https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/alcoholism/ Find current medical research and in-depth information on alcoholism, symptoms and treatment of alcoholism as well as clinical depression. Expand your understanding of alcohol's effect on the brain and learn techniques for managing stress. en-us Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:26:57 EDT Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:26:57 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/alcoholism/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260305223211.htm Cocaine addiction isn’t simply a failure of willpower — it’s the result of lasting biological changes in the brain. Researchers at Michigan State University discovered that repeated cocaine use rewires communication between the brain’s reward system and the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory. A protein called DeltaFosB builds up with continued drug use and acts like a genetic switch, altering how neurons function and strengthening the brain’s drive to seek cocaine. Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:45:26 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260305223211.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206020852.htm New research using rhesus monkeys suggests that the brain’s relationship with alcohol may begin forming long before a person ever takes a drink. Scientists found that exposure to alcohol before birth reshaped the brain’s dopamine system, a key player in motivation and reward, and those changes were linked to faster drinking later in adulthood. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:26:39 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206020852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100615.htm Rats with naturally high stress levels were far more likely to self-administer cannabis when given access. Behavioral testing showed that baseline stress hormones were the strongest predictor of cannabis-seeking behavior. Lower cognitive flexibility and low endocannabinoid levels also contributed to increased use. The results hint at possible early indicators of vulnerability to drug misuse. Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:15:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100615.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251208052534.htm Deep-brain recordings showed that Mounjaro and Zepbound briefly shut down the craving circuits linked to food noise in a patient with severe obesity. Her obsessive thoughts about food disappeared as the medication quieted the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s reward hub. Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:37:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251208052534.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251118220041.htm Scientists are uncovering how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy act on brain regions that control hunger, nausea, pleasure-based eating, and thirst. These discoveries may help create treatments that keep the benefits of weight loss while reducing unwanted side effects. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:48:02 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251118220041.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251118033447.htm Scientists discovered that alcohol activates a sugar-producing pathway in the body, creating fructose that may reinforce addictive drinking. The enzyme responsible, KHK, appears to drive both alcohol cravings and liver injury. When this enzyme was blocked in mice, their drinking decreased and their livers showed far less damage. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:43:32 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251118033447.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251026021746.htm GLP-1 drugs, originally developed for diabetes and obesity, may also curb addictive behaviors by acting on reward circuits in the brain. Early trials show reductions in alcohol intake, opioid seeking, and nicotine use. Though more research is needed, scientists believe these drugs could open a powerful new front in addiction therapy. Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:14:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251026021746.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251020092833.htm Feeling in control may be the key to conquering daily stress. Penn State researchers found that people were 62% more likely to resolve everyday hassles on days when they felt greater control. This link grew stronger over time, suggesting we get better at managing stress as we age. Simple actions like setting priorities and reframing challenges can help boost that sense of control and reduce overall stress. Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:52:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251020092833.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251006051124.htm Addiction often isn’t about chasing pleasure—it’s about escaping pain. Researchers at Scripps Research have discovered that a tiny brain region called the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) becomes hyperactive when animals learn that alcohol eases the agony of withdrawal. This circuit helps explain why people relapse: their brains learn that alcohol brings relief from stress and anxiety. Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:11:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251006051124.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251004092919.htm A massive new study combining observational and genetic data overturns the long-held belief that light drinking protects the brain. Researchers found that dementia risk rises in direct proportion to alcohol consumption, with no safe level identified. Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:42:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251004092919.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250929054915.htm Researchers found that middle-aged adults, especially women, are far more likely to be addicted to ultra-processed foods than older generations. Marketing of diet-focused processed foods in the 1980s may have played a major role. Food addiction was linked to poor health, weight issues, and social isolation, highlighting long-term risks. Experts warn that children today could face even higher addiction rates in the future. Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:57:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250929054915.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002404.htm Using cannabis to self-medicate comes with hidden dangers—new research shows these users face higher paranoia and consume more THC. Childhood trauma further amplifies the risks, especially emotional abuse, which strongly predicts paranoia. Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:24:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002404.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724040940.htm A massive global survey has revealed that people with eating disorders often turn to cannabis and psychedelics like magic mushrooms and LSD to ease their symptoms, rating them more effective than traditional medications. Surprisingly, common prescriptions like antidepressants were seen as helpful for overall mental health but fell short for eating disorder relief. Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:42:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724040940.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131549.htm Scientists found that stabilizing stress granules suppresses the effects of ALS-causing mutations, correcting previous models that imply stress granules promote amyloid formation. Wed, 28 May 2025 13:15:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131549.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520183846.htm The study explores how social influences, particularly peer pressure, impact substance use -- and misuse -- among young adults. A confidential online survey on alcohol use was given to 524 students at a large public university (not UTA). Tue, 20 May 2025 18:38:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520183846.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130007.htm Researchers are investigating how the legal supply of cannabis affects consumption and mental health among participants. In a first academic publication, the study team has now reported on the direct comparison of the substance's legal versus illegal procurement. Wed, 07 May 2025 13:00:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130007.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506105351.htm When picturing a 'typical' alcoholic, people tend to imagine a person drinking at home alone. But that focus overlooks the social origins of many serious alcohol problems. Tue, 06 May 2025 10:53:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506105351.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142024.htm Researchers found that Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) can help rewire the brain's response to natural healthy pleasure, leading to reduced opioid cravings. The findings suggest that MORE could be a promising tool in the fight against opioid use disorder. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:20:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142024.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220258.htm Ketamine addiction is linked to high levels of physical health problems and psychological consequences, with nearly half of those affected not seeking support or treatment, new research has revealed. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:02:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220258.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111753.htm New multidisciplinary research shows that the brain forms memories of cold experiences and uses them to control our metabolism. The study shows that cold memories form in the brain -- and map out how they subsequently drive thermoregulation. The discovery may have important applications in therapies designed to treat a range of disorders -- from obesity to cancer -- in which thermoregulation and metabolism (or a lack of control in this area) plays a role, as well as opening the door to more fundamental research, which could help us better understand how memories impact our behavior and emotions. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:17:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111753.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250422155830.htm A preclinical study finds that a drug already FDA-approved for treating inflammatory conditions may help reduce both alcohol intake and pain sensitivity -- two issues that commonly co-occur with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:58:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250422155830.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414162216.htm Researchers have developed and tested an intervention called Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy and compared it to to the well-established Personalized Normative Feedback (PNF) to evaluate their effectiveness in decreasing drinks per week, peak blood alcohol concentration and alcohol-related consequences relative to a control group. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:22:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414162216.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124657.htm A new study suggests that perceived stress and depression factor into the relationship between insomnia and hazardous drinking -- perhaps not a surprise. But because the relationship between insomnia and heavy drinking goes in both directions, the influence of stress or depression depends on which condition came first, the analysis found. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:46:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124657.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409173113.htm Heavy drinkers who have eight or more alcoholic drinks per week have an increased risk of brain lesions called hyaline arteriolosclerosis, signs of brain injury that are associated with memory and thinking problems, according to a new study. Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:31:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409173113.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250402142430.htm For the first time researchers demonstrate in an animal how heavy alcohol use leads to long-term behavioral issues by damaging brain circuits critical for decision-making. Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:24:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250402142430.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326122927.htm Researchers have found a unique molecular signature and genes in the orbitofrontal cortex associated with heroin-seeking behavior. A preclinical rodent model implicated a gene called Shisa7 as the key predictor. A new study provides valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying heroin addiction and may have implications for the development of innovative strategies to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic. Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:29:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326122927.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317163409.htm Early-life adversity affects more than half of the world's children and is a significant risk factor for cognitive and mental health problems later in life. In an extensive and up-to-the-minute review of research in this domain, scholars illuminate the profound impacts of these adverse childhood experiences on brain development and introduce new paths for understanding and tackling them. Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:34:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317163409.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130751.htm New research shows that people with eating disorders are more harshly judged than those suffering from depression, making it much harder for them to seek treatment. Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:07:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130751.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250305164314.htm Some people living with chronic stress have a higher risk of stroke, according to a new study. The study looked at younger adults and found an association between stress and stroke, with no known cause, in female participants, but not male participants. This study does not prove that stress causes stroke; it only shows an association. Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:43:14 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250305164314.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206113112.htm Research in fruit flies has identified specific groups of cholinergic brain cells that are involved in alcohol-induced insomnia. This work could ultimately lead to targeted treatments for alcohol-related sleep loss, helping people recover from alcohol use disorder. Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:12 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206113112.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250203142356.htm A new study shows significant long-term reductions in the stress hormone cortisol in seniors taking part in the O'stress program. Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:23:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250203142356.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250203142241.htm A new study may help explain why some people are more susceptible to developing drinking problems. Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:22:41 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250203142241.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241230131918.htm The hormone estrogen regulates binge drinking in females, causing them to 'pregame' -- consume large quantities of alcohol in the first 30 minutes after it's offered, according to a preclinical study. The study establishes -- for what is thought to be the first time -- that circulating estrogen increases binge alcohol consumption in females and contributes to known sex differences in this behavior. Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:19:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241230131918.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241223135342.htm The standard medication levodopa does not always work against tremors in Parkinson's disease, especially in stressful situations. Propranolol, however, does work during stress, providing insight into the role of the stress system in tremors. MRI scans reveal that propranolol directly inhibits activity in the brain circuit that controls tremors. Doctors may consider this medication when levodopa is ineffective. Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241223135342.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241219151726.htm A study of more than 2,400 people with atrial fibrillation, who had an average age of 73, found that drinking more than five cups of caffeinated coffee daily was associated with better performance on an array of cognitive tests than drinking less than one cup or avoiding coffee altogether. Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:17:26 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241219151726.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218132207.htm Light and moderate consumption of wine is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular complications, according to a multicenter study. The study is based on the analysis of a biomarker of wine intake -- specifically, tartaric acid, present in grapes. It was carried out in 1,232 participants in the PREDIMED project, a major scientific epidemiological study in nutrition on the effects of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular health. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:22:07 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218132207.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241209203738.htm Researchers found that adolescents with more symptoms of gaming addiction showed lower brain activity in the region involved in decision-making and reward processing; this blunted response to reward anticipation is associated with higher symptoms of gaming addiction over time and suggests that reduced sensitivity to rewards, in particular non-gaming rewards, may play a role in problematic gaming. Mon, 09 Dec 2024 20:37:38 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241209203738.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241204114021.htm Teens who think their parents use cannabis are more likely to hold favorable attitudes toward the drug and to consider trying it themselves, according to a new study. The research also reveals that parental monitoring and the closeness of parent-child relationships play crucial roles in adolescents' views about cannabis, often with distinct effects based on the parent's gender. Wed, 04 Dec 2024 11:40:21 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241204114021.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154049.htm Propensity to addiction starts with the very first drug use experience, a new study shows. Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:40:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154049.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241202123701.htm Alcohol's ability to increase people's pain threshold is one reason that drinking also leads to more aggressive behavior, a new study suggests. Researchers found that the less pain that study participants felt after drinking an alcoholic beverage, the more pain they were willing to inflict on someone else. Mon, 02 Dec 2024 12:37:01 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241202123701.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241202123655.htm Increasing the levels of chemicals naturally produced in the body called endocannabinoids may thwart the highly addictive nature of opioids such as morphine and oxycodone while maintaining the drugs' ability to relieve pain, according to a new study. Endocannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body that regulate activities, such as learning and memory, emotions, sleep, immune response and appetite. Mon, 02 Dec 2024 12:36:55 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241202123655.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241126145338.htm There is evidence that alcohol consumption is influenced by prenatal sex steroids, so experts decided to use a sample of students for their research into the subject. Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:53:38 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241126145338.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241125145754.htm Research shows that reward-based learning requires the two neuromodulators to balance one another's influence -- like the accelerator and brakes on a car Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:57:54 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241125145754.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241118130042.htm New research has found that a flavanol-rich cocoa drink can protect the body's vasculature against stress even after eating high-fat food. Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:00:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241118130042.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241118125511.htm Alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. nearly doubled from 1999 to 2020. The sharpest spike occurred among 25- to 34-year-olds (nearly fourfold), while individuals aged 55 to 64 had the highest rates. Men consistently had higher rates but women saw the largest proportional rise, with deaths increasing 2.5 times. Asian and Pacific Islander communities experienced the steepest ethnic increase, while the Midwest saw the greatest regional rise (2.5 times), followed by the Northeast, West, and South. Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:55:11 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241118125511.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241115124541.htm In a new study, researchers identify the biological processes behind stress-induced aversive memory generalization and highlight an intervention which could help restore appropriate memory specificity for people with PTSD. Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:45:41 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241115124541.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241114161513.htm Evidence has been growing to suggest that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, poses risks to the developing fetus by impacting brain development. Now a new preclinical research study finds that this could increase the risk of addiction to opioids later in life. Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:15:13 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241114161513.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241113123648.htm What happens to animals when their friends are stressed? Is it possible to document the spread of stress within groups of birds? Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:36:48 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241113123648.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241112122737.htm Obesity causes insulin resistance by increasing activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of the stress hormone norepinephrine, according to a new study. Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:27:37 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241112122737.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241111181744.htm A new finds that heavy drinking among adult Americans increased more than 20 percent during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued for the following two years. Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:17:44 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241111181744.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241024145504.htm Individualistic reward-seeking strategies predict responses to nicotine among mice living in a micro-society, according to a new study. Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:55:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241024145504.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017113853.htm One of the main physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is 'allodynia' -- increased sensitivity to mechanical stimuli that are normally innocuous, which is a clinical sign of chronic pain. In a new animal study scientists show that the duration of this heightened sensitivity depends on the amount of alcohol an individual chronically imbibes. Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:38:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017113853.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010142540.htm Mentally healthy college students who felt connected to their university were more likely to binge drink than those who did not feel connected to their university, according to a new study. Thu, 10 Oct 2024 14:25:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010142540.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009121645.htm Researchers find cardiac arrhythmias in partygoers who had drunk a lot of alcohol. Wed, 09 Oct 2024 12:16:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009121645.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009121558.htm A new study has failed to find any strong links between drinking coffee during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental difficulties in children. Wed, 09 Oct 2024 12:15:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009121558.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002122921.htm Research shows that how we rate food is influenced by 'serial dependence' -- our judgement cascades on from the food we've just seen. Wed, 02 Oct 2024 12:29:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002122921.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918214034.htm Just over half of heavier drinkers in England say they would make changes to their drinking if calorie labels for alcohol were introduced, according to a new study. Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:40:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918214034.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162334.htm A pilot study showed that a small amount of ketamine can reduce or eliminate the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting fentanyl. Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:23:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162334.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162325.htm Reducing the serving size for beer, lager and cider reduces the volume of those drinks consumed in pubs, bars and restaurants, and could be a useful alcohol control measure, according to a new study. Researchers found that over a short intervention period, venues that removed the pint and offered two third pints instead, sold 10% less beer by volume compared with when pints were available. Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:23:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162325.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903144923.htm In a study involving 11-year-olds, researchers have concluded that greater behavioral problems are linked to higher hair cortisol levels. The study also concluded that exposure to certain factors that can simultaneously cause chronic stress may determine the concentration of cortisol in the hair. Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:49:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903144923.htm