This is Archived Content. This content is available for historical purposes only. It may not reflect the current state of science or language from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). View current news releases on nida.nih.gov.
Vaping popular among teens; opioid misuse at historic lows
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Nearly 1 in 3 students in 12th grade report past year use of some kind of vaping device, raising concerns about the impact on their health.
Can treatment during surgery reduce postoperative opioid use?
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With the current concerns related to opioid addiction and overdose, researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are exploring ways to reduce the use of opioids for pain...
Cocaine contributes to overdose deaths among some minorities
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Drug overdose deaths are a major public health concern across all racial/ethnic groups, and are often associated with opioid use. However, a new study shows that cocaine is also a...
Separating side effects could hold key for safer opioids
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Opioid pain relievers can be extremely effective in relieving pain, but can carry a high risk of addiction and ultimately overdose when breathing is suppressed and stops. Scientists have discovered...
Opioid treatment drugs have similar outcomes once patients initiate treatment
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A study comparing the effectiveness of two pharmacologically distinct medications used to treat opioid use disorder – a buprenorphine/naloxone combination and an extended release naltrexone formulation – shows similar outcomes...
Endocannabinoid system as potential target for opioid withdrawal treatment
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Scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse conducted a proof-of-concept study examining the potential efficacy of a cannabinoid receptor (CB1) partial agonist, dronabinol, in relieving signs and symptoms...
How the Brain Grows Up
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This study demonstrated that the new axons arrive via a pathway that originates in the VTA and passes through the part of the forebrain called the nucleus accumbens (NAC).
NIDA launches two adolescent substance use screening tools
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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal screening in pediatric primary settings, and these tools help providers quickly and easily introduce brief, evidence-based screenings into their clinical practices.
Menthol Boosts Nicotine’s Effects
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A study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse bolsters evidence that it may also make cigarettes more addictive.
NIDA scientists review impact of smoking among adolescents with ADHD
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A team from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, examined the effects of childhood ADHD symptoms on the development of smoking in male and...
Study identifies a brain pathway involved in drug relapse after cessation of contingency management
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A team of researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has identified what may be the crucial brain circuit involved in relapse to drug use when an effective...
Behavioral treatments increase brain activity related to cognitive control
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In a recent study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management (CM) increased brain efficiency in regions that coordinate cognitive control—the ability...
Brain circuit connectivity predicts relapse to cocaine use
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Investigators at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Intramural Research Program (IRP) have identified a resting-state brain circuit whose functional connectivity predicts the likelihood of relapse to cocaine use.
Study highlights unmet treatment needs among adults with mental health and substance use disorders
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Despite current treatment guidelines, fewer than 10 percent of adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders receive treatment for both disorders, and more than 50 percent do not...
NIDA study suggests safety of breastfeeding by new mothers being treated with buprenorphine
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Scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) sought to determine the concentrations of buprenorphine in human milk, maternal plasma, and infant plasma of buprenorphine-maintained women and their infants.
Marijuana use is associated with an increased risk of prescription opioid misuse and use disorders
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New research suggests that marijuana users may be more likely than nonusers to misuse prescription opioids and develop prescription opioid use disorder.
Stronger Relief for Neuropathic Pain
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Opioid medications are highly effective against many types of pain, but not neuropathic pain, which arises from damaged or diseased nerves. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests...
Young adults’ daily use of marijuana a concern
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announced that the latest Monitoring the Future (MTF) national survey results of drug use among full-time college students and their non-college peers are...
NIDA scientists identify a potential drug for cocaine use disorder
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Modafinil, a FDA-approved medication used to treat narcolepsy, has been investigated for its potential as a treatment of cocaine use disorders. Scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse...
Collaborative care shows promise for opioid and alcohol use disorders
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A NIDA-funded randomized clinical trial found that primary care patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders (OAUD) who were offered a collaborative care intervention were more likely to receive evidence-based...
Women who inject drugs may be at greater risk of HCV than men
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A newly published analysis examining data from more than 1800 people suggests that women who inject drugs have a 38% higher risk of contracting HCV than their male counterparts.
Post deployment behavioral health screens show promise
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This study is the first multivariate analysis of the Department of Defense and VHA data to assess treatment linkage for veterans with possible behavioral health needs.
Grants awarded to address opioid crisis in rural regions
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To address the opioid crisis in rural U.S. regions, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in partnership with several other federal agencies, have issued nine grants to help communities...
Energy drinks and risk to future substance use
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New research suggests that college students who regularly consume energy drinks are at a greater risk for future alcohol use disorder, cocaine use or nonmedical use (misuse) of prescription stimulants.
NIDA scientists advance DREADD technology
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Scientists at the Intramural Research Program at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have discovered new clues to the successful use of the DREADD technology. It has been thought...
Pain relief most reported reason for misuse of opioid pain relievers
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More than one third of adults nationwide reported prescription opioid use in 2015, with substantial numbers reporting misuse and use disorders, according to a report compiled to estimate the prevalence...
Study identifies quality measures linked to better outcomes in patients with opioid use disorders
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A NIDA funded study has identified certain process measures that are linked to lower mortality rates in people with opioid use disorders, and others that do not appear to affect...
Two D3R selective antagonists provide new leads towards novel drug development
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Scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse synthesized a series of molecules to investigate structure-activity relationships at the D3R. Their research resulted in the identification of two noncompetitive...
Activated Structures of Cannabinoid Receptor Revealed
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Science supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has revealed three-dimensional crystal structures of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in its activated state.
Glutamate Receptor’s Role in Cocaine Reward and Relapse
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Scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that rats lacking mGluR2 self-administered more cocaine than wild-type rats when little work was needed to obtain the drug...
Intensive intervention increases clinical adherence to opioid prescribing guidelines in chronic care
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A NIDA-funded randomized controlled trial that compared two organizational strategies to improve adherence to guidelines suggests that a multi-component approach is more effective than electronic decision tools alone.
Microglia Revealed
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Neuroscientists at the NIDA Intramural Research Program, with colleagues from the Johns Hopkins University, conducted the most extensive analysis to date of microglia in the midbrain of healthy mice. They...
Scientists explore brain region’s role in compulsive drug seeking
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A new report suggests that impairment of the lateral habenula contributes to the transition from controlled drug use to the compulsive use seen in addiction.
Strategies needed to reduce treatment dropout rate for veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
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Research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Department of Veterans Affairs looked for predictors of dropout from one such empirically proven treatment, integrated prolonged exposure therapy.
Long-term anabolic steroid use linked to damage to heart and arteries
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New research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that long-term exposure to anabolic-androgenic steroids may be associated with substantial impairment of the heart, including a reduction...
Epigenetics takes center stage with this year’s Addiction Science Awards
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A project applying the science of epigenetics to demonstrate the health dangers of hookah smoke won a first-place Addiction Science Award at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair...
Combined HIV and heroin vaccine shows promise
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A novel combination vaccine designed to treat heroin addiction and target HIV was found to elicit immune responses in mice and dull their response to injected heroin in a recent...
Smoking cessation medications alleviate symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, but not long-term brain changes
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Researchers now report that nicotine replacement therapy and the smoking cessation medication varenicline alleviate ex-smokers’ deficits in decision-making, but do not restore reward sensitivity. The new study pinpoints the types...
Study shows buprenorphine more effective than morphine for treatment of opioid withdrawal in newborns
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A newly published study showed that buprenorphine is more effective than morphine in treating withdrawal symptoms in newborns prenatally exposed to opioids, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
Illicit cannabis use and use disorders increase in states with medical marijuana laws
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An analysis of national survey data indicates that laws legalizing medical marijuana use are associated with increases in illicit cannabis use and cannabis use disorders among adults.
High mortality among opioid use disorder patients in a general health care setting
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A new report provides information that primary care physicians and health care systems can use as they develop responses to the reforms and measure their success. The findings provide a...
College students at increased risk for smoking marijuana
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An analysis of national survey data indicates that students attending college are at a significantly higher risk of beginning to use marijuana than those not enrolled in college, underscoring the...
Dr. Rita Valentino to lead NIDA’s neuroscience and behavior division
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"Dr. Valentino’s experience in brain research, electrophysiology, pharmacology and neurocircuitry of behavior will enable her to expand NIDA’s basic neuroscience program," said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow.
NIDA announces recipients of 2017 Avant-Garde Awards for HIV/AIDS research
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The winning proposals focus on a variety of novel approaches, including: improving HIV prevention through effective gene therapies; enhancing innate (natural) immunity against HIV and other related viruses; and developing...
Research shows parallels between addiction and aggression
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A new study by scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) Intramural Research Program (IRP) showed that when mice are exposed to experimental protocols adapted from those that...
New resources available for criminal justice and drug treatment counselors
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has created several new resources for those who work within the criminal justice system and other environments where people in recovery are ready...
Medication plus ongoing care provided in emergency departments is promising approach for opioid dependence
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New research comparing treatment approaches for opioid-dependent patients in emergency departments (ED) suggests that combining the medication buprenorphine with ongoing care is more effective than simply providing referrals to addiction...
Opioids are driving increase in cocaine overdose deaths
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An examination of national trend data shows that heroin and synthetic opioids are driving a recent increase in cocaine-related overdose deaths.
Study finds one in four high school e-cigarette users have tried “dripping”
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A study of high school students found that one in four teens reported using e-cigarettes for “dripping,” a practice in which users produce and inhale vapors by placing drops of...
New analysis highlights patterns of adult medical marijuana use
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An analysis of medical marijuana use among adults in the United States indicates that more than 21 percent of medical marijuana users reside in states that have not legalized its...
Journal issue addresses nonmedical use of prescription drugs
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A special issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors features more than a dozen articles related to understanding and addressing the serious public health issues related to the nonmedical use of...
Preoccupation with muscle mass may spur steroid use among non-athlete men
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A new viewpoint written by scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and Harvard Medical School describes that a growing number of young, non-athlete men are using androgenic-anabolic...
Teen substance use shows promising decline
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The 2016 Monitoring the Future (MTF) annual survey results released today from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reflect changing teen behaviors and choices in a social media-infused world.
Structure of primary cannabinoid receptor is revealed
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New research is providing a more detailed view into the structure of the human cannabinoid (CB1) receptor.
Gene Variant Influences Nicotine-Induced Changes to Brain Circuitry
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Researchers at NIDA and the University of Toronto investigated the role of a gene, CYP2A6, which produces an enzyme responsible for metabolizing nicotine; different variants of this gene inactivate nicotine...
Multi agency funding announcement to assist with opioid crisis in rural U.S. regions
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A new federal funding opportunity was announced today to help find solutions to the opioid use and overdose crisis in the nation’s rural regions. It includes a focus on coal-impacted...
Virtual Drug Design Yields Opioid Breakthrough
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Existing opioid medications have a range of side effects that make them problematic as pain treatments, as has been seen in America’s current opioid crisis and overdose epidemic.
Buprenorphine Prescribers Treat Below Current Patient Limits
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A new NIDA-funded study analysis found that the monthly numbers of opioid use disorder patients treated by buprenorphine prescribers were significantly below current limits, suggesting that barriers exist to securing...
Recruitment begins for landmark study of adolescent brain development
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The landmark study by the National Institutes of Health will follow the biological and behavioral development of more than 10,000 children beginning at ages 9-10 through adolescence into early adulthood.
Women less sensitive than men to analgesic, but not rewarding effects of cannabis
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Animal studies have shown sex differences in cannabis-induced analgesia, but these studies had not previously been done in humans. A new study explored this issue by assessing the analgesic and...
Pain relief without risk of addiction or overdose?
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New preclinical NIDA-funded research shows that a new compound, BU08028, acts on opioid and non-opioid brain receptors to relieve pain without harmful side effects.
Teens using e-cig devices not just for nicotine
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A recent analysis of the 2015 Monitoring the Future (MTF) findings on e-cigarette use highlights uncertainty about what teens are actually inhaling when using "e-cig" devices, and at least six...
Brain region may manage reward expectations and responding
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A new paper by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) researchers suggests that a certain brain region—the amygdala central nucleus— plays a role in predicting reward value and allocating...
Secondhand marijuana smoke may impair cardiovascular function
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Pre-clinical research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that secondhand marijuana smoke may cause longer lasting cardiovascular harm than secondhand tobacco smoke.
Athletic teens less likely to transition from prescription pain relievers to heroin
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Teens who participate in daily sports and exercise activities are less likely to transition from opioid pain reliever use to heroin, according to research funded by the National Institute on...
NIDA editorial supports use of buprenorphine implant for opioid use disorder
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An editorial published today in The Journal of the American Medical Association by NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow and NIDA Deputy Director Dr. Wilson Compton discusses the importance of the...
Research finds that patient navigation does not improve viral suppression rates among those with substance use disorders and HIV
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The study results raise awareness about the need for health care professionals to have cost-effective and efficient strategies in providing care to patients with substance use disorders and HIV.
Smoking cessation success linked to sex difference
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A meta-analysis of smoking cessation therapies, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), showed that clinicians should strongly consider varenicline as the first treatment option for women who...
Co-prescribing naloxone in primary care settings may reduce ER visits
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Research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that patients taking opioids for long-term chronic pain, who were given prescriptions for naloxone in a primary care setting...
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Linked to Reductions in Opioid Overdose Deaths
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New research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that state implementation of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) was associated with a reduction in opioid-related overdose deaths.
Addiction treatment patients trained to manage their healthcare may have better outcomes
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Research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reveals that teaching patients in addiction treatment how to communicate with physicians, and providing training on using an electronic health...
Pioneering early stage researchers selected for NIDA’s 2016 Avenir awards
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The awards will support exciting approaches with tools such as genome editing and smart phone technologies, as well as studies of epigenetic changes in brain cells and couples-based HIV prevention.
NIDA creates online resource to raise awareness about naloxone
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The new web resource includes information about the medication, how, and by whom, it can be given, and where to obtain it. Additionally, dosage information, precautions, and the side effects...
College and young adult drug use data now available online
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The latest (2014) college age MTF data shows that more students are using marijuana daily than are drinking alcohol daily. Survey results suggest that the non-medical use of the stimulant...
FDA approves six month implant for treatment of opioid dependence
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, is pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first...
Link between stress mindset and factors that influence addiction vulnerability—focus of top NIH Addiction Science Award
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A project showing how negative attitudes about stress impact key factors that influence vulnerability to addiction, including sleep, emotion and cognition, won a first place Addiction Science Award at the...
Extended-release naltrexone lowers relapse rates in ex-offenders
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New research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) revealed that the relapse rates among criminal justice involved adults with a history of opioid dependence were lower for...
Review article outlines strategies to reduce opioid abuse risk
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More than 30 percent of Americans have some form of chronic pain. Yet, the over-reliance on the millions of opioid pain reliever prescriptions dispensed yearly have resulted in a national...
Brain dopamine release reduced in severe marijuana dependence
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NIDA-funded research using brain scans shows that severe marijuana dependence (now referred to as cannabis use disorder) is associated with a reduced release of dopamine within the striatum, a region...
Substance use disorders extremely common among previously incarcerated youth
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New research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that of previously incarcerated youths, more than 90% of males and nearly 80% of females had a substance use...
A child’s first eight years critical for substance abuse prevention
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An online guide about interventions in early childhood that can help prevent drug use and other unhealthy behaviors was launched today by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part...
NIDA and ARC announce funding opportunity for research projects to address opioid injection use and its consequences in the Appalachian Region
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), has announced a NIDA funding opportunity for one-year, services planning research grants to address a...
Marijuana Use Raises SUD Risk
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The health impacts of marijuana are currently the subject of significant public debate. Past data have suggested a link to numerous mental health outcomes including substance use disorders (SUDs), mood...
Naloxone prescriptions from pharmacies increased ten-fold
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A new scientific analysis shows prescriptions for naloxone, a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose, has increased ten-fold in the past eighteen months.
Dr. Marilyn Huestis retires
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Dr. Huestis’ research program has sought to discover mechanisms of action of cannabinoid agonists and antagonists, effects of in utero drug exposure, and the neurobiology and pharmacokinetics of novel psychoactive...
NIDA issues strategic plan to address current and future public health needs through transformative addiction research
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As the lead federal agency devoted to research on the health effects of drug use, NIDA has developed a plan with four priority areas that present unique opportunities to be...
Factors Predicting the Transition from Prescription Opioids to Heroin
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Prescription opioid misuse remains one of America’s biggest drug problems. In recent years the numbers of people misusing prescription pain relievers has leveled off, however, the number of people dying...
Research on THC blood levels sheds light on difficulties of testing for impaired driving
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Driving under the influence of drugs is a major public safety issue, and marijuana is the illicit drug most commonly found in the blood of drivers.
Review article reinforces support for brain disease model of addiction
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The review article summarizes recent scientific advances in the neurobiology of addiction, including prevention and treatment strategies, as well as related developments in public policy.
New policies to reduce opioid prescribing not likely to have caused increase in heroin use
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A new scientific review suggests that federal and state policies aimed at curbing inappropriate prescribing of opioids have not directly led to the recent increases in heroin use across the...
NIDA editorial urges safer opioid prescribing practices for pregnant women
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Recent research sheds light on the risks of prescribing opioids to pregnant women and their exposed infants – underscoring the importance of following good opioid prescription practices, according to an...
Teen Opioid Prescriptions Raise Risk of Later Opioid Misuse
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A new study using data from the NIDA-funded Monitoring the Future survey of adolescent drug use and attitudes conducted annually by the University of Michigan shows that teens who received...
Drug use trends remain stable or decline among teens
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The 2015 Monitoring the Future survey (MTF) shows decreasing use of a number of substances, including cigarettes, alcohol, prescription opioid pain relievers, and synthetic cannabinoids (“synthetic marijuana”). Other drug use...
Survey Examines Risky Behavior Among Young HIV+ Men
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The survey found that unprotected (condomless) sex was more common among YMSM reporting problematic substance use, among those who were unemployed, and among those with virologically detectable HIV who let...
NIDA and NIAAA release new resources for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) are pleased to unveil new online toolkits designed for National Drug and Alcohol...
High rates of dental and gum disease occur among methamphetamine users
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A new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) documents the high rates and unique patterns of dental decay and gum disease in people who use the...
FDA approves naloxone nasal spray to reverse opioid overdose
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The new technology has an easy-to-use, needle-free design, providing family members, caregivers and first responders with an alternative to injectable naloxone for use during a suspected opioid overdose.
NIDA Issues Challenge to Create App for Addiction Research
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The goal of the NIDA Challenge is to create an app to be used by addiction researchers in future studies which will help to improve the scientific understanding of drug...
NIDA redesigns Easy to Read and Learn the Link websites for mobile devices
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This new responsive design model automatically adjusts each page to fit the viewer’s screen for faster and easier viewing and navigation on a variety of mobile platforms, such as smartphones...
NIDA announces new awards for the Clinical Trials Network
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The grants will support studies on behavioral and pharmacological therapeutic interventions in rigorous, multi-site clinical trials to determine their effectiveness across a broad range of community-based treatment settings and diversified...