A study published in JAMA Network Open found that nearly three-fourths of U.S. adults with buprenorphine use did not misuse the medication in 2019, trending downward between 2015-2019 despite increased treatment. The research highlights the need to expand access to proven treatment approaches like buprenorphine therapy to reduce misuse.
A new study reveals that more than 140,000 US children under age 18 lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study shows racial and ethnic disparities in caregiver deaths, with children of minorities accounting for 65% of those who lost a primary caregiver.
A US study of 580,000 vaccinated individuals found that those with substance use disorders were more likely to contract COVID-19. The risk was largely attributed to co-occurring health conditions and socioeconomic factors rather than the disorder itself.
Overdose deaths involving methamphetamine rose 180% from 2015 to 2019, outpacing increases in methamphetamine use. Riskier patterns of use, including frequent use and co-use with other substances, contributed to the surge. Diverse populations, particularly American Indians/Alaska Natives and young adults, are disproportionately affected.
A recent NIH-supported study highlights alarming disparities in opioid overdose deaths among non-Hispanic Black individuals in the US. The rates increased by 38% from 2018 to 2019, with Kentucky and Ohio experiencing the largest increases. The research emphasizes the need for community-based interventions addressing these disparities.
The 2020 Monitoring the Future survey found significant increases in marijuana and hallucinogen use among college students, while daily or near-daily marijuana use rose. In contrast, vaping marijuana and nicotine levels plateaued after sharp increases between 2017 and 2019, while alcohol use declined significantly.
A recent NIH-funded study found that the overall rate of drug use among 10-14 year-olds remained stable during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, with adolescents experiencing stress and hardship being most likely to use substances. The study also detected shifts in substance types, with alcohol use declining and nicotine use increasing.
A study published in The Lancet estimates that over 1.5 million children worldwide have lost a parent, custodial grandparent, or other older relative due to COVID-19-related deaths. This phenomenon, known as orphanhood, has severe and long-lasting consequences for children's mental health and wellbeing. To address this issue, evidence-...
Using accurate language to describe mental illness and substance use disorders can help reduce stigma, improving treatment outcomes. The NIH highlights the importance of changing language to mobilize resources toward mental health services and erase prejudices that prevent people from seeking care.
A study found that high-dose buprenorphine administered in emergency departments is safe and tolerable, providing extended withdrawal relief and helping patients navigate barriers to follow-up care. The therapy may enhance opioid use disorder treatment outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Despite significant declines in perceived availability of marijuana and alcohol, adolescent use rates remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicotine vaping, however, declined significantly, with a sharp decrease in respondents who said they could easily obtain vaping devices.
A study of over 280,000 young adults found that cannabis use was associated with increased suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt, regardless of depression levels. Women were more likely to experience these outcomes than men.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that extended-release formulations of buprenorphine may improve treatment satisfaction for patients with opioid use disorder. The study found that the extended-release injection was well-tolerated and produced more positive patient-reported outcomes compared to daily oral buprenorphine.
A study of nearly five million live births found that babies born to mothers diagnosed with cannabis use disorders at delivery were more likely to experience negative health outcomes. Infants born to women with cannabis use disorders were also less likely to be hospitalized within the same year.
A large study of children found a positive correlation between habitual snoring and behavioral problems, such as inattention or hyperactivity. The research suggests that snoring may contribute to the development of behavioral problems, and highlights the importance of early evaluation and screening for oSDB.
A study by NIH/NIDA found that adolescents who started using cannabis or misusing prescription drugs earlier are more likely to develop substance use disorders. The prevalence of substance use disorders was higher among adolescents than young adults at various time frames since first drug use, highlighting the vulnerability of young pe...
Seizures of methamphetamine and marijuana rose significantly during the pandemic, with quantities of marijuana seized climbing by weight. Investigators found no significant shifts in other drug seizures, but provisional overdose deaths show a further rise through the first half of 2020.
The HIV epidemic continues to disproportionately affect marginalized groups, particularly in the US South. Experts recommend allocating resources to areas and populations hardest hit by the epidemic to implement targeted interventions and promote HIV prevention and treatment adherence.
A recent study found a sharp increase in methamphetamine overdose deaths across all racial and ethnic groups, but non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest death rates overall. The study highlights the need for culturally tailored prevention and treatment strategies to address this growing crisis.
A combination of injectable naltrexone and oral bupropion was found to be effective in treating adults with moderate or severe methamphetamine use disorder. Participants responded at a significantly higher rate to the treatment, with an NNT of 9, indicating its potential as a promising addition to current approaches.
A team-based approach to treating opioid use disorder with community pharmacists shows promise in improving medication adherence and participant satisfaction. The study found nearly 90% of participants remained in the program and 95.3% adhered to their daily medication regimen.
Levels of nicotine and marijuana vaping among US teens remained high in early 2020, despite a slight decrease in some trends. Nicotine vaping declined among 10th and 12th graders, but daily use remained high. The MTF survey found that vaping device brands have shifted, with teens moving to disposable devices.
A recent NIH-funded study found that microstructural brain differences in the nucleus accumbens predict increases in indicators of obesity in children. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study reveals a link between diet-related inflammation and unhealthy eating behaviors.
The percentage of college students who said they vaped marijuana in the past 30 days increased from 5.2% in 2017 to 14% in 2019, while those who used nicotine rose from 6.1% in 2017 to 22% in 2019. Daily or near-daily use of marijuana also increased among non-college attendees.
A National Institutes of Health-funded study found that people with substance use disorders are more susceptible to COVID-19 and its complications. Individuals with a recent SUD diagnosis were more likely to develop COVID-19 and experience worse outcomes than those without an SUD.
The 2019 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey found that vaping of marijuana has more than doubled in the past two years, with past month use nearly tripling. Daily marijuana vaping also increased, reported at 3.5% among 12th graders. Overall, marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit drug by adolescents.
Researchers found a crucial link between nicotine, type 2 diabetes and a diabetes-associated gene called Tcf7l2. Variation in this gene may influence both tobacco addiction and the development of tobacco-associated type 2 diabetes.
The prevalence of past month nicotine vaping among teens has more than doubled since 2017, reaching alarming rates. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 25% of 12th graders and 20% of 10th graders now vape nicotine within the past month.
The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) aims to develop effective intervention and treatment strategies for justice-involved populations with OUD. Research centers will study evidence-based medications, behavioral interventions, and comprehensive patient-centered treatments in 15 states and Puerto Rico.
A 14-year-old high school student developed a novel technology to prevent opioid pill tampering, earning the top prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The project, called Tampr-X, uses a protein matrix-based substance that discourages crushing or melting for misuse.
The 2018 Monitoring the Future survey found a dramatic increase in teen vaping, with over 1 in 10 eighth graders and nearly 20% of high school seniors using nicotine vapes. Meanwhile, opioid misuse has dropped to record lows, with only 3.4% of 12th graders reporting past-year use.
A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that patients receiving methadone or buprenorphine had a significantly lower risk of death from opioid overdose. The study analyzed data from over 17,000 adults in Massachusetts who survived an overdose between 2012 and 2014.
Researchers funded by NIH find that opioids produce effects by binding to receptors inside neurons, not just on surface, providing new insights into pain medication development. The discovery may help guide design of safer pain relievers without addiction risks.
Scientists at NIDA uncovered evidence of a more complex role for GPCRs, suggesting a conceptual advance in biochemistry and pharmacology. The discovery reveals that GPCRs form part of pre-coupled macromolecular complexes that act as computing devices to gather and process information.
Three NIDA Avant-Garde Award recipients will receive funding to investigate natural killer cell targeting, therapeutic dendritic cell vaccines, and a new platform for HIV-1 vaccine development. These innovative approaches aim to enhance the immune response against HIV in drug users.
The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study has released a comprehensive dataset of over 4,500 youth, providing insights into brain development, substance use, and mental health. The data will inform future prevention and treatment efforts and policy decisions.
The 2017 NIH Monitoring the Future survey shows that nearly one in three 12th graders use some kind of vaping device, with significant declines in hookah and cigarette use. Meanwhile, teen opioid misuse has reached historic lows, with past year misuse of Vicodin dropping to 2% among high school seniors.
Researchers separate pain relief and breathing effects in opioids, revealing a 'biased signaling' mechanism with a 'therapeutic window' of safer alternatives. This finding could lead to new opioid medications without the risk of respiratory failure.
A study comparing buprenorphine/naloxone and extended release naltrexone found similar outcomes among patients who initiated medication. However, initiating treatment with naltrexone was more challenging due to detoxification hurdles.
This year's Addiction Science Awards honored students using epigenetics to study the health dangers of hookah smoke and identified genetic and environmental factors that could signify a predisposition to addiction. The awards, coordinated by NIDA, recognized high-quality projects related to addiction science from around the world.
Three scientists have been selected for NIDA's Avant-Garde Awards to develop novel approaches to HIV prevention and treatment. Michael Farzan plans gene therapies to prevent HIV infection, while Eric Poeschla explores innate immunity against viruses using viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
The 2016 Monitoring the Future survey reveals a significant decline in teen substance use, particularly among eighth graders, with past year use of any illicit drug at its lowest ever. Marijuana use also shows a promising trend, with past month rates dropping to 5.4% among eighth graders.
A new study reveals the detailed structure of the human CB1 receptor, a key target for cannabinoids. The findings provide clues to mechanisms by which certain chemicals produce longer-lasting effects and offer guidance for designing novel medications that specifically target portions of the receptor.
Seven pioneers in HIV/AIDS and epigenetics research receive NIDA's Avenir awards to support groundbreaking projects using genome editing, smartphones, and smart health technologies. These early-stage investigators will receive up to $300,000 per year for five years to advance addiction science.
The 2016 NIH Addiction Science Awards recognized projects that investigated the relationship between stress, sleep, emotion, and cognition in adolescents. Kashfia Rahman won first place with her project on negative attitudes about stress impacting key factors influencing addiction vulnerability.
The 2015 Monitoring the Future survey found decreasing use of illicit drugs, including synthetic cannabinoids and heroin, among teens. Marijuana use remained stable, but perception of its harms continued to decline. Prescription opioid abuse and tobacco product use also decreased, while e-cigarette use remained a concern.
The NIH has launched a landmark study examining the effects of adolescent substance use on brain development. The study will track 10,000 children from ages 9 to 10 and beyond, assessing exposure to substances, mental health, cognitive skills, and brain structure.
A new NIH-funded study reveals a possible link between e-cigarette use and initiation of tobacco use among teenagers. Students who used e-cigarettes by the time they started ninth grade were more likely to start using combustible tobacco products within the next year.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded six researchers $300,000 per year for five years to support innovative studies on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. The Avenir Award Program supports creative individuals who wish to pursue research approaches for improved prevention and treatment.
A high school student's project identifying novel compounds for pain relief won the top NIH Addiction Science Award. The project also analyzed the toxicological effects of e-cigarettes on lung cell viability and the impact of smartphone dependence on stress and anxiety in developing adolescents.