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addiction

This shows a crowd of people and one person with a thought bubble and a bottle inside it.

·March 2, 2026·6 min read

Why Socializing Loses to Alcohol in Addiction

New research reveals that activity in the anterior insula primes the brain to choose alcohol over social interaction, offering a new target for addiction treatment.

This shows a brain in a wine glass with a syringe above it. Behind is a strand of DNA.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 21, 2026·7 min read

Mounjaro’s Active Ingredient Slashes Alcohol Intake

From weight loss to sobriety. New research reveals how the active ingredient in Mounjaro "mutes" the brain's reward system to slash alcohol cravings.

This shows a brain with the nucleus accumbens highlighted, showing where the drug activates to prevent opioid relapse behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 13, 2026·7 min read

Glaucoma Drug Repurposed to Block Opioid Cravings and Relapse

An old drug for glaucoma might be the key to stopping opioid relapse. New research shows acetazolamide "resets" the brain's reward center to block cravings.

This shows a boy and a girl, and their brains.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 21, 2025·6 min read

Early Brain Activity Differences Predict Addiction Risk in Boys vs Girls

A large-scale analysis of nearly 1,900 children found that those with a family history of substance use disorder show early differences in how their brains transition between activity states, long before any drug exposure. Girls with family history showed increased transition energy in introspective networks, suggesting greater difficulty shifting out of internal, stress-linked states.

This shows a person holding a joint and a glass of scotch.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 19, 2025·7 min read

Cannabis Blunts Alcohol Cravings

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial shows that cannabis with active THC reduces immediate alcohol cravings and lowers drinking levels in heavy-drinking young adults. After smoking THC, participants not only drank less, they waited longer before taking the first sip and reported lower urges to drink.

This shows a man holding a wine glass against a psychedelic backdrop.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 10, 2025·4 min read

Psychedelics Calm Stress Circuits to Reduce Alcohol Drinking

New research shows that psilocin, the active metabolite of the psychedelic psilocybin, may reduce alcohol consumption by calming stress-sensitive neurons in the central amygdala. In female mice exposed to long-term alcohol use, psilocin dampened the hyperactivity of these neurons, temporarily reducing drinking.

This shows a man and a glass of whiskey.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 28, 2025·4 min read

Gene That Controls How Sensitive You Are to Alcohol Discovered

Researchers have discovered that a gene called CHRNA3 plays a key role in determining alcohol sensitivity, helping explain why some people tolerate alcohol better than others. When this gene was mutated, subjects were slower to avoid alcohol and consumed more of it, showing reduced sensitivity to its calming effects.

This shows a person running and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 21, 2025·5 min read

High-Intensity Exercise May Protect Against Cocaine Addiction

A new study shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is more effective than moderate exercise at protecting adolescent lab animals from cocaine use. Animals exposed to HIIT developed a preference for non-drug environments and an aversion to cocaine, linked to increases in ΔFosB, a molecular switch involved in addiction.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 12, 2025·6 min read

Stress Relief Brain Circuit May Drive Alcohol Relapse

A new study highlights how the brain learns to keep alcohol addiction going, not for pleasure but to escape withdrawal stress.

This shows a featured brain and a cannabis leaf.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 26, 2025·4 min read

High-THC Cannabis Linked to Psychosis and Addiction

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 research hinted at benefits for anxiety and depression, results were inconsistent and often showed potential harm.

This shows a brain surrounded by chains.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·August 22, 2025·5 min read

New Drug Aims to Block Pain Without Addiction Risks

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, opening the door to drugs that ease suffering without shutting down normal sensation.

This shows a brain with a neutral network spreading from the PFC. A drink glass is behind the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 16, 2025·5 min read

Boosting Prefrontal Dopamine Shows Promise in Cutting Alcohol Use

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 activity in the inferior frontal gyrus, part of the prefrontal cortex, which supports inhibitory control.