Summary: By recording directly from electrodes implanted in the human orbitofrontal cortex, neuroscientists discovered two neighboring circuits locked in a millisecond-by-millisecond “tug-of-war” between taking a risk and playing it safe.…
Tag: Addiction
Oral Ozempic Cuts Heavy Drinking and Cravings
Summary: In a clinical trial, oral semaglutide was found to significantly reduce heavy drinking days, daily cravings, and alcohol-related problems in adults with moderate-to-severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Evaluating 50…
Salt-Nicotine E-Cigarettes Triple Smoking Cessation Odds
Summary: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial reveals that switching to pod-based salt-nicotine electronic cigarettes significantly boosts the odds of quitting traditional smoking while dramatically reducing exposure to harmful, tobacco-related toxins. The…
Combining Cannabis and Tobacco Triples Psychosis Risk
Summary: A multi-site study reveals that combining cannabis and tobacco, a trend known as “co-use”, significantly increases the long-term risk of developing full psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. The study tracked…
Direct Link Between Stress and Addiction Found
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…
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.…
