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.
Study finds increased cannabis use during pregnancy
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Cannabis use more than doubled among pregnant women in the United States during the period 2002-2017.
Project to deter opioid tampering wins 2019 NIDA Addiction Science Award
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A 14-year-old’s innovative approach to prevent tampering and misuse of opioid pills won a first place Addiction Science Award at the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)—the world’s largest science competition for high school students.
Brief drug use disrupts learning mechanisms in the brain
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In a new animal study, scientists at NIDA’s Intramural Research Program have demonstrated that cocaine use profoundly disrupts these teaching signals.
The Brain and our Immune System: Working Together
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Growing evidence in animal studies documents bidirectional signaling between the brain and immune system in the development of behavioral and physical health problems.
Scientists identify brain circuits engaged in compulsive heroin use
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People addicted to heroin and other opioids experience withdrawal when they discontinue or no longer have access to these drugs. Scientists at NIDA’s Intramural Research Program (IRP) wanted to learn more about the brain circuits that enable these conditioned withdrawal cues to promote compulsive heroin use.
Opioid Dose Variability Associated with Overdose
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A new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that high dose variability increases the odds for an opioid overdose independent of dose alone.
Cues give clues in relapse prevention
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Scientists at NIDA's intramural research labs in Baltimore, Maryland have shown that discriminative stimuli can control the incubation of drug craving, even in the absence of conditioned stimuli.
Opioids without the risk of addiction?
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Investigators have found that the opioid-galanin receptor heteromers determine the different effects of methadone as compared to morphine and fentanyl, showing methadone with a weaker ability to activate the dopaminergic system linked to the euphoric effects of opioids.
Dr. Jack Stein appointed NIDA Chief of Staff
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Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has appointed Jack B. Stein, Ph.D., to be the NIDA Chief of Staff, a newly created position to support and assist the Director with coordination and strategic planning of key institute initiatives.
Opioid Overdose Reversal News: FDA-approved naloxone devices produce substantially higher blood levels of naloxone than improvised nasal spray
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A new study looked at how well the FDA-approved nasal spray and autoinjector compared to the improvised nasal devices, which are not FDA-approved.
The Genius of Chemogenetics
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Some NIDA-funded scientists have just published findings in the journal Science showing the development of a new, groundbreaking chemogenetics technology for modulating brain function in a remote, precise and ultra-sensitive manner in living subjects.
Serotonin Unexpectedly Regulates Expression of Brain Genes
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The brain chemical serotonin can regulate expression of genes within neurons in a very unexpected way, as described in a NIDA-funded paper just published in the journal Nature.
The brain in pain
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NIDA-funded researchers identified a critical role for an internal brain opioid network called the dynorphin-kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system.
Monthly buprenorphine injections effective for opioid use disorders
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A newly published study suggests the long-acting buprenorphine formulation BUP-XR is more effective than placebo in helping patients struggling with addiction to opioids. BUP-XR is a monthly extended-release injection.
New toolkit for genomic editing holds promise for addiction research
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The scientific world has advanced immeasurably by the science of DNA and genetics. Manipulating gene expression to change the way that cells such as neurons function has helped scientists create very specific tools to use for understanding and developing treatments for human diseases.
The mystery of serotonin’s role in behavior
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While selective serotonin uptake inhibitors comprise the major class of modern antidepressants, the role of serotonin in reward function remains poorly understood.
Higher rates of NAS linked with economic conditions
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A NIDA-funded analysis of eight states showed a significant association between rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and poor economic conditions.
A whole new view of CB2
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NIDA-funded scientists have recently identified the crystal structure of the CB1 receptor and have some understanding of how it modulates the system.
Cascade of Care model recommended for opioid crisis
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A team of NIDA-funded scientists has offered a critical look at how to build an improved framework of care for the identification and treatment of people with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Scientists closer to finding inherited traits in addiction
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Scientists have concluded that the risk of addiction is a complex combination of both genes and environmental influences.
New Insights for Astrocytes
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Scientists at NIDA's Intramural Research Program have just published a study suggesting that ventral midbrain astrocytes are physiologically distinct from astrocytes in other parts of the brain.
Teens using vaping devices in record numbers
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America’s teens report a dramatic increase in their use of vaping devices in just a single year, with 37.3 percent of 12th graders reporting “any vaping” in the past 12 months, compared to just 27.8 percent in 2017.
ABCD study completes enrollment, announces opportunities for scientific engagement
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The National Institutes of Health announced today that enrollment for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is now complete and, in early 2019, scientists will have access to baseline data from all ABCD Study participants.
New findings related to cell functions and calcium deficiency; may impact substance use disorders
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A new paper just published in Cell Reports describes, for the first time, a novel pathological mechanism that may contribute to a variety of disease states.
Stopping marijuana use improves memory
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A new study suggests that one month of abstinence from cannabis improves working memory in adolescents and young adults, with most of the improvement happening in the first week.
Compound identified as possible medication target for cocaine use disorder
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NIH-funded scientists have now identified a compound that shows promise in reducing self-administration of cocaine in mice.
Research suggests benzodiazepine use is high while use disorder rates are low
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A recent analysis suggests that benzodiazepine use disorders are relatively rare among the adults who use benzodiazepine medications, even if they are misusing them.
Study shows impact of social interactions on addictive behavior
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A new study published in Nature Neuroscience finds that social interactions can have a profound effect on behaviors related to addiction, and on the brain’s response to drug-associated cues.
Brain ensembles that tune on or off to social exploration
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An international team of scientists led by NIDA utilized miniature fluorescence microscopes to record calcium activities from hundreds of excitatory neurons in the mPFC in the brains of mice, while they freely explored social interactions with other mice.
New opioid treatment resources for emergency department clinicians
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) today announced the availability of informational resources for clinicians interested in initiating buprenorphine treatment in emergency department settings.
Daily use of marijuana among non-college young adults at all time high
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announced that the latest Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey results on substance use trends as teens transition to adulthood are now available online, comparing substance use patterns of full-time college students to their non-college peers.
Immediate switch to low levels of nicotine in cigarettes more effective than a gradual reduction
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The FDA is considering a regulatory policy to reduce the levels of nicotine in combustible cigarettes to minimally addictive levels.
Intervention increases use of Medication for both HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Disorders
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A vanguard study with people who inject drugs provides evidence that a specific flexible, scalable intervention increases reported use of both antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS (ART) and medication therapy for drug use. It also increased viral suppression, reduced mortality, and prevented new HIV transmissions to discordant injecting partners in the study.
A look at drug craving
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Studies using animal models of addiction have shown that drug seeking progressively increases after drug self-administration stops, which is a phenomenon called incubation of drug craving.
E-Cigs linked to heart attacks
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An analysis of health data concludes that e-cigarette use, adjusted for smoking conventional cigarettes and other risk factors, is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction, which is commonly known as a heart attack caused by blockage of the arteries.
Mindfulness training and substance use treatment
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A NIDA-funded study showed that a mindful awareness training program is associated with improved outcomes for women seeking treatment for substance use disorders.
How cannabis use disorder affects working memory
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Using imaging technologies, NIDA-funded scientists peered into the brains of people with cannabis use disorder to test their working memory, compared to a control group.
Pregnant women in Appalachia face barriers to opioid treatment
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A NIDA-funded study has discovered that pregnant women in Appalachia face barriers to receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders, from both insurers and providers.
Journal commentary addresses role of dentists in opioid crisis
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The commentary, authored by Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Dr. Martha Somerman, director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, both parts of the National Institutes of Health, highlights how the Institutes are working together to support scientific research for those in clinical practice.
Study casts doubt on effectiveness of e-cigs for smoking cessation
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A study found no evidence that smokers who used e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in the United States were more likely to quit smoking cigarettes than smokers who do not use these products.
2018 Avenir award recipient to study how social networks affect people who use drugs
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A proposal to study how drug users who are part of social networks influence their own communities has been given the 2018 Avenir award for HIV/AIDS research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
A revealing look at the brain on heroin
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A NIDA-funded study reveals major changes in the brains of heroin users.
New clinician screening tool available for substance use
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network has unveiled a new scientifically validated, online screening tool designed to assess a patient’s risk for substance misuse and substance use disorder, and assist the health care provider with prevention and treatment strategies.
Training module now available for acute pain management in hospitalized adults
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A case-based clinician training module designed for the evaluation of acute pain and opioid management for adults is now available through the Centers of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPE) program, coordinated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Scientists discover path to better pain medicines
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In this this NIDA-funded research, scientists used a novel approach to compare the cell signaling initiated by kappa opioids that produce dysphoria from those that do not.
Analysis of insurance coverage for back pain shows missed opportunities to prescribe non-opioid medications
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A comprehensive analysis of health insurance coverage of non-opioid and opioid medications to treat chronic low back pain concluded that some insurance plans have missed important opportunities to steer patients towards safer and more effective treatments than prescription opioids.
Methadone and buprenorphine reduce risk of death after opioid overdose
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A National Institutes of Health-funded study found that treatment of opioid use disorder with either methadone or buprenorphine following a nonfatal opioid overdose is associated with significant reductions in opioid related mortality.
Special journal issue highlights ABCD brain study
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The special issue is an overview of the ABCD Study and includes articles about the rationale for the study, its design and recruitment strategy, assessment protocols and neuroimaging parameters, the inclusion of twins in the research design, biomedical ethics and clinical oversight, and retention considerations, among others.
Too Hot And Too Cold: Dysregulation of key brain networks in people with addiction
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Study suggests that brain activity is not simply too high or low in people who are addicted to drugs, but behaves differently to drug and non-drug stimuli.
Full survey of annual teen drug use now available with additional data
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The complete volume of the 2017 Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF) teen drug use and behavior survey results is now available online with never before seen highlights about drug use and attitudes among the nation’s eighth, 10th and 12th graders.
Higher rate of substance use among Native American youth on reservations
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A survey comparing drug use among Native American youth living on or near reservations to a national sample of American youth found that Native American youth report substantially higher use of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, and other illicit drugs.
Breathing under the influence of … fentanyl
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An animal study at NIDA's intramural research labs suggests fentanyl-induced respiratory depression affects the temperature of the brain, triggering brain hypoxia and hyperglycemia.
Method to identify undetected drug suicides wins top NIDA Addiction Science Award
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A project that identified and tested a bioinformatics program that can help identify underreported suicides linked to drug overdoses was awarded the first-place distinction at the 2018 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)—the world’s largest science competition for high school students.
FDA approves first medication to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms
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Lofexidine, the first medication for use in reducing symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal in adults, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
What science says about Tobacco + Marijuana + Pregnancy
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A NIDA-funded study suggests that pregnant women who smoke both marijuana and cigarettes have a higher likelihood of smaller babies and increased maternal stress and aggression.
Study upends conventional view of opioid mechanism of action
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A new discovery shows that opioids used to treat pain, such as morphine and oxycodone, produce their effects by binding to receptors inside neurons, contrary to conventional wisdom that they acted only on the same surface receptors as endogenous opioids, which are produced naturally in the brain.
Nearly half of opioid-related overdose deaths involve fentanyl
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An analysis of opioid-related overdose deaths found that synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, have surpassed prescription opioids as the most common drug involved in overdose deaths in the U.S.
Dr. Kurt Rasmussen to lead NIDA’s therapeutics and medical consequences division
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, welcomed Dr. Kurt Rasmussen today as the Director of the Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences (DTMC).
Understanding the Neuroscience of Addiction: what it means for prevention and treatment
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Advances in the understanding of brain development, as well as the role that genes and environment play in addiction, are the focus of a review article published today in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Overdose drug shows promise as stroke treatment
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Preclinical research lays the groundwork for developing the first drug to promote recovery from ischemic stroke, a leading cause of adult disability.
Five million American adults misusing prescription stimulants
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Looking at annual averages, approximately 6.6% (or 16 million) of U.S. adults used prescription stimulants in the preceding year; 4.5% (or 11 million) used prescription stimulants appropriately (without misuse); 2.1% (or 5 million) misused prescription stimulants at least once; and 0.2% (or 0.4 million) had prescription stimulant use disorders.
Communities That Care program shows success in reducing substance use and behavioral issues in adolescents
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The CTC is a prevention planning and implementation system that trains community coalition is to assess their community’s needs, then select and use evidence-based programs and policies to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors.
Study changes long-held concepts of cell decoding
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Scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Intramural Research Program (IRP) have uncovered evidence that shows a more complex and elaborate role for the body's hard-working G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) than previously thought, suggesting a conceptual advance in the fields of biochemistry and pharmacology.
Study highlights how opioid receptors organize to block pain
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A NIDA-funded study explored how opioids such as morphine act within pain circuits in the brain and spinal cord, while attaching to receptors on the surface of nerve cells (neurons).
Non-psychoactive cannabinoid may enable drug addiction recovery
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Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive chemical found in marijuana, may help reduce the risk of drug and alcohol relapse.
E-cigarette ads associated with cigarette smoking initiation among youth
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A scientific study finds that receptivity to e-cigarette advertising increases the likelihood of trying conventional cigarettes one year later.
Gut-brain axis offers clues to treatments for addictive disorders
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Scientists have investigated how the stomach-derived hormone ghrelin affects alcohol-seeking behaviors, discovering for the first time in humans that administration of ghrelin intravenously significantly increased alcohol intake in heavy drinking participants.
NIDA's 2018 Avant-Garde awards highlight immune response and killer cells
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NIDA’s annual Avant-Garde Award competition, now in its 11th year, is intended to stimulate high-impact research that may lead to groundbreaking opportunities for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in drug users.
Stimulating news about brain glutamate
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NIDA-funded scientists conducted the first study showing that the signaling transmitter glutamate increases in the brain after stimulant use in humans, which has a greater effect in females.
Teens, E-Cigs and Toxins?
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NIDA-funded scientists have found at least five potentially harmful toxins in the body of human adolescents who use electronic cigarettes.
Repurposed arthritis drug could become a non-opioid pain reliever
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A compound once studied as an arthritis therapy has been given new life as a possible non-opioid pain reliever by NIDA-funded scientists.
The brain's hyper-network uncovered
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Complex brain actions reflect multiple networks of activity in the brain, according to a paper authored by researchers from the NIDA Intramural Research Program, in collaboration with scientists from Italy and Sweden.
Neuronal ensembles take center stage
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A new animal study from NIDA's Intramural Research Program (IRP) shines light on the underlying mechanisms in the brain's prefrontal cortex and its role in learning.
Greek life membership associated with binge drinking and marijuana use in later life
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A scientific study finds that close to half of residential fraternity members had symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD) by age 35, and that living at college is associated with continued binge drinking and marijuana use through early midlife.
Medication in Prison Associated with Reductions in Fatal Opioid Overdoses After Release
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A state-led initiative created within the Rhode Island correctional system showed that offering medication to inmates with opioid use disorders reduced fatal overdoses once the inmates were released.
NIH releases first dataset from unprecedented study of adolescent brain development
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Approximately 30 terabytes of data (about three times the size of the Library of Congress collection), obtained from the first 4,500 participants, will be available to scientists worldwide to conduct research on the many factors that influence brain, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
Brain Structure Tracks Reward's Value and Steps to Obtain It
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Scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP) have demonstrated distinct roles for two subregions of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in goal-directed behaviors.
Study shows e-cigarettes affect brain similarly to other nicotine sources
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Nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) produce brain changes similar to those caused by other nicotine sources, such as combustible cigarettes or nicotine lozenges, a study sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates.
Marijuana drug use increasing during pregnancy
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Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug during pregnancy, and its use is rising.
Hospital best practices linked to modest changes in prescription opioid dispensing
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The authors of this study assessed whether the Washington state hospital mandates had any impact on Medicaid beneficiary opioid dispensing rates after an ED visit.
A “New Vista” for Treating Cocaine Addiction
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Two recent studies suggest that medications that activate a pair of opioid receptors may weaken cocaine users’ drive to take the stimulant.
Oxytocin protocol appears workable and safe for methadone patients who use cocaine
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Researchers supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse have developed a protocol for adjunctive oxytocin treatment, and a pilot study has indicated that it is workable and safe for MMT patients.
Dr. Redonna Chandler selected to lead AIDS Research Program at NIDA
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Dr. Redonna Chandler has been named director of the AIDS Research Program at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In this role, she will be responsible for the development, planning, and coordination of high priority research on HIV and AIDS and drug use within NIDA and across other NIH Institutes.
Kappa Opioid Receptor Structure Revealed, A Potential Milestone in Medication Development
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New research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse illuminates the crystal structure of the activated kappa opioid receptor (KOR). The breakthrough could facilitate the development of new medications to treat pain and addiction.
Study shows association between non-cigarette tobacco product use and future cigarette smoking among teens
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Some teens who use e-cigarettes and other non-cigarette tobacco products report smoking cigarettes one year later, according to recent research funded by institutes within the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.
Vaping popular among teens; opioid misuse at historic lows
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Nearly 1 in 3 students in 12 th 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 relief, while still effectively managing 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 consistent contributor to overdose deaths. The research suggests that rates of cocaine-related overdose deaths in the non-Hispanic black population are similar to heroin-related deaths among non-Hispanic white women and prescription opioid-related deaths among non-Hispanic white men. The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Cancer Institute, both part of the National Institutes of Health.
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 a way to separate these two effects -- pain relief and breathing -- opening a window of opportunity to make effective pain medications without the risk of respiratory failure.
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 once medication treatment is initiated.
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 of opioid withdrawal.
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 female adolescents.
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 treatment for drug addiction, known as contingency management, is discontinued.
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 to set goals and stay on task despite conflicting cues and distractors.
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 receive treatment for either disorder.
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.