Articles tagged with Addiction
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A major scientific review suggests that e-cigarettes may be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, with benefits including reduced harm to users and bystanders. The review's findings support regulating e-cigarettes proportionally to conventional cigarettes, rather than strictly.
Researchers found a significant increase in hospital admissions among young Ontarians during their 19th birthday week, with spikes also observed at other ages. Birthday-related drinking was associated with upsurges in hospital admissions, particularly for alcohol-related events.
The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey found that over one-third of licensed drivers in grades 10 to 12 reported texting while driving, with 46% of grade 12 students admitting to this behavior. The survey also revealed alarming trends in risk behaviors, physical health, mental health, and home life among Ontario students.
A study of e-cigarette use in Europe found that over 29 million adults have tried the products, with current smokers and would-be quitters more likely to use them. The analysis highlights the need for evaluating the long-term health impact of e-cigarettes and their role in smoking cessation.
Researchers at KU Leuven have discovered a causal link between brain activity in the ventral tegmental area and choice behavior in primates. By stimulating this area with electrical pulses, macaques were able to change their preference for images, highlighting the importance of dopamine in regulating learning and reinforcement.
A new study from St. Michael's Hospital found that homeless clients in Toronto are nearly nine times more likely to have a history of problem or pathological gambling than the general population. This highlights the need for screening and holistic treatment approaches for this vulnerable group.
Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study methamphetamine users and non-users. Methamphetamine users displayed reduced sensitivity to risk in one brain region and increased sensitivity in another. These findings suggest circuit-level abnormalities contribute to impaired decision-making.
A high school student's project found significant increases in nicotine on surfaces after vaping, even if the user wasn't exposed to the e-cigarette. The study also explored cognitive control in multitaskers and identified potential medications for various diseases.
Two new genes, FBXO31 and METTL23, have been identified as contributors to intellectual disability. The studies provide insights into the genetic factors underlying this complex condition.
A collaborative effort has created a standardized nomenclature for the architecture of insect brains, tripling the number of identified structures. This will enable future research on brain function and disease to be more efficient and accurate.
There is limited evidence to support the existence of pornography 'addiction', with most studies lacking methodological rigor and failing to find negative side effects. Instead, viewing sexual images can have positive benefits such as improving attitudes towards sexuality and increasing pleasure in relationships.
A new study by Case Western Reserve University finds that people with strong religious beliefs perceive a higher risk of addiction to online pornography, even if they only view it once. The researchers suggest that therapists can help individuals understand their driving motivations and enjoy their faith.
A new study reveals alcohol consumption is a necessary cause of nearly 80,000 deaths per year in the Americas, primarily due to liver disease. The risk varies by country and age group, with men accounting for 84% of all deaths.
Dr. Kushner earned the award for his study on hybrid cognitive behavioral therapy versus relaxation training for co-occurring anxiety and alcohol disorder, which showed significant better alcohol outcomes four months after treatment.
A study in The Journal of General Physiology reveals how nicotine up-regulates nAChRs through COPI-coated vesicles, playing a major role in nicotine addiction. This finding may also contribute to the decreased susceptibility of smokers to Parkinson's disease.
A study of over 10,000 people found that seeing a specialist increased quit rates by three times compared to self-trying. Buying nicotine patches or gum did not improve success rates.
A new study from Carnegie Institution researchers used zebrafish to understand the circuitry underlying nicotine addiction. The research confirmed that a specific neural pathway in fish brains responds similarly to nicotine as it does in human brains.
Researchers at UH have discovered that a specific protein inhibits gamma lobe neurons, which are involved in forming memories. This finding has implications for treating dementia by understanding how memories form.
A recent study found that cannabis use among adolescents is stable or increasing in developing countries, unlike richer nations where it's declining. The research suggests that socioeconomic factors may play a role in shaping cannabis use patterns among young people.
A recent study found that people who engage in health-specific social networking sites are more likely to quit smoking and maintain abstinence. The study suggests that increased social connectedness on these sites leads to a stronger sense of community, trust, and self-efficacy, ultimately aiding smokers in quitting
A majority of underage students in Ontario who smoke or drink obtain their substances from friends or family members. The survey found that males are more likely to buy cigarettes from corner stores than females, while females are more likely to receive alcohol from a friend or family member.
Research links male violence with drinking in public places and female violence with quiet evenings at home. The study suggests that certain drinking contexts can trigger partner aggression.
The City College of New York has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to train researchers in addiction studies. The TRACC program aims to increase diversity among scientists and provide intensive training in interdisciplinary research skills.
A new report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that two in five youth receiving services experience significant concurrent mental health and substance use problems. The study also showed that increased collaboration between service providers can enhance services for youth.
A new study highlights the need for more social responsibility by online gaming industry regarding over-addictive use. Researchers found that warning messages on loading screens are insufficient and game developers must adopt strategies to promote responsible gameplay and provide gamers with tools to control their behavior.
A new study by San Francisco State University researchers identifies specific behaviors that lead to compulsive buying, including poor credit management and emotional purchases. The study found that shopaholics are more likely to buy things to boost their mood or improve their life.
The NIH has launched three new projects to develop therapeutics for Fragile X syndrome, nicotine addiction, and age-related macular degeneration. Researchers aim to create novel treatments using cutting-edge science to address debilitating disorders.
A Duke University study found that a compound called neuroprotectin D1 can relieve neuropathic pain caused by nerve injuries. The derivative of DHA, a main ingredient of fish oil supplements, inhibits the production of cytokines and chemokines, protecting nerve cells from further damage.
Researchers identified large rare changes in chromosome structure associated with schizophrenia, similar to those found in autism spectrum disorder. These findings suggest a potential role for clinical DNA testing in understanding the complex disease.
A recent brain imaging study by Boston Children's Hospital suggests that consuming highly processed carbohydrates can stimulate the brain's reward and craving centers, leading to excessive hunger. Limiting high-glycemic index foods may help obese individuals control their appetite.
More than half of WHO FCTC signatory countries lack tobacco quit plans, with only 44% having treatment guidelines. Tobacco dependence treatment is a cost-effective way to save lives, according to expert comments.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has released a summary report highlighting the need for improved policies to address drinking behaviours in Ontario. The report recommends 10 policy improvements to decrease alcohol-related harms and costs in the province.
A new study finds that women who experienced childhood abuse are more likely to have a food addiction, with eight percent meeting the criteria for food addiction. Women who experienced both physical and sexual abuse in childhood had an even higher likelihood of developing food addiction.
A high school student's project found that excessive screen time shapes sleep patterns, compromising academic success and emotional health. The study also linked fetal alcohol exposure to an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.
A new program, co-led by St. Michael's Hospital, has shown promise in reducing service use and substance abuse among frequent healthcare users with severe addictions. The Toronto Community Addiction Team provides one-on-one intensive case management, resulting in a statistically significant decrease in service use, alcohol, and drug use.
Researchers found that theta brainwave activity in the prefrontal cortex is related to overcoming ingrained biases. The study used a custom-designed computer game to measure subjects' ability to repress Pavlovian biases, with those who performed better showing higher theta activity.
A UCLA-led study found that teen girls are more likely to continue using methamphetamine during treatment, suggesting a need for new approaches. The study suggests that gender differences in addiction may begin in adolescence.
A recent study found that UK tobacco companies absorb increasing taxes on ultra-low-price cigarettes, maintaining prices and market share. This strategy undermines the effectiveness of cigarette taxes in reducing smoking rates.
Researchers from CAMH found that people with mental illnesses are more than seven times more likely to use cannabis weekly compared to those without a mental illness. The study also shows that individuals with mental illness were 10 times more likely to have a cannabis use disorder.
A genetic risk score has been developed to predict who is likely to become a lifelong heavy smoker. Individuals with high-risk genetic profiles were more likely to start smoking as teens, progress to heavy smoking, and develop nicotine dependence.
Researchers used optogenetics to study the interaction between two brain regions involved in emotional behavior. They found that stimulating one pathway increased anxiety-like behavior, while stimulating another pathway promoted reward-associated behaviors.
Researchers found that fans forgave Josh Hamilton through various narratives, including offering support and attributing his actions to personal struggles. Most people extended forgiveness due to perceived similarity with Hamilton's public struggles with addiction.
A study published in Psychopathology found that sports gamblers who believed they could control the outcome using knowledge of the game were actually no more successful than those with no prior experience or knowledge. Cognitive therapy may be a better approach for treating this type of addiction.
A new imaging-genetics study from CAMH found that a specific version of the microRNA-137 gene is associated with younger age at onset and distinct brain features in patients with schizophrenia. The study suggests that developing tests to screen for this gene could help treat patients earlier and more effectively.
A new CAMH study shows that alcohol is the third leading cause of disease and injury worldwide, with vast differences in drinking patterns across regions. The research found that North Americans and Canadians drink significantly more than the global average, with a detrimental drinking pattern characterized by bingeing.
A recent study found that minimum alcohol prices increased by 10% resulted in significant reductions in alcohol-related deaths. The decrease was particularly pronounced among heavier drinkers, who reduced their consumption when cheaper drinks became more expensive.
A new study by CAMH found that cutting in and weaving are the most common online complaints about unsafe driving practices. The study analyzed over 5,000 entries from RoadRagers.com and found that drivers feel compelled to retaliate when slighted, leading to hostile situations.
Experts say setting minimum prices for alcohol increases health and economic benefits, with research showing a reduction in overall consumption, deaths, and hospitalizations. Heavy drinkers are targeted by pricing strategies, which can also generate revenue for the government and industry profits.
In early 19th-century Ireland, women who drank tea were seen as reckless and uncontrollable, wasting their time and money on a supposedly luxury they couldn't afford. This perception was fueled by concerns about tea's supposed addictive qualities and its associations with slavery and revolutionary feminism.
Studies by University of Missouri psychologists found that individuals with 'urgency' personality tend to drive after drinking due to impulsivity. Reducing travel wait times for taxis and public transit could provide a safe alternative, helping to lower DWI rates.
A Baylor University study found that materialism and impulsiveness drive cell phone addiction. Cell phones are used as a status symbol and can erode personal relationships.
A new Swedish study reveals that adolescents with lower peer status are at a higher risk of becoming regular or heavy smokers in adulthood. Researchers found that marginalized students, those nominated few times by their classmates, were more likely to adopt smoking as a behavior.
Dr. Aristotle Voineskos has won the prestigious Polanyi Prize for his research combining brain imaging and genetics to improve diagnostic classification and treatment strategies for severe mental illness.
A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that less than half of Ontario youth aged 15-19 with a psychiatric diagnosis received follow-up care within a month after discharge. This lack of timely aftercare is linked to demographics, diagnoses, and socioeconomic status.
State physician health programs help doctors with substance abuse problems, but their system is inconsistent and prone to potential conflicts of interest. The authors recommend increased oversight and national standards to address these concerns.
Research by Newcastle University found that uncomfortable weather leads to longer phone calls with close friends and family, while fewer calls are made to wider networks. The study analyzed data from over 1.3 million mobile phone users in Portugal, revealing the influence of weather on human behavior.
A new study finds that near-misses are perceived as frustrating losses, stimulating the brain's reward systems and promoting addictive behavior. This leads to increased skin conductance responses and a desire to spin again quickly.
Researchers at CAMH have identified 5-hmC, an epigenetic modification of DNA, as playing a key role in the brain's plasticity. The study found that 5-hmC is highly enriched in genes related to synapses, suggesting its involvement in learning and memory.
Researchers at Newcastle University analyzed data from over 7,000 Australian households and found that smokers with a longer time horizon were more likely to quit smoking by 2008. Seventy-six percent of quitters fell into this category compared to 66% of those who continued to smoke.
New research published in Addiction suggests that plain packaging of cigarettes can draw attention to health warnings and deter young smokers. The study found that students who were occasional or had tried smoking before paid more attention to the health warnings on plain packs.