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.…
Tag: Addiction
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,…
For opioid addiction, treatment underdosing can lead to fentanyl overdosing – a physician explains
Imagine a patient named Rosa tells you she wakes up night after night in a drenching sweat after having very realistic dreams of smoking fentanyl. The dreams seem crazy to…
Legal Cannabis Linked to Less Problematic Use, Better Mental Health
Summary: The Weed Care study in Switzerland is investigating how legal access to cannabis affects users’ consumption and mental health. In the first randomized trial of its kind, participants buying…
Fewer deaths, new substances and evolving treatments in Philly’s opioid epidemic − 4 essential reads
In Philadelphia, fatal overdoses are the No. 3 cause of death after heart disease and cancer. That’s been the case each year since 2016, except in 2020 and 2021 when…
Poor sleep and addiction go hand in hand − understanding how could lead to new treatments for opioid use disorder
A good night’s sleep often sets the stage for a positive day. But for the nearly quarter of American adults struggling with mental illness, a good night’s rest is often…
