Addiction

Basic Info

Addiction is an uncontrollable urge and compulsion to engage in certain activities or use certain substances. The most common types of addictions are substance addiction and behavioral addiction. Substance addiction is the urge to use substances such as prescription painkillers, illicit substances such as recreational drugs, nicotine or alcohol. People who have mental health disorders are more likely to have substance use disorders. Behavioral addiction is the compulsion to engage in activities, including dieting, eating, gambling, exercising, shoplifting, sexual activity, viewing pornography, shopping, video gaming, and browsing the internet.

Latest
A Widely Available Drug Is Sending More People to Poison Control Centers

A Widely Available Drug Is Sending More People to Poison Control Centers

Kratom is easy to obtain without a prescription and is often marketed as a natural remedy, leading more people to try it.

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The Hidden Dangers of Vaping: How E-cigarettes Can Harm the Lungs and Brain

The Hidden Dangers of Vaping: How E-cigarettes Can Harm the Lungs and Brain

Teaching children about the effects of e-cigarettes early may help decrease their allure.

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What Happens When You Scroll Your Phone 108 Minutes a Day

What Happens When You Scroll Your Phone 108 Minutes a Day

You need to stop scrolling. The problem is that many of us simply can't. The next thing is always one swipe away, even when we don't know what we're looking ...

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The Legal Drug That’s Destroying Lives, and the Community That’s Providing Hope

The Legal Drug That’s Destroying Lives, and the Community That’s Providing Hope

Unpaid volunteers who have been addicted to kratom, an opioid-like substance, are providing data that could help federal regulators set policies.

IN-DEPTH
What Flavored Vapes Do to Your Body

What Flavored Vapes Do to Your Body

Flavors do more than make vapes more addictive—they may also expose users to potentially harmful chemicals.

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Digital Detox: A Cure to the Never-Ending Stress and Overstimulation

Digital Detox: A Cure to the Never-Ending Stress and Overstimulation

Phones and technology, so mundane in our lives, may be quietly robbing us of things we didn’t know we needed—until stepping away.

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How Marijuana Has Changed in Effects and Potency

How Marijuana Has Changed in Effects and Potency

Evidence connects addiction to higher-potency products and recreational use of cannabis.

120d
Family Dinners Protect Teens From Substance Use 

Family Dinners Protect Teens From Substance Use 

Shared meals may create space for connection, routine, and accountability—factors tied to lower substance use among teens.

120d
How to Tell if Your Teen’s Gaming Has Become a Problem

How to Tell if Your Teen’s Gaming Has Become a Problem

Video games aren’t a neutral way to relax. Built to discourage stopping, they can become unhealthy for teens who rely on them to relieve stress.

162d
Vomiting Syndrome Linked to Cannabis Use Increased Sevenfold

Vomiting Syndrome Linked to Cannabis Use Increased Sevenfold

The symptoms can be extreme and, at their worst, have been dubbed "scromiting," or screaming in pain while vomiting.

205d
Not All Overeating Is the Same: What That Means for GLP-1s

Not All Overeating Is the Same: What That Means for GLP-1s

Weight-loss medications don’t address root causes of emotional eating, which can be complex.

293d
Fatal ‘Laughing Gas’ Poisonings Skyrocket as Recreational Use Spreads

Fatal ‘Laughing Gas’ Poisonings Skyrocket as Recreational Use Spreads

Eighth graders are among the top users of the unregulated 'party drug.'

348d
Cannabis Users Face Up to 5-Fold Higher Risk of Benign Mouth Tumors

Cannabis Users Face Up to 5-Fold Higher Risk of Benign Mouth Tumors

Benign cancerous growths in the salivary glands, while not life-threatening, can cause discomfort, swelling, and, in some cases, functional problems.

365d
Cannabis Use Disorder Associated With Higher Colon Cancer Mortality Risks

Cannabis Use Disorder Associated With Higher Colon Cancer Mortality Risks

Experts call for more research as small sample size limits definitive conclusions.

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Cannabis Use Disorder Linked to Psychosis, Elevated Dopamine Activity in Specific Brain Regions

Cannabis Use Disorder Linked to Psychosis, Elevated Dopamine Activity in Specific Brain Regions

Scientists have found a potential mechanism connecting cannabis use to psychosis risk: elevated dopamine levels in key brain regions.

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Disposable E-cigarette Ban ‘Unlikely’ to Tackle Vaping Rates, Researchers Warn

Disposable E-cigarette Ban ‘Unlikely’ to Tackle Vaping Rates, Researchers Warn

The government announced plans to ban disposable vapes last January, with the measure coming into force on June 1.

462d
Heavy Alcohol Use Linked to Brain Damage and Earlier Death

Heavy Alcohol Use Linked to Brain Damage and Earlier Death

Even moderate drinking increases the risk of brain vascular damage by 60 percent. 

467d
The Untold Story of Benzodiazepine Dependency

The Untold Story of Benzodiazepine Dependency

Millions take benzodiazepines as prescribed, unaware that dependence can begin within weeks—trapping them between use and withdrawal.

481d
The Nuances of Nonalcoholic Drinks: When They Help and When They Don’t

The Nuances of Nonalcoholic Drinks: When They Help and When They Don’t

Nonalcoholic drinks are rising in popularity and may offer a similar taste and social experience.

490d
How Gen Z Is Changing the Drinking Landscape

How Gen Z Is Changing the Drinking Landscape

Although alcohol use among teens is decreasing, the use of drugs may be on the rise.

496d
INFOGRAPHIC: How Gaming Changes the Brain

INFOGRAPHIC: How Gaming Changes the Brain

Gamers total 71 percent of the U.S. population and, on average, spend at least one month per year gaming. How does this affect emotions, cognition, and senses?

508d
Discerning the Relationship Between Estrogen and Alcohol

Discerning the Relationship Between Estrogen and Alcohol

Using alcohol to cope with menstrual pain may lead to even more problems, experts warn.

510d
Cannabis Is Behind Rising Cases of Nausea and Vomiting

Cannabis Is Behind Rising Cases of Nausea and Vomiting

Although not fully understood, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms include nausea, cyclic vomiting, and abdominal pain.

522d
Ultra-Processed Foods Are Making You Depressed

Ultra-Processed Foods Are Making You Depressed

Research has linked ultra-processed foods to mental health issues, prompting scientists to suggest strategies to discourage their consumption.

528d
Cannabis-Linked Schizophrenia Nearly Tripled in Young Adults After Legalization

Cannabis-Linked Schizophrenia Nearly Tripled in Young Adults After Legalization

A 16-year Canadian study of 13.5 million people reveals significant increase in psychosis and schizophrenia cases among young cannabis users.

530d
Heavy Cannabis Use Linked to Reduced Brain Activity in Memory Tasks

Heavy Cannabis Use Linked to Reduced Brain Activity in Memory Tasks

Research shows that up to 68 percent of regular users experience decreased brain activation, particularly affecting cognitive processing. 

531d
Medical Cannabis Tied to Higher Addiction Risk Than Recreational Use

Medical Cannabis Tied to Higher Addiction Risk Than Recreational Use

Medical cannabis users aged 18–49 may face higher risks of cannabis use disorder compared to recreational users.

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