Drug Facts in Media

Perceptions of parent cannabis use shape teen attitudes

Wed, 2024-12-04 09:40
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.
Categories: Drug Facts

Reducing risk of opioid addiction while alleviating pain

Mon, 2024-12-02 10:36
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.
Categories: Drug Facts

Exposure to marijuana in the womb may increase risk of addiction to opioids later in life, study finds

Thu, 2024-11-14 14:15
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.
Categories: Drug Facts

'Sleepy cannabis': Cannabinol increases sleep, study suggests

Mon, 2024-11-11 19:21
Research shows that a non-hallucinogenic marijuana constituent increases both REM and non-REM sleep in rats. Human trials are now under way.
Categories: Drug Facts

The dangerous pursuit of muscularity in men and adolescent boys

Wed, 2024-10-30 13:08
Men and adolescent boys are increasingly at risk of resorting to the dangerous use of anabolic steroids in a bid to achieve the desired muscular build modeled on social media, warn body image experts. A new review that focused specifically on men found that exposure to social media posts depicting ideal muscular male bodies is directly linked to a negative body image and greater odds of resorting to anabolic-androgenic steroid use.
Categories: Drug Facts

Nearly 6 percent of pregnant women report marijuana use, U.S. study finds

Wed, 2024-10-30 13:04
A new study, using responses from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, has found that about 6 percent of pregnant women reported using marijuana during the last month, and many did not associate it with health risks.
Categories: Drug Facts

Cannabis use during pregnancy can impact thinking and learning skills, increase aggression among children, study shows

Mon, 2024-10-28 11:15
As cannabis is legalized and is more accessible in various forms across the country, there is increasing concern among health care providers about potential impact on children. Researchers have new findings to add to the existing evidence that cannabis exposure before birth can negatively impact children.
Categories: Drug Facts

Researchers show why cannabis policies should shift to a harm reduction, health promotion approach to safeguard public health

Wed, 2024-10-23 15:15
A new paper explains why there needs to be a shift in cannabis policies to a public health approach as opposed to the prevailing, more punitive approach that pushes abstinence instead of public education. With cannabis now legal to some extent in most U.S. states, the authors say the case for such a shift is all the more urgent.
Categories: Drug Facts

Cannabis use in adolescence: Visible effects on brain structure

Wed, 2024-10-23 11:12
A collaborative study sheds light on how cannabis use affects brain development in young people, the main one being atrophy of certain regions of the cerebral cortex.
Categories: Drug Facts

A 37% drop in overdose deaths from drugs mixed with opioids -- fentanyl included

Mon, 2024-10-21 10:27
Expanded treatment options, increased naloxone distribution and targeted education campaigns likely led to a 37% reduction in overdose deaths from opioids combined with stimulant drugs other than cocaine, according to the results of a large federally funded study.
Categories: Drug Facts

High potency cannabis use leaves unique signature on DNA, study shows

Wed, 2024-10-16 10:06
A new study suggests that the use of high potency cannabis leaves a distinct mark on DNA, providing valuable insights into the biological impact of cannabis use.
Categories: Drug Facts

Chronic pain patients are more supportive of cannabis access than doctors

Wed, 2024-10-02 11:52
A study reveals a gap between patient and physician attitudes on medical marijuana policies.
Categories: Drug Facts

Clinical trial shows synthetic cannabis reduces agitation in Alzheimer's disease

Wed, 2024-10-02 08:48
Researchers show that a pill form of the drug dronabinol, an FDA-approved synthetic version of marijuana's main ingredient, THC, reduces agitation in patients with Alzheimer's by an average of 30%.
Categories: Drug Facts

Cognitive deficits from meth and PCP use are generated by a common neurotransmitter switch

Thu, 2024-09-26 11:20
The effects of sustained drug abuse can manifest in many ways. Loss of memory and reduced cognitive functions are some of the effects that can persist for years. Scientists have now identified a mechanism in the brain that generates drug-induced cognitive impairments.
Categories: Drug Facts

Compound in rosemary extract can reduce cocaine sensitivity

Tue, 2024-08-20 20:18
A team of researchers has discovered that an antioxidant found in rosemary extract can reduce volitional intakes of cocaine by moderating the brain's reward response, offering a new therapeutic target for treating addiction.
Categories: Drug Facts
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