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Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Associated With Mental Disorders in Children That Persist Into Early Adolescence
Prenatal cannabis exposure following the middle of the first trimester – generally after five to six weeks of fetal development – is associated with attention, social, and behavioral problems that persist as the affected children progress into early adolescence (11 and 12 years of age),...
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Research to Address the Real-Life Challenges of Opioid Crisis
While great progress has been made in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s opioid crisis continues to evolve in unexpected ways. The opioid crisis, which worsened during the pandemic and now involves the scourge of fentanyl, claims more than 70,000 lives each year in the United States1....
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NIH Research Matters – Telehealth Improves Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Telehealth improves treatment for opioid use disorder for people during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the likelihood of staying on their medications and less likely to overdose. The findings support continuing the expanded telehealth access that began during the pandemic. Medications...
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How Many Is Too Many? When Drinking Becomes a Problem
For some people, a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail is an occasional treat. Others struggle to stop at just one or even many drinks. Some may drink alcohol in moderation, but still feel like they’re not in control of their drinking. How do you know when drinking becomes a problem for...
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Percentage of Overdose Deaths Involving Methadone Declined Between January 2019 and August 2021
National data indicate COVID-era treatment expansion was not associated with harms, add evidence to support take-home treatment for opioid use disorder The percentage of methadone-involved overdose deaths relative to all drug overdose deaths declined from January 2019 to August 2021, according...
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Marijuana and Hallucinogen Use Among Young Adults Reached All-Time High in 2021
Marijuana and hallucinogen use in the past year reported by young adults 19 to 30 years old increased significantly in 2021 compared to five and 10 years ago, reaching historic highs in this age group since 1988, according to the Monitoring the Future (MTF) panel study. Rates of past-month nicotine...
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Drug Use Severity in Adolescence Affects Substance Use Disorder Risk in Adulthood
People who reported multiple symptoms consistent with severe substance use disorder at age 18 exhibited two or more of these symptoms in adulthood, according to a new analysis of a nationwide survey in the United States. These individuals were also more likely, as adults, to use and misuse...
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U.S. Law Enforcement Seizures of Pills Containing Fentanyl Increased Dramatically Between 2018-2021
Law enforcement seizures of pills containing illicit fentanyl increased dramatically between January 2018 and December 2021, according to a new study. The number of individual pills seized by law enforcement increased nearly 50-fold from the first quarter of 2018 to the last quarter of 2021 and the...
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NIH Research Matters – Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Jail Reduces Risk of Return
Almost two-thirds of people currently incarcerated in the U.S. have a substance use disorder. Many struggle with opioid addiction. Opioids include prescription pain relievers, heroin, and powerful synthetic versions such as fentanyl that are driving record numbers of overdose deaths. Medications...
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Dr. John Ngai Named Director of NIH BRAIN Initiative
National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced today the selection of John J. Ngai, Ph.D., as director of the NIH’s Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. Dr. Ngai is expected to join NIH in March. “The BRAIN...
