Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.
19 papers
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most-studied treatments for alcohol and drug problems. Reviews of many trials find a small but real average benefit: a meta-analysis of 53 controlled trials reported an effect size of g = 0.15 and estimated that 58% of people given CBT did better…
This report describes 33 open-label treatments with the alkaloid ibogaine given for acute heroin withdrawal in non-medical settings. In 25 of the 33 people, visible signs of opioid withdrawal stopped within 24 hours and stayed absent during 72 hours of observation. The authors note the results are from uncontrolled, non-clinical…
Researchers gave 10 adults placebo cigarettes and three active marijuana cigarettes (including a 3.58% Delta9-THC dose) in a repeated-measures lab test. Using a task that forced a choice between a risky and a nonrisky option, the highest THC dose made people choose the risky option more often. The same high…
This 2018 review looked at animal and human studies of ketamine as a possible treatment for addiction. Early findings are promising: some studies found ketamine helped people stay abstinent from alcohol and heroin and reduced cocaine craving and use. However, the authors say the research is still new, many studies…
This review says that the main active part of cannabis, THC, acts at the brain's CB1 receptor to produce rewarding effects, reinforce smoking, and can lead to dependence and withdrawal. Evidence comes from animal and human studies. Higher THC strength raises blood THC levels and may raise the chance of…
This review explains how the main cannabis chemicals, especially THC and CBD, act in the body and how the body absorbs and breaks them down. THC and CBD bind to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the brain and other organs. Inhaling THC delivers it to blood and brain fast…
The study tested whether a single intravenous dose of ketamine given right after reactivating alcohol-related memories could weaken those memories and reduce harmful drinking. People who had their drinking memories reactivated and then received ketamine showed larger drops in urge to drink, enjoyment of beer, cue reactivity, and in drinking…
Ibogaine is a psychoactive chemical from a West African shrub that some clinics use to help people stop using opioids or stimulants. Small studies, animal research, and many personal reports say a single high dose can cut opioid withdrawal and reduce cravings. For example, one study found 50% of participants…
This review looks at how three common drugs of abuse—nicotine, cocaine, and alcohol—change learning and memory and how those changes connect with stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The authors describe how these drugs can either help or hurt memory depending on dose, how long they are used, and whether…
This article explains how workplace drug testing for marijuana usually looks for an inactive THC metabolite in urine. A positive urine test does not prove a person was impaired or recently using marijuana. Tests usually start with a quick screen and then use a lab confirmation. Urine is the most…
The study examined 39 FDA Warning Letters about CBD products issued from 2015 to 2019. It found most violations were online (websites and social media) and that nearly all letters (97%) cited companies marketing CBD as an unapproved drug. The letters also showed widespread claims that CBD could treat many…
