New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Study suggests marijuana-derived CBD can play a role in treating heroin addiction

Rich Haridy May 21, 2019

A new study suggests CBD can reduce cravings and anxiety in subjects with a history of heroin use. The study doesn't imply CBD alone can help break an opioid addiction but instead points to the marijuana ingredient acting as a tool to help reduce cravings in those struggling with heroin addiction.

A study has found CBD reduced a person's cravings for heroin and anxiety associated with the ...

Science Feature

Psychedelic Medicine 101: LSD and psilocybin vs alcoholism

Rich Haridy May 19, 2019

A new study is suggesting a great number of individuals are self-treating problematic alcohol consumption with strong doses of LSD or psilocybin. The research rekindles interest in a strong vein of study from the 1950s and 1960s into LSD and alcoholism.

Despite a large volume of positive research in the 1950s and 60s, it is only now ...

Medical Audio available

Dual studies highlight ketamine’s potential to treat anxiety and addiction

Rich Haridy January 10, 2019

Two new studies suggest the psychiatric benefits of ketamine treatment may extend beyond just the targeting of depression. The research demonstrates ketamine may be helpful in targeting both anxiety- and substance abuse-related depression.

New evidence suggests ketamine can reduce anxiety related to major depression, and substance abuse depression

Health & Wellbeing

Enzyme to help smokers quit by eliminating nicotine in the blood before it reaches the brain

Rich Haridy October 17, 2018

New research has revealed a promising new candidate to help smokers kick their damaging addiction. An enzyme has been engineered that can gobble up nicotine in the bloodstream before it reaches the brain, with the compound proving to be incredibly successful in early animal tests.

A new treatment for smoking cessation is ready to move into the first stages of human ...

Science

An ancient virus may be responsible for some addictive behaviors

Rich Haridy September 25, 2018

Researchers have revealed that an ancient retrovirus, found in between 5 and 10 percent of the world’s population, is significantly associated with addiction. The study uncovered a connection between the retrovirus and a gene that could make individuals prone to a variety of addictive behaviors.

Intriguing results suggest a retrovirus increases expression of a gene that makes individuals more disposed to ...

Medical Audio available

How stem cells, CRISPR and skin grafts could help combat cocaine addiction

Michael Irving September 17, 2018

A novel form of treatment could help cut back on a person’s desire for cocaine and reduce its damaging effect in the body. The method involves removing a small patch of skin, introducing genes that produce cocaine-degrading enzymes, and then grafting it back onto the patient.

A new potential treatment for cocaine addiction involves skin grafts, stem cells and gene-editing

Medical

Ketamine's opioid-like qualities raise addiction fears for experimental depression treatments

Nick Lavars August 29, 2018

Ketamine has become the subject of intense research in recent years, as scientists hunt for new and improved treatments for depression. A new study has highlighted some worrying parallels between ketamine and opioids, raising red flags about the potentially addictive qualities of the drug.

In treating depression with ketamine, might we be giving rise to a new breed of opioid ...

Science

Addiction mechanism discovery may explain why some people are prone to alcoholism

Rich Haridy June 26, 2018

A robust study has uncovered a molecular mechanism in the brain that is believed central to the development of alcohol addiction. The research potentially explains why some people are more prone to alcoholism than others and may even lead to a new drug therapy than could treat alcohol dependance.

Markus Heilig and Eric Augier from Linköping University, leads on this new compelling research

Medical

Can magnetic pulses to the brain help drug users shake their addiction?

Nick Lavars May 15, 2018

Scientists exploring the potential of transcranial magnetic stimulation to tackle drug addiction have found that it can dampen brain activity in response to common triggers, with implications for both the development of new substance abuse treatments and our understanding of neuroscience.

Electrical pulses delivered to the brains of drug users have dampened the neural response to common ...

Health & Wellbeing

Could legal recreational marijuana help solve the opioid crisis?

Rich Haridy April 5, 2018

Two new studies are adding weight to the argument that cannabis legalization can significantly reduce opioid consumption. The research found that when states legalize marijuana, either medicinal or recreational, a drop in opioid prescriptions can be identified.

New research suggests opioid use has dropped in states that pass medical or recreational marijuana laws