Addiction
Updated Aug 25, 2026 8:00 AM PT
Addiction Psychologist News
Current reporting, research and professional developments across Addiction, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has emerged as a critical public health issue among pregnant and postpartum individuals. To address this concern, it is of utmost importance that healthcare institutions, community-based…
Cardiovascular multimorbidity (CVD MM), defined as two or more cardiovascular conditions, poses a significant public health challenge. Substance use disorders (SUDs) may elevate CVD MM risk, and health insurance…
by Jessica Hulsey In my book Understanding Addiction, I dig into key topics about addiction and answer common questions that family members and caregivers have about substance use disorders (SUD), the medical term for…
‘Kava,’ or ‘kava kava,’ (Piper methysticum) is a psychoactive plant indigenous to the Pacific Islands. Historical consumption is reported to provide anxiolytic and sedating effects. In regions where kava is native, it…
Background While caregiver engagement is a critical component of adolescent substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, it is often limited in practice. Existing research on barriers and facilitators to caregiver engagement…
This webinar presented a foundational overview of the neurobiology of addiction, highlighting how changes in the brain shape behavior, decision-making, and vulnerability to relapse. Speakers explained environmental…
Aim Substance Use Disorder (SUD) increases HIV risk and is often a barrier to advancement along the PrEP Care Continuum. In the United States ~ 40,000 new HIV diagnoses occur annually, the majority among sexual and…
Opioid use disorders (OUDs) constitute a major global public health challenge, characterized by high relapse rates, overdose risk ...
The harm caused by online gambling addiction in Indonesia is not only limited to the problem of profit and loss but is also often ...
The Road to Recovery (R2R) initiative represents an innovative approach to substance use care in British Columbia, Canada, that is designed to provide timely, comprehensive, and culturally safe services for individuals…
Background Prior studies emphasize the impact of anti-tobacco campaigns on tobacco prevention; there needs to be more understanding of the variations across different media channels. This study examines the associations…
Opioid crisis is surging globally including Pakistan. Opioid stewardship programs can play a fundamental role in avoiding and dealing with this crisis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the awareness of…
As cannabis products have evolved, so too have the risks—especially for young people. Today’s cannabis products contain far higher levels of THC than in previous decades, with some products reaching up to 80-90% THC…
The gambling crisis ‘demands a public health response’ and should be regulated like alcohol or tobacco, expert says Gambling ...
Human beings have been gambling on games of chance for thousands of years. Today, sports betting has completely changed the landscape ...
A new study suggests Texas may have a gambling problem - especially for a state where most forms of gambling are illegal.
Parents who experience adverse social risk factors of health (SRFOH) are at risk for child welfare involvement, and those with opioid and/or methamphetamine use (O/MU) and mental health (MH) disorders are at risk for…
Ibogaine is a plant-derived psychedelic medication that is illegal in the U.S. and many other countries. It causes hallucinations ...
This study investigated context-dependent intertemporal decision-making patterns in substance use disorder (SUD) through a comprehensive experimental paradigm examining both gain and loss contexts. Using mixed-effects…
Despite strong evidence that sustained engagement in OUD treatment reduces overdose risk, individuals leaving jail face substantial barriers to initiating and maintaining care. Motivational interventions such as…
Background and aim Pregabalin (a Gabapentinoid) has been shown to have potential for non-medical use. We aimed at exploring the prevalence and clinical correlates of non-medical use of pregabalin and dependence in…
Housing insecurity, or the inability to afford or maintain residence in a safe and quality place, is a barrier to accessing and staying in substance use treatment and/or recovery support services. There is a gap in…
When you think about addiction, your mind probably jumps to the usual suspects: alcohol, drugs, gambling, or cigarettes.
Introduction Mobile health units (MHUs) providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have emerged as a critical strategy to address gaps in opioid treatment access, particularly for marginalized populations…
Adolescence is a critical period for the initiation of alcohol use. It is uncertain how predictors of alcohol onset, such as Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs, change in response to alcohol onset. This study…
Introduction Buprenorphine is an effective medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment; however, stigma surrounding substance use may deter individuals from seeking treatment and contribute to lower engagement…
A man who gambled his way through £3 million claims his addiction left him feeling 'possessed' - wagering £30,000 nightly on ...
Background In 2018, the Cannabis Act regulated the production and sale of cannabis for non-medical purposes in Canada. With the aim of continuing to protect the public health and safety of Canadians as the legal cannabis…
Fentanyl’s penetration into the unregulated drug supply has complicated the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), particularly by increasing the risk of buprenorphine-precipitated opioid withdrawal (BPOW)…
Despite all Health Maintenance Organizations in Israel having documented an increased use of prescription opioids, a decrease in admissions with positive opioid toxicology was observed in emergency departments (EDs). We…