Latest from NIDA

Scientists identify brain circuits engaged in compulsive heroin use

April 29, 2019 | 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...

News Release

Opioid Dose Variability Associated with Overdose

April 22, 2019 | 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.

NIDA Notes

Research Links Adolescent Substance Use to Adult Brain Volumes

April 10, 2019 | This research: Revealed associations between nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana use during two periods of adolescence and smaller gray matter volume in two brain areas at age 25. Supports a hypothesis...

Science Highlight

Cues give clues in relapse prevention

April 8, 2019 | 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.

NIDA Notes

Methadone Maintenance Treatment During Incarceration Has Long-Term Benefits

April 4, 2019 | This study reported: Prisoners who received methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) during incarceration were more likely than prisoners who did not receive MMT to engage in the treatment after being released...

Emerging Trend

FDA Special Announcement: Reports of Seizures After Using Nicotine Vaping Devices

April 4, 2019 | The FDA has become aware that some people who use e-cigarettes have experienced seizures, with most reports involving youth or young adult users.

NIDA Notes

Interim Buprenorphine Alleviates Psychiatric Symptoms in Waitlisted OUD Patients

March 27, 2019 | This study reported: Interim treatment with buprenorphine significantly improved the psychiatric symptoms of people awaiting comprehensive treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Buprenorphine treatment, even without concurrent psychosocial counseling, may...

News Release

Opioids without the risk of addiction?

March 26, 2019 | 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...

News Release

Dr. Jack Stein appointed NIDA Chief of Staff

March 20, 2019 | 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...

News Release

Opioid Overdose Reversal News: FDA-approved naloxone devices produce substantially higher blood levels of naloxone than improvised nasal spray

March 15, 2019 | 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.

Science Highlight

The Genius of Chemogenetics

March 14, 2019 | 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...

News Release

Serotonin Unexpectedly Regulates Expression of Brain Genes

March 13, 2019 | 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.

Science Highlight

The brain in pain

March 13, 2019 | NIDA-funded researchers identified a critical role for an internal brain opioid network called the dynorphin-kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system.

NIDA Notes

Transcription Factor E2F3a Mediates Cocaine’s Effects on Gene Expression and Addiction-Related Behaviors

February 28, 2019 | NIDA-supported researchers have shown that increased levels of a single protein in the brain's reward center are indispensable for producing some of cocaine's addiction-like effects in animals. Their findings highlight...

News Release

New toolkit for genomic editing holds promise for addiction research

February 19, 2019 | 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...

News Release

Monthly buprenorphine injections effective for opioid use disorders

February 19, 2019 | 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.

NIDA Notes

A Promising Alternative to Opioid Pain Medications

February 12, 2019 | This research shows: An experimental compound with a dual action at two opioid receptors may provide powerful pain relief without many of opioids' harmful side effects. The compound may also...

NIDA Notes

Disruption of Serotonin Contributes to Cocaine’s Effects

February 5, 2019 | This research: Traced the effects of cocaine-induced disruption of serotonin regulation in the ventral pallidum and orbitofrontal cortex. Suggests that these effects may contribute to drug-seeking and cocaine-associated cognitive impairments...

Science Highlight

The mystery of serotonin’s role in behavior

January 31, 2019 | While selective serotonin uptake inhibitors comprise the major class of modern antidepressants, the role of serotonin in reward function remains poorly understood.

News Release

Higher rates of NAS linked with economic conditions

January 29, 2019 | A NIDA-funded analysis of eight states showed a significant association between rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and poor economic conditions.

News Release

A whole new view of CB2

January 25, 2019 | NIDA-funded scientists have recently identified the crystal structure of the CB1 receptor and have some understanding of how it modulates the system.

News Release

Cascade of Care model recommended for opioid crisis

January 25, 2019 | 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...

News Release

Scientists closer to finding inherited traits in addiction

January 14, 2019 | Scientists have concluded that the risk of addiction is a complex combination of both genes and environmental influences.

NIDA Notes

New Studies Clarify Risk Factors for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

January 8, 2019 | These studies: Identified factors that affect the risk for and severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Suggest that reducing expectant mothers’ polysubstance use during buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder...

Science Highlight

New Insights for Astrocytes

January 3, 2019 | 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.

News Release

Teens using vaping devices in record numbers

December 17, 2018 | 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...

News Release

National Institute on Drug Abuse to hold teleconference discussing key findings of 2018 Monitoring the Future Survey on teen drug use

December 6, 2018 | The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will hold a teleconference on Monday, December 17, to discuss the results of the 2018 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey.

News Release

Scientists identify brain circuits engaged in compulsive heroin use

Opioid Dose Variability Associated with Overdose

Research Links Adolescent Substance Use to Adult Brain Volumes

Cues give clues in relapse prevention

Methadone Maintenance Treatment During Incarceration Has Long-Term Benefits

FDA Special Announcement: Reports of Seizures After Using Nicotine Vaping Devices

Interim Buprenorphine Alleviates Psychiatric Symptoms in Waitlisted OUD Patients

Opioids without the risk of addiction?

Dr. Jack Stein appointed NIDA Chief of Staff

Opioid Overdose Reversal News: FDA-approved naloxone devices produce substantially higher blood levels of naloxone than improvised nasal spray

The Genius of Chemogenetics

Serotonin Unexpectedly Regulates Expression of Brain Genes

The brain in pain

Transcription Factor E2F3a Mediates Cocaine’s Effects on Gene Expression and Addiction-Related Behaviors

New toolkit for genomic editing holds promise for addiction research

Monthly buprenorphine injections effective for opioid use disorders

A Promising Alternative to Opioid Pain Medications

Disruption of Serotonin Contributes to Cocaine’s Effects

The mystery of serotonin’s role in behavior

Higher rates of NAS linked with economic conditions

A whole new view of CB2

Cascade of Care model recommended for opioid crisis

Scientists closer to finding inherited traits in addiction

New Studies Clarify Risk Factors for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

New Insights for Astrocytes

Teens using vaping devices in record numbers

National Institute on Drug Abuse to hold teleconference discussing key findings of 2018 Monitoring the Future Survey on teen drug use

ABCD study completes enrollment, announces opportunities for scientific engagement

Registration opens for 2019 National Drugs & Alcohol Chat Day

Integrated Intervention Benefits People Who Inject Drugs and Have HIV