Binge drinking brake found in mouse brains, offering future path to treating alcohol abuse – new research

Current treatments for alcohol abuse are limited in their effectiveness and come with side effects. Precisely targeting the neurons involved in binge drinking could lead to better options.

Gilles Martin, Associate Professor of Neurobiology, UMass Chan Medical School • conversation
June 10, 2025 • ~5 min

Memories of the good parts of using drugs can keep people hooked − altering the neurons that store them could help treat addiction

Your brain processes the pleasure of everyday behaviors like eating and drinking similarly to the pleasure of using drugs. Disentangling them requires understanding how memories are formed.

Ana Clara Bobadilla, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University • conversation
June 4, 2025 • ~11 min

Millions of US children have parents with substance use disorder, and the consequences are staggering − new research

Children of these parents are more likely to have mental health issues − and ultimately suffer from substance use disorder themselves.

Ty Schepis, Professor of Psychology, Texas State University • conversation
May 30, 2025 • ~5 min

For opioid addiction, treatment underdosing can lead to fentanyl overdosing – a physician explains

Doctors had believed that going over the maximum dose of one lifesaving drug could lead to more abuse. But after patients improved with one more pill, they convinced the FDA to change its guidelines.

Lucinda Grande, Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine, University of Washington • conversation
May 27, 2025 • ~12 min

US safety net helps protect children from abuse and neglect, and some of those programs are threatened by proposed budget cuts

Society as a whole can benefit from programs that protect kids because the harms experienced in childhood can last a lifetime.

Rebeccah Sokol, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Michigan • conversation
May 15, 2025 • ~7 min

As a neuroscientist, I’ve seen the impact of harsh words on children’s brains. We need to prevent childhood verbal abuse

Preventing verbal abuse is essential for healthy brain development and lifelong wellbeing.

Eamon McCrory, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, UCL • conversation
April 30, 2025 • ~6 min

As views on spanking shift worldwide, most US adults support it, and 19 states allow physical punishment in schools

Although millions of US parents approve, decades of research shows that spanking is harmful.

Christina Erickson, Associate Dean in the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota • conversation
April 18, 2025 • ~11 min

Animal tranquilizers found in illegal opioids may suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone − and cause more overdose deaths

Increasingly, these types of tranquilizers are turning up in fentanyl, oxycodone and other illegal opioids.

C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut • conversation
April 7, 2025 • ~6 min

Shaken baby syndrome can cause permanent brain damage, long-term disabilities or death – a pediatrician examines the preventable tragedy

Up to 25% of infants diagnosed with abusive head trauma – otherwise known as shaken baby syndrome – die, and a substantial percentage who survive are left with long-term disabilities.

Lori Frasier, Professor of Pediatrics, Penn State • conversation
March 19, 2025 • ~9 min

The UK farmer protests you probably haven’t heard about

Farm workers milk cows, drive machinery and pick crops – yet their grievances are seldom heard.

Alex Heffron, PhD Candidate in Geography, Lancaster University • conversation
Feb. 25, 2025 • ~8 min

/

15