Addiction

Addiction

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The Latest Research Discoveries

GLP-1 Drug Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) Reduced Heavy Drinking & Craving in Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder

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GLP-1 Drug Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) Reduced Heavy Drinking & Craving in Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder

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Addictive Use of Phones, Social Media, & Video Games Is “Common” in Young Adolescents and Linked to Risk for Suicidal Behaviors and Worse Mental Health, Study Finds

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Addictive Use of Phones, Social Media, & Video Games Is “Common” in Young Adolescents and Linked to Risk for Suicidal Behaviors and Worse Mental Health, Study Finds

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Alcohol-Regulating Hormone Delivered in Combination With GLP-1 Drug Could Have Potential Application in Alcohol Use Disorder, Animal Study Suggests

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Alcohol-Regulating Hormone Delivered in Combination With GLP-1 Drug Could Have Potential Application in Alcohol Use Disorder, Animal Study Suggests

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A Strategy to Sharply Blunt Addictive Reward From Opioids While Retaining Their Pain-Relieving Properties

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A Strategy to Sharply Blunt Addictive Reward From Opioids While Retaining Their Pain-Relieving Properties

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A Possible Biomarker for Cocaine Misuse and a Novel Treatment for Cocaine Addiction Based on Compound in Rosemary

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A Possible Biomarker for Cocaine Misuse and a Novel Treatment for Cocaine Addiction Based on Compound in Rosemary

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Alcohol Use Worsens Bipolar Symptoms, Study Finds

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Alcohol Use Worsens Bipolar Symptoms, Study Finds

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Functional Connectivity Signature for Cocaine Use Disorder and Response to rTMS Brain Stimulation Therapy Is Identified

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Functional Connectivity Signature for Cocaine Use Disorder and Response to rTMS Brain Stimulation Therapy Is Identified

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Unique Neural Activation Pattern in People With Co-Occurring Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder Points to Future Treatment Targets

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Unique Neural Activation Pattern in People With Co-Occurring Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder Points to Future Treatment Targets

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Probing the Role of Impulsive Behaviors in Alcohol Misuse and Suicidality

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Probing the Role of Impulsive Behaviors in Alcohol Misuse and Suicidality

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Probing How Alcohol and Drinking Behaviors Change How Inhibitory Cortical Cells Function

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Probing How Alcohol and Drinking Behaviors Change How Inhibitory Cortical Cells Function

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Cannabis Use in Adolescence May Alter Development of Cerebral Cortex

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Cannabis Use in Adolescence May Alter Development of Cerebral Cortex

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Cannabis Use in Adolescence May Alter Development of Cerebral Cortex

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Cannabis Use in Adolescence May Alter Development of Cerebral Cortex

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Study Examines Potential Resilience to Substance Use Disorder Following Childhood Maltreatment

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Study Examines Potential Resilience to Substance Use Disorder Following Childhood Maltreatment

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In Young Men, 15% of Schizophrenia Might Be Prevented If Cannabis Use Disorder Is Not Present, Study Finds

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In Young Men, 15% of Schizophrenia Might Be Prevented If Cannabis Use Disorder Is Not Present, Study Finds

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Behavioral Changes in Cocaine Addiction Are Linked to Altered Patterns of Gene Activity in the Striatum

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Behavioral Changes in Cocaine Addiction Are Linked to Altered Patterns of Gene Activity in the Striatum

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Researchers Identify Habit-Related Neural Circuitry That is Likely Perturbed in Binge-Eating Disorders

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Researchers Identify Habit-Related Neural Circuitry That is Likely Perturbed in Binge-Eating Disorders

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Machine Learning Is Harnessed To Predict Risk of Opioid Use Disorder

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Machine Learning Is Harnessed To Predict Risk of Opioid Use Disorder

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Large Genome Study Finds a ‘General Addiction Risk Factor’ Commonly Inherited Across Multiple Substance-Use Disorders

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Large Genome Study Finds a ‘General Addiction Risk Factor’ Commonly Inherited Across Multiple Substance-Use Disorders

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A Circuit Causally Linked With Spontaneous Nicotine Addiction Remissions May Be a Powerful Addiction Treatment Target

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A Circuit Causally Linked With Spontaneous Nicotine Addiction Remissions May Be a Powerful Addiction Treatment Target

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Researchers Discover Potentially Targetable Brain Circuit Controlling Cocaine Withdrawal Anxiety and Relapse

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Researchers Discover Potentially Targetable Brain Circuit Controlling Cocaine Withdrawal Anxiety and Relapse

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A Molecule Tested in Higher Primates Reduced Alcohol Consumption By Half

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A Molecule Tested in Higher Primates Reduced Alcohol Consumption By Half

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Long-Term Regular Cannabis Users Showed Cognitive Deficits at Midlife in 45-Year Study

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Long-Term Regular Cannabis Users Showed Cognitive Deficits at Midlife in 45-Year Study

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New Treatment Approach for Alcohol Use Disorder is Tested in Animals

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New Treatment Approach for Alcohol Use Disorder is Tested in Animals

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Researchers Propose a New Understanding of Dopamine's Role in Learning and Memory

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Researchers Propose a New Understanding of Dopamine's Role in Learning and Memory

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Experiments Reveal How a Circuit 'Resets' When the Brain Learns to Respond to New Conditions

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Experiments Reveal How a Circuit 'Resets' When the Brain Learns to Respond to New Conditions

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Largest Genome Study to Date of Cannabis Use Disorder Reveals New Genetic Underpinnings

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Largest Genome Study to Date of Cannabis Use Disorder Reveals New Genetic Underpinnings

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Experiments in Rodents Suggest Feasibility of Modifying or Erasing Traumatic Fear Memories

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Experiments in Rodents Suggest Feasibility of Modifying or Erasing Traumatic Fear Memories

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Brain-Wave Patterns Shed Light on Pathologies and New Treatments in Substance-Use Disorders

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Brain-Wave Patterns Shed Light on Pathologies and New Treatments in Substance-Use Disorders

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Study Reveals Adults With Mental Disorders Are At Significantly Higher Risk of COVID-19 and Have Poorer Outcomes

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Study Reveals Adults With Mental Disorders Are At Significantly Higher Risk of COVID-19 and Have Poorer Outcomes

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Large Genetic Study Expands Links Between DNA Variations and Problematic Drinking

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Large Genetic Study Expands Links Between DNA Variations and Problematic Drinking

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New Insights About How Alcohol Withdrawal Changes the Brain Differently in Males and Females

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New Insights About How Alcohol Withdrawal Changes the Brain Differently in Males and Females

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In 2 Trials, Ketamine Plus Behavioral Therapies Helped People with Cocaine and Alcohol Dependencies to Abstain

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In 2 Trials, Ketamine Plus Behavioral Therapies Helped People with Cocaine and Alcohol Dependencies to Abstain

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Study Gauges Impact of Heavy, Chronic Cannabis Use on Cognition and Psychosis-Related Phenomena

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Study Gauges Impact of Heavy, Chronic Cannabis Use on Cognition and Psychosis-Related Phenomena

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A Computer ‘Game’ to Identify Opioid Abuse Patients at High Risk of Relapse

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A Computer ‘Game’ to Identify Opioid Abuse Patients at High Risk of Relapse

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Activity in Newly Discovered Brain Circuit Predicted Future Compulsive Drinking in Mice

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Activity in Newly Discovered Brain Circuit Predicted Future Compulsive Drinking in Mice

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Brain Network Changes May Explain Resilience to Childhood Abuse

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Brain Network Changes May Explain Resilience to Childhood Abuse

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Researchers Explore How Adolescent Chronic Cannabis Use Could Affect Adult Memory

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Researchers Explore How Adolescent Chronic Cannabis Use Could Affect Adult Memory

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Research Showing How Cocaine Addiction Reprograms the Brain Points to New Therapy Targets

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Research Showing How Cocaine Addiction Reprograms the Brain Points to New Therapy Targets

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Intensive PTSD Treatment

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Intensive PTSD Treatment Shows Success Among Post-9/11 Warriors

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Large Gene Expression Study Sheds Light on Causal Factors in Five Brain Disorders

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Large Gene Expression Study Sheds Light on Causal Factors in Five Brain Disorders

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Genome-Wide Studies Aid Investigation of Dual Diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Substance Use Disorder

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Genome-Wide Studies Aid Investigation of Dual Diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Substance Use Disorder

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Researchers Uncover Neural Circuit that Underlies Interest in Novelty

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Researchers Uncover Neural Circuit that Underlies Interest in Novelty

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Studying Psychotic Symptoms in Marijuana Smokers at High Psychosis Risk

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Studying Psychotic Symptoms in Marijuana Smokers at High Psychosis Risk

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Muscle Relaxant May Help in Treating Some Aspects of Alcohol Dependence in Anxious People

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Muscle Relaxant May Help in Treating Some Aspects of Alcohol Dependence in Anxious People

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In Alcoholic Men, Gene Activity in Two Key Brain Regions Resembles that Seen in Infant Brains

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In Alcoholic Men, Gene Activity in Two Key Brain Regions Resembles that Seen in Infant Brains

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Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Affects Usage Among Teens

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Study Investigates How the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Affects Usage Among Teens

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Pregnant Woman walking away

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With Marijuana Use By Pregnant Women Rising, “Erring on the Side of Caution” Is Urged

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Brain imaging helps predict alcohol use

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Brain Imaging Helps Predict Start of Heavy Alcohol Use Among Adolescents

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Cocaine brain waves

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Cocaine’s Effects Are Most Potent When Estrogen Levels are High

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Marriage and alcohol

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Marriage Reduces the Risk of Developing an Alcohol Use Disorder

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Marijuana user

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Marijuana Users are More Likely than Others to Develop Drug and Alcohol Use Disorders

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The Biology of Emotions

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The Biology of Emotions

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abnormally expressed genes brain

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On a Quest to Understand and Alter Abnormally Expressed Genes That Promote Addiction

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scientific discovery about drug addiction

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A Scientific Discovery Revolutionizes Our View of Addiction

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new technologies

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New Technologies Further Understanding of the Brain’s Energy Consumption and Connectivity

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Brain Mechanisms of Tobacco Addiction and the Risk of Prenatal Exposure to Cigarette Smoke

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More Articles

Key Figures

20 million

Nearly 20 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder (alcohol or illicit drugs) in the past year.

* Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
3.3 million

The harmful use of alcohol results in the death of 3.3 million people annually.*

* Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

Featured Tweet

Marijuana use up among pregnant women 2012-2014; National Institute on Drug Abuse chief Dr. Nora Volkow urges “caution”. #addiction
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Meet a Researcher

Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D.
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Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D.

Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience

Chair, Department of Neuroscience

Director, Friedman Brain Institute

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Scientific Council Member (Joined 1997)

2009 Falcone Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Affective Disorders Research (Colvin Prize)

2008 Goldman-Rakic Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Cognitive Neuroscience Research

1996 Distinguished Investigator Grant

Ask an Expert

Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
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Nora D. Volkow, M.D.

Director, National Institute of Drug Abuse

National Institutes on Health

Scientific Council Member (Joined 2001)

Question:

My father was a cocaine addict, and I’m worried that I might become an addict too. Are there tests that I can take to see if I’ve inherited any genes linked to addiction?

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