, and cannabis use disorder. While some therapeutic…
New Drug Aims to Block Pain Without Addiction Risks
Summary: Chronic pain affects millions, but opioid medications bring high risks of dependence and side effects. Researchers have now pinpointed specific neurons in the amygdala that make pain feel unpleasant,…
Boosting Prefrontal Dopamine Shows Promise in Cutting Alcohol Use
Summary: A new study reveals that tolcapone, a dopamine-enhancing drug, strengthens brain circuits involved in self-control while reducing alcohol intake in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The drug boosts…
Emotional Pain Brain Circuit Drives Cocaine Relapse
Summary: A new study reveals that a brain circuit driving negative emotions during cocaine withdrawal plays a key role in relapse. Researchers found that this “anti-reward” network becomes hyperactive during…
More Colorado workplaces are becoming safe places for employees in recovery
At Odie B’s, a sandwich shop in Denver, recovery from drug and alcohol use is part of daily operations. “Seventy percent of our staff is active in recovery,” Cliff Blauvelt,…
