FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 17, 2019·1 min readLegalized recreational marijuana a substitute for alcohol, but not tobaccoLegalized recreational marijuana may spell bad news for the alcohol industry, but not tobacco. A new study reports in states where the recreational use of marijuana is legal, internet searchers for alcohol-related products dropped by 11%, but tobacco-related searchers increased by 8%.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·July 15, 2019·5 min readCannabis treatment counters addictionNabiximols, a cannabis-based medication, can effectively be used as a cannabis replacement therapy for those addicted to the substance.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 12, 2019·3 min readSeeing greenery linked to less intense and frequent cravingsSpending time in nature can help reduce the strength and frequency of cravings.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·July 9, 2019·3 min readKratom herbal supplement used to treat addiction and pain found unsafe by researchersKratom, a herbal supplement used to manage pain and treat opioid addiction, is unsafe to use, researchers report. The supplement has been linked to an increased risk of tachycardia, hallucinations, coma, and cardiac arrest.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·July 8, 2019·3 min readWhy marijuana affects different people differentlyBy looking at THC’s effect on a rat brain, the researchers showed that THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can produce highly rewarding effects in the front-most part of a region of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The image is in the public domain.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 5, 2019·5 min readIgnoring cues for alcohol and fast food is hard – but is it out of our control?Stress and tiredness make it harder for you to ignore environmental cues that signal something rewarding.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·July 2, 2019·3 min readBrain imaging may help identify teens at risk of increasing alcohol useNeuroimaging study reveals teens with more gray matter in the caudate nucleus and left cerebellum were at increased risk of problem alcohol use over time. The findings reinforce the idea that brain structure differences may contribute to both psychiatric and substance use disorders.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·June 28, 2019·5 min readOpioids study shows high-risk counties across the country, suggests local solutionsStudy reveals 412 counties, mainly in the Midwest and South, are at the highest risk of opioid deaths in the US. Researchers propose new strategies for improving treatment for opioid addiction.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·June 25, 2019·4 min readCommon antidepressants interact with opioid med to lessen pain reliefSSRI antidepressants, such as Prozac and Paxil, interact with opioid medications to make them less effective at providing relief from chronic pain. Tramadol relies on activation of the CYP2D6 enzyme to control pain, but SSRIs inhibit this enzyme. Researchers suggest prescribing different classes of antidepressants which do not suppress the enzyme may benefit those in need of opioid medications. Alternatively, non-opioid pain killers should be considered for those who can not switch from SSRIs.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·June 19, 2019·5 min readInformation addiction: How information is like snacks, money, and drugs to your brainObtaining new information may be addictive. Study finds information acquisition shares the same dopamine producing reward system pathway as food, financial rewards and drugs.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·June 18, 2019·3 min readResearchers link gene to cannabis abuseResearchers have identified a genetic variant that increases the risk of cannabis use disorder (CUD). The variant affects the formations of specific nicotine receptors in the brain. Those who have less of these receptors are more likely to develop CUD. Additionally, researchers found those with a higher number of genetic variants associated with impaired cognition are more likely to struggle with marijuana addiction.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 13, 2019·3 min readFormation of habitual use drives cannabis addictionIndividual differences in the striatum of habitual cannabis users distinguish between who is at increased risk of addiction and cannabis use disorder.Read More
