Articles tagged with Addiction
A study predicts that privatizing Sweden's government monopoly on alcohol sales will increase total consumption by 17-37%, leading to more deaths, assaults, and drunk driving offences. The changes may also reduce state revenue.
A recent study found that walking flat-footed after wearing high heels causes discomfort due to shortened muscle fibers and stiffened tendons. High heel wearers' calf muscles remained the same size as those of flat shoe wearers, but their tendons became thicker and stiffer to compensate for the shortened fibers.
A study found that individuals with a tendency to suppress anger are more likely to exhibit violent behavior when intoxicated. Researchers analyzed self-reported data from over 3,000 young people in Norway and discovered a significant association between suppressed anger and increased violence.
A recent study found that lesions in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) result in compulsive sexual behavior in rats, highlighting a potential role for mPFC dysfunction in regulating behavioral inhibition. The research suggests that intact mPFC function is not required for normal expression of sexual behavior.
Researchers at Michigan State University are testing a new NicVAX vaccine to help people quit smoking and avoid relapses. The vaccine works by preventing nicotine from crossing the blood-brain barrier, blocking the addictive pleasure sensation experienced by smokers.
A study published in the journal Addiction found that smoking cessation treatment is as effective among people with severe mental illnesses as it is for the general population. The treatment did not cause deterioration in mental health, and instead improved physical health, reducing mortality rates by three times.
Researchers from CAS develop novel tea filter to treat cigarette addiction, identifying theanine as key ingredient inhibiting nicotine addiction. The treatment shows promise in reducing smoking consumption and symptoms, with no apparent side effects.
Researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that postpartum blues are associated with elevated brain monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) levels in healthy women. Higher MAO-A levels can lead to feelings of sadness as it accelerates the removal of chemicals like serotonin, contributing to depression.
A new study published in Pediatrics found that adolescent smokers who do not smoke daily still recognize early symptoms of nicotine dependence, such as irritability and desire to smoke. The study, which surveyed over 370 adolescent smokers, shows a correlation between nondaily tobacco use and increased smoking frequency.
A recent study suggests that indoor tanning facilities may be associated with addiction-like behavior, including anxiety symptoms and increased substance use. The research found that individuals who frequently tan indoors were more likely to meet criteria for tanning addiction and report symptoms of anxiety.
Nicotine takes much longer to reach peak brain levels in smokers, contradicting traditional puff-by-puff spikes, and may depend on overall rate of accumulation, habit, and sensory cues. Smokers who eventually experience high nicotine levels without becoming addicted still lack clear explanations for their non-addictive status.
The study found that children's exposure to secondhand smoke decreased by 59% from 1996 to 2006, with the largest decline occurring between 2005 and 2006. Reductions in secondhand smoke exposure can be achieved through parental and carer smoking cessation and household smoke-free policies.
Researchers found dopamine agonists trigger increased learning from beneficial outcomes and greater prediction error in susceptible individuals, leading to choice bias towards gains. The study provides insight into the brain mechanisms underlying behavioral addictions in Parkinson's disease patients.
An online intervention platform, CheckYourDrinking.net, has been shown to reduce problem alcohol use by 30% in a Canadian study. The platform provides personalized feedback and motivation tools to help users change their drinking behaviors.
A recent study reveals that the drinks industry has significantly influenced national alcohol policy drafts in Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda, and Botswana, promoting economic benefits and self-regulation. The policies neglect crucial health concerns like HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, and social deprivation.
A new study from Research Australia found that moderate to heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of behavioral issues in children, including anxiety, depression, and aggressive behaviors. The study suggests that both timing and intensity of alcohol exposure affect the type of behavior problems expressed.
A new meta-analysis shows that women who quit smoking and receive treatment for weight control are more successful at controlling their weight gain and quitting cigarettes. This finding disproves current clinical guidelines that recommend trying to diet while quitting smoking simultaneously.
Experts suggest replacing industry sponsorship with a dedicated tax modelled on tobacco to fund healthy community activities. They argue that current practices encourage unhealthy drinking among sportspeople and fans, citing a 2008 study's findings.
Research identifies a 12-step process where morally upstanding individuals become embroiled in white-collar criminality due to organizational culture and leadership behavior. Key findings include the role of personality, life circumstances, and passive participants in the descent into crime.
A study of 2,293 adolescents found that depression, ADHD, and social phobia predict Internet addiction, with sex differences in predictive factors. Hostility was a significant predictor for male adolescents, while social phobia was a key predictor for female adolescents.
A new study finds that abstainers are more likely to report symptoms of depression than moderate drinkers, with those labeling themselves as 'abstainers' at the highest risk. Other factors like age and social isolation may contribute to this increased risk.
A study found that college students who spent more time on Facebook were more likely to feel jealous towards their partners, triggering a vicious cycle of online behavior. This excessive Facebook usage can lead to negative influences on relationships and behavior, with some participants describing their use as addictive.
A study at a UK hospital found that smokers who break the rules are more addicted and less likely to believe in second-hand smoke protection. Researchers suggest screening staff for smoking behaviors and offering evidence-based workplace interventions to improve compliance and quit rates.
A new study by CAMH researchers found that 1 in 25 deaths worldwide are directly linked to alcohol consumption. The burden of alcohol-attributable disorders is highest among men and younger people.
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health found that tobacco manufacturers altered cigarette ingredients and design without disclosing these changes to consumers. The study suggests that this lack of transparency contributes to the continued harm caused by tobacco products.
A study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that gamers who play for more than seven hours a week experience poorer sleep hygiene and greater sleepiness. The research indicates that excessive gamers sleep significantly less on weekdays and have a positive correlation between game play time and sleepiness.
The NeuroFAST project will investigate the neural mechanisms underlying food intake and addiction, with a focus on the hypothalamus. The research team, led by Professor Suzanne Dickson at Sahlgrenska Academy, aims to create a comprehensive picture of obesity and its causes.
A Temple-led study found that a two-phased program combining body image group counseling sessions and nicotine patches was more effective in helping young women quit smoking and maintain weight loss. The program showed an 18% rate of smoking cessation, compared to 8% for the exercise-only group.
A national survey of 1,178 American youths aged 8-18 found nearly one in 10 to be pathological players, causing harm to their functioning. Pathological gamers exhibited symptoms such as excessive playing, poor grades, and health issues.
Research by CAMH and German researchers finds that drinking alcohol poses a significant risk of acetaldehyde-related cancer, even at low levels. The study's findings have sparked recommendations for reclassifying acetaldehyde as a carcinogen and reducing its content in alcoholic beverages.
A new study reveals that smoking habits are deeply intertwined with relationship dynamics, with couples experiencing increased positive emotions and synchrony when both partners smoke. This finding highlights the importance of considering social factors in health interventions.
Researchers found that increased temptation, such as sweets in a gym setting, can actually decrease desire for them. This counteractive self-control theory suggests the mind dampens desire to protect greater goals like good health. The study also applied this concept to other temptations like work and play.
A new study analyzing over 30 years of research finds that increasing alcohol taxes leads to a significant decrease in drinking rates, affecting both heavy and light drinkers. The study's meta-analysis of 112 studies suggests that tax hikes are an effective deterrent against excessive drinking.
A comprehensive study of nearly 150,000 people in six states found that substance abuse increases medical care costs for other health problems. The study suggests that targeting older adults with substance abuse disorders could lead to significant cost savings and improved health outcomes.
Two Canadian studies found that 20% of people with mental health issues also have substance use problems, with rates highest in BC and lowest in Quebec. Improved integration of mental health and addiction services is needed to address co-occurring disorders.
Researchers from Boston Medical Center developed a Chief Resident Immersion Training (CRIT) program to educate generalist physician trainees about addiction. The program resulted in improved knowledge, skills, and clinical practices among participants.
A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that depression symptoms are associated with a nine percent increase in heart-related hospitalizations and a 43 percent increase in non-heart related hospitalization visits after a heart attack. Depression caused the greatest increase in health service use in those patient...
A recent study published in Addiction Journal found that abstaining smokers who find the smell of other people's cigarettes pleasant are not more likely to relapse than those with a neutral reaction. The researchers concluded that finding cigarette smoke pleasant does not predict relapse.
A new Canadian study found that second-hand smoke exposure in children aged 10-12 can lead to symptoms of nicotine dependence, including depressed mood, trouble sleeping, and irritability. The research suggests that public health interventions promoting non-smoking around children are necessary to prevent long-term nicotine dependence.
Researchers discovered greater serotonin transporter levels in brain regions during fall/winter compared to spring/summer, suggesting more serotonin removal. This finding explains why some experience low mood and energy in the winter.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has received a $15 million investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to propel its research on mental illness and addiction forward. The funding will support six research themes, including optimizing treatment across mental illness and substance use disorders.
Common genetic variations in nicotine receptors significantly increase the chance of life-long nicotine addiction among European American youth smokers. A study of 2,827 long-term smokers found that those who began smoking before age 17 with a high-risk haplotype had a 1.6- to 5-fold increased risk of heavy nicotine dependence.
Common genetic variations affecting nicotine receptors can significantly increase the risk of lifelong nicotine addiction in European American youth who begin smoking before age 17. The study found that possession of a high-risk haplotype can lead to a 1.6-fold to almost 5-fold increase in risk of heavy smoking as an adult.
A worldwide literature review suggests that increased cannabis potency is not a driving factor behind mental health problems. In some countries, like the US and Netherlands, THC levels have risen, but this variation is greater than over years or decades.
Researchers are developing a nicotine vaccine to stimulate the immune system's response against nicotine, while also examining the effectiveness of combination therapies and counseling in treating nicotine addiction. Effective treatments are crucial to match individual patients' needs.
A recent study reveals that approximately 2.1% of US youth aged 14-21 exhibit problem gambling behaviors, projecting to around 750,000 young problem gamblers nationwide. The study also found significant correlations between increased gambling involvement and transitioning into adulthood.
Researchers found approximately one in every two hundred genes showed an epigenetic difference in the brains of psychiatric patients. These changes were noted on genes involved in neurotransmission, brain development, and other processes linked to disease origins.
Researchers from Princeton University have developed a new experimental technique to study brainstem activity in humans, tracking changes in blood flow associated with dopamine levels. The findings provide critical insights into the role of brain chemicals in neuropsychiatric disorders such as addiction and Parkinson's disease.
A study presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology annual meeting found a clear link between GABA and nicotine dependence. The researchers discovered that nicotine has significant effects on brain GABA levels, which could potentially help curb the pleasurable effects of nicotine and aid in quitting addiction.
Scientists report a breakthrough strategy to reduce smokers' nicotine dependence while allowing them to continue smoking. By gradually decreasing nicotine content in cigarettes, most smokers cut their daily cigarette consumption by 40% and experienced comparable reductions in nicotine intake.
A CU-Boulder study suggests that individual brain chemistry and genes play a key role in determining nicotine addiction. The researchers found that the effects of nicotine diminish at night due to genetic differences and melatonin recognition. Higher levels of stress hormone corticosterone during the day enhance nicotine sensitivity.
Research suggests that cravings for chocolate are driven by sugar and fat content rather than psychoactive compounds, contradicting popular notions of 'addiction'. The study also reveals a preference for milk chocolate and chocolate-covered confectionery over dark chocolate.
Researchers discovered a key role for fictive learning in evaluating behavior, influencing decisions and potential addiction. The study used investment games and fMRI to measure brain responses to 'what could have been' outcomes, revealing a distinct signal in the ventral caudate nucleus.
Implementing NICE-recommended smoking cessation interventions can benefit employees' health and employers' businesses. The interventions include short counselling sessions, nicotine replacement therapy, and group therapy to help smokers quit, resulting in reduced lost productivity and improved public health.
Researchers found that specific genes distinguish smokers who quit from those who struggle with addiction, suggesting a biological basis for success. The study could lead to personalized treatment plans tailored to individual genetic profiles.
A CAMH study found that previously married mothers had higher rates of depressive disorders and alcohol abuse compared to married or never-married mothers. The study also showed that single mothers who were never married and currently married mothers have similar prevalence rates of psychiatric and substance use disorders.
Researchers found that individuals with a preference for immediate rewards had more active ventral striatum regions, which may indicate risk for addictions and gambling problems. The study suggests that understanding individual differences in ventral striatal sensitivity could aid efforts to treat impulsive behavior.
A study by Marina Picciotto and colleagues at Yale University has identified a crucial gene involved in nicotine-induced behaviors in the brain. The researchers found that blocking CREB activity in the nucleus accumbens blocks nicotine reward, suggesting potential new targets for smoking cessation therapies.
The facility has attracted high-risk injection drug users, leading to significant reductions in syringe sharing and public discarded syringes, as well as increased uptake of addiction treatment services.
A new study reveals that brain monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) enzyme is significantly higher in individuals with untreated depression, leading to lower levels of key chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. This finding provides a comprehensive disease model for depression, which can aid in targeted treatment.