Articles tagged with Alcoholism
A recent study found that binge drinkers, even when legally intoxicated, believe they have adequate driving abilities. However, their performance on a simulated driving task was poor. The researchers propose that lack of internal sedation cue and variable drinking habits may be responsible for this disconnect.
A recent study found that genetic factors play a significant role in the early initiation of alcohol use among young adolescents, while common environmental factors become more influential once drinking has begun. This new perspective on the causes of adolescent drinking may lead to targeted interventions for parents and families.
Research has found a significant association between the tachykinin receptor 3 gene and both alcohol and cocaine dependence. The study, conducted in European American families, identified seven DNA sequence variations within the TACR3 gene as having a strong link to AD and co-existing cocaine dependence.
A new study found that increasing alcohol outlet density in a suburb leads to rising rates of violence. Hotel pubs and bars drove violence in inner-city areas, while packaged liquor outlets were more significant in suburban areas.
Researchers found substantial increases in drinking and alcohol dependence among women, particularly white and Hispanic women, between 1991 and 2002. The study suggests that social acceptability of women's drinking increased, leading to a rise in alcohol dependence, especially among those who drank.
A new study using adolescent rats has found that early exposure to alcohol during adolescence can quickly lead to heavy drinking patterns. Researchers examined the characteristics of rats that developed problem drinking behaviors and found that novelty seeking and stress responsiveness were not related to drinking outcomes.
Researchers found that aripiprazole reduced the pleasurable effects of alcohol and made drinkers sleepier, suggesting its potential as a treatment for alcohol dependence. The study's findings suggest a balance between useful and aversive effects may be achieved with aripiprazole.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that approximately 84 percent of AI drivers were binge drinkers, and 88 percent of episodes involved binge drinkers. The research highlights the need for effective interventions to change policy focus and reduce excessive drinking behavior.
Researchers found that alcohol inhibits NMDA receptor ion channels in the prefrontal cortex, disrupting its normal duties and leading to impaired decision-making. This discovery may lead to effective treatments for alcoholism by targeting specific ion channels.
Scientists have discovered a genetic factor linked to stress response variability, revealing why some people can better withstand stress than others. The study found that inherited variations in the neuropeptide Y gene affect the brain's anxiety-reducing mechanisms, leading to differences in emotional responses and pain tolerance.
A new genetic analysis by Yale School of Medicine researchers suggests that a genetic variant in East Asian populations may have protected residents from becoming alcoholics. The study found that this variant became widespread through natural selection in specific Hmong- and Altaic-speaking groups, hinting at an environmental factor.
A new University of Washington study found that despite public health campaigns, many women continue to use substances like tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol during pregnancy, while their partners' use remains stable. Men's patterns of substance use are bleaker, with men typically not targeted by these campaigns.
A study at the University of Illinois Chicago found a key molecular event in the brain that links anxiety with alcohol addiction. The researchers discovered a protein called Arc that is produced in response to alcohol exposure, which helps reduce anxiety-like symptoms. Restoring levels of this protein may help alleviate withdrawal-indu...
Researchers found that mice treated with rimonabant, a cannabinoid receptor blocker, developed resistant livers to alcohol's fat-building effects. This discovery suggests that treating fatty liver with CB1 antagonists may slow its progression and prevent severe liver disease.
Children and adolescents at high risk for substance-use disorder show deficits in executive cognitive function, including reduced frontal brain activation. Researchers used fMRI to assess eye movements and found a link between brain functioning and SUD risk.
Resilient children of alcoholics have greater control over emotional responses due to enhanced activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and insula, while vulnerable COAs struggle with processing negative emotions. This may lead to differences in behavior and risk of developing alcohol-use disorders.
Researchers have identified a brain molecule, neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R), that plays a central role in stress-related drinking and may be a potential therapeutic target for alcohol dependence. The study found that blocking NK1R reduced alcohol craving and improved overall wellbeing among individuals with anxiety.
A study found that young women who increased their drinking during the high school-to-college transition were more likely to experience physical and sexual victimization. The majority of freshmen women did not experience any victimization, but those who drank alcohol had substantially higher rates of physical and sexual assault.
A new rodent study found that chronic drinking can lead to severe pneumonia following surgery, impairing the immune system's ability to fight off infections. The study suggests that patients considering surgery should control their drinking habits and be honest about their consumption levels with doctors.
New research reveals that parental drinking habits directly impact adolescent drinking behaviors, as well as indirectly through perceptions of parenting. Monitoring and discipline are found to be strong intermediary roles in associations between parental and adolescent drinking behaviors.
A new study found that eyeblink conditioning can identify children with probable fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and those without distinctive FAS features. Researchers used eyeblink conditioning in five-year-old children born to mixed-ancestry women, finding a deficit in this area related to prenatal alcohol exposure.
A new study reveals that acculturation can have varying effects on men and women's drinking habits along the Texas-Mexico border. Researchers found that immigrant groups who acculturate to mainstream America tend to experience more alcohol-related problems, but this impact differs by gender.
Researchers investigated college parties, observing environments, behaviors, and blood-alcohol concentrations to identify key predictors of excessive drinking. Young women drank more heavily at themed events with sexualized themes and costumes, while students who socialized without drinking games had lower levels of consumption.
Researchers used rats bred to be heavy drinkers and administered an anti-Aldh2 antisense gene, reducing consumption by half for a month. The study suggests gene therapy could be a promising approach for treating alcoholism, particularly in individuals with genetic mutations protecting them from the risk of developing the condition.
Researchers identified four polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter gene associated with an altered risk of withdrawal seizures in alcohol-dependent patients. These findings may help identify patients at high risk and prevent seizures more efficiently.
A nationwide collaborative study found that emergency department patients who underwent alcohol screening and brief intervention reported lower rates of risky drinking than those who received only written information. The study enrolled over 7,751 patients and showed that more than one-fourth exceeded low-risk drinking limits.
The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology has awarded HBO's Addiction Project for its accurate and revealing portrayal of addiction. The documentary series was praised for effectively depicting the complex nature of addiction and highlighting treatment options.
Researchers found that alcohol dependence and conduct disorder are associated with a high number of sex partners among young adults. The study found that 45% of those with alcohol dependence reported having 10 or more partners, compared to 37% of those with conduct disorder.
New research suggests that nicotine patches can improve attention and working memory in recovering alcoholics, particularly those who smoke. The study found that these individuals are more sensitive to the effects of nicotine, which may help explain their struggles with quitting nicotine use.
Research suggests that Mexican Americans with the H6 haplotype of the CYP2E1 gene are more susceptible to developing alcoholism. The study also found associations between the H6 haplotype and late-age onset of drinking and heavy drinking habits.
A comprehensive review of published research on binge drinking and prenatal exposure found little evidence that serious harm was caused to the developing fetus. However, some studies suggested that binge drinking might impair normal neurodevelopment with small but notable effects on behavior and cognition.
A study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that approximately 15% of teens receiving routine outpatient medical care had positive results on a substance abuse screening test. The study highlights the importance of efficient office-based systems for substance abuse screening and therapeutic interventions.
Scientists at NC State University have identified genes that contribute to fruit fly alcohol sensitivity, with 72% of these genes having human counterparts. The study could lead to the development of a drug for people with higher genetic risk factors for alcoholism.
Women with a family history of alcoholism prefer higher levels of sweetness and crave sweet-tasting foods more often than non-smokers. Smokers also exhibit reduced sensitivity to sweet taste, leading to increased food cravings.
A new study found that impulsivity is a common trait among alcoholic individuals, particularly those with antisocial and borderline personality disorders. These individuals exhibited impaired inhibitory control and difficulty delaying gratification, which may impact treatment outcomes.
New research highlights racial disparities in alcohol treatment completion, with African Americans and Hispanics facing lower enrollment rates in residential programs. Increasing access to intensive services may help reduce these disparities.
A new study found that individuals with a specific GABRA2 genotype may have fewer drinking days and better treatment response to psychotherapy. The findings suggest that genetic information could be used to match patients with the most effective treatments.
A recent Scripps Research study found that chronic nicotine use recruits a major brain stress system in rats, contributing to continued tobacco use by exacerbating anxiety and craving upon withdrawal. Administering a compound blocking the receptors involved in this stress system alleviated withdrawal symptoms.
A new study suggests that ANKK1 gene may play a role in addictive behaviors, providing a potential explanation for inconsistent findings with the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2). The research used data from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism and found evidence of association between ANKK1 and addiction phenotypes.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that binge drinking is on the rise in Mediterranean countries, especially among younger adults. The prevalence of binge drinking was highest among men aged 18-24 years, and was more frequent among those with higher education levels.
A new study found that individuals with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to reduce their drinking when prescribed naltrexone. However, those without a family history of alcoholism may experience increased drinking with higher doses of naltrexone.
Researchers compared gene expression in the frontal cortex of cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic alcoholics, finding widespread effects on cellular pathways related to cirrhosis. This suggests that heavy drinking can cause more brain damage in individuals with liver scarring.
Research found a bidirectional relationship between alcohol dependence and neighborhood characteristics. Alcoholism leads to staying in or moving into disadvantaged neighborhoods, while recovery from alcoholism is protective against social drift. Living in poor neighborhoods has an adverse effect on alcoholic symptomatology over time.
A new study by Suresh Ramanathan and Patti Williams examines the affective outcomes of indulgent consumption among both prudent and impulsive consumers. Both groups experience a mixture of positive and negative emotions immediately after consuming a food indulgence, but with different components and time courses.
A new study by University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions found a strong correlation between malt liquor consumption and marijuana use. Young adults who drink malt liquor are more likely to develop alcohol problems and use illicit drugs.
A recent study by OHSU and VAMC researchers found that female mice are more susceptible to brain cell death after alcohol withdrawal than male mice. The study suggests that women may be more vulnerable to the neurotoxic consequences of alcohol consumption, which could contribute to debilitating cognitive dysfunction and motor deficits ...
A new study found that immediate suspension of a driver's license upon failure of an alcohol breath test can reduce alcohol-related fatalities by five percent, saving hundreds of lives annually. This effect is seen across all demographics and circumstances, including individuals with just one or two drinks.
A new study found that prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with altered responses in frontal-striatal areas of the brain, leading to cognitive and behavioral deficits. The research also suggests a link between prenatal alcohol exposure and an increased risk of substance-use disorders.
A study found that recovering alcoholics who smoked showed lower improvement in tests of memory, reasoning, judgment, and visual/spatial coordination compared to non-smokers. Smokers demonstrated inferior performance in auditory/verbal learning and memory, cognitive efficiency, executive skills, processing speed, and working memory.
A new study identifies five distinct subtypes of alcoholism, including a young adult subtype characterized by low rates of co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders. The functional subtype is defined by well-educated individuals with stable jobs and families.
A new study found that a specific gene variant, MAOA-LPR low activity allele, increases the risk of alcoholism and antisocial behavior in women who experienced childhood sexual abuse. This genetic variation is associated with hyperactivation of the hippocampus when retrieving negative emotional information.
A new study examines 'shoulder tapping,' where an underage person asks a stranger to purchase alcohol. Young males are the most willing to participate, with 19% of adults in this demographic agreeing to buy beer for an underage youth. This behavior can lead to serious problems, including traffic crashes and unplanned pregnancies.
Research found that medical patients with an alcohol-use disorder are at a higher risk of requiring mechanical ventilation, and those who develop alcohol withdrawal need it for a longer period. The study's authors recommend screening all medical intensive-care patients for AUDs to identify potential complications.
A new study suggests that smoking can interfere with the neurocognitive recovery of alcoholics during their first six to nine months of abstinence. Non-smoking alcoholics showed significant improvement in areas such as mental efficiency, problem-solving, and working memory compared to smoking alcoholics.
A new study found that early-morning Friday classes can significantly reduce excessive drinking on Thursday nights. The research suggests that requiring students to attend early classes, especially before 10 a.m., can help decrease binge drinking and heavy consumption of alcohol.
A new study found that both heavy drinking and neighborhood characteristics can contribute to mutual intimate partner violence among married/cohabiting adults. Women who are the heaviest drinkers are at elevated risk for mutual IPV regardless of their neighborhood context.
A new study found that binge drinking is linked to poor decision making among college students, regardless of impulsivity. Long-term neurocognitive effects are unclear, but researchers suggest heavy alcohol use can impact decision-making abilities.
A recent study has found that maternal alcohol use during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of extreme preterm delivery. The effects are more pronounced among women aged 30 years and older. Researchers also found that cocaine use was associated with an increased risk, while smoking had a lesser impact.
A new study led by the University of Alberta found that mailing brief self-help materials to interested drinkers in the general population reduced binge drinking by 10%. The study provided self-help materials to 877 male and female drinkers, aged 43, who were recruited from the general population.
Researchers analyzed data from 48 US states between 1975 and 2001 to determine the impact of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) and beer taxes on youth traffic fatalities. The study found that raising MLDA or beer taxes in isolation led to fewer youth-traffic fatalities, but that these effects were more pronounced when other policies we...