Older Adults with Functional Impairments Linked to Prescription Drug Use/Misuse

Original post: Newswise - Substance Abuse Older Adults with Functional Impairments Linked to Prescription Drug Use/Misuse

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that functional impairments among adults aged 50 and older are associated with a higher risk of medical cannabis use; and prescription opioid and tranquilizer/sedative use and misuse.

New study of how US recreational cannabis legalization could change illegal drug markets

Original post: Newswise - Substance Abuse New study of how US recreational cannabis legalization could change illegal drug markets

A study published in the scientific journal Addiction provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of the association between recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) in US states and responses in the illegal markets for cannabis, heroin, and other drugs in those states.

Civil commitment for substance use disorder treatment – What do addiction medicine specialists think?

Original post: Newswise - Drug and Drug Abuse Civil commitment for substance use disorder treatment - What do addiction medicine specialists think?

Amid the rising toll of opioid overdoses and deaths in the U.S., several states are considering laws enabling civil commitment for involuntary treatment of patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Most addiction medicine physicians support civil commitment for SUD treatment – but others strongly oppose this approach, reports a survey study in Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Access to overdose-reversing drugs declined during pandemic, researchers find

Original post: Newswise - Substance Abuse Access to overdose-reversing drugs declined during pandemic, researchers find

In a new study, clinician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) analyzed naloxone prescription trends during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and compared them to trends in opioid prescriptions and to overall prescriptions.

Partners May Influence Pregnant Women’s Alcohol Use and Risk Factors for Infant Development

Original post: Newswise - Substance Abuse Partners May Influence Pregnant Women's Alcohol Use and Risk Factors for Infant Development

The partners of mothers-to-be can influence the women’s drinking and depression during pregnancy, affecting their babies’ development, a new study suggests. The findings highlight the importance of partners’ role in reducing risk for expectant mothers. Pregnant women’s behavioral health is known to be influenced by their relationships with their partners. Partners’ higher substance use, and women’s lower relationship satisfaction, are associated with higher maternal substance use. Women who feel supported by their partners, in contrast, report less prenatal anxiety and depression and lower postpartum distress. Drinking and depression during pregnancy are each associated with multiple health problems, such as premature birth and delayed infant development. The study in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research explores the role of partners, prenatal alcohol use, and infant outcomes together, aiming for a more comprehensive understanding of how these factors combine.

Study: Researchers use eel-like protein to control brain

Newswise imageResearchers successfully used a protein called parapinopsin to turn off brain circuits. This protein is found in lamprey – an ancient lineage of jawless fish similar to eel. Researchers said the ability to inhibit neurons could eventually lead to turning off mood disorders and unwanted behaviors like depression and addiction.