addiction

Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.

Addiction is most commonly associated with gambling, drugs, alcohol and smoking, but it’s possible to be addicted to just about anything, including work, the internet, shopping, solvents and sex.

Our addiction Blogs

Substance misuse and addiction in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

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Andrew Jones summarises a recent Canadian cohort study, which explores the extent of substance misuse and addictive disorders among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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OCD risk may increase following perinatal complications

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Alan Underwood summarises a population based cohort study of 2.4 million Swedish children, which highlights links between perinatal risk factors such as smoking during pregnancy, and later development of obsessive compulsive disorder.

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Cannabis use during pregnancy: little known about impact on child or maternal health

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Ellen Grimas summarises a systematic review on prenatal exposure to cannabis and maternal and child health outcomes, which highlights the lack of high quality research in this area.

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Cognitive bias modification for addiction: are we flogging a dead horse?

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Matt Field considers a recent meta-analysis that explores the effectiveness of Cognitive Bias Modification interventions for substance addictions.

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Alcohol brief interventions: how can content, provider and setting reduce alcohol consumption?

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Olivia Maynard considers the findings of a recent systematic review that evaluates the effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions in reducing consumption. The review focuses specifically on the impact of the intervention content, provider group and setting.

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Sex matters: why have females been excluded from addiction research?

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Ian Hamilton explores two recent articles that consider the shocking sex and gender inequities in addiction research.

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Have the EAGLES landed? Safety of varenicline, bupropion and NRT in smokers with and without mental illnesses

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Paul Christiansen presents the results of the EAGLES RCT into the neuropsychiatric safety and efficacy of varenicline, bupropion, and nicotine patches in smokers with and without psychiatric disorders.

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Alcohol use disorder and increased mortality

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Matt Field summarises a recent Swedish longitudinal cohort study of alcohol use disorder and mortality across the lifespan. This study quantifies the environmental and genetic risk factors that contribute to increased mortality in people with alcohol use disorder.

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Guided or misguided? New advice on young people and drugs (SBIRT)

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Ian Hamilton considers a recent report from the American Academy of Paediatrics Committee on Substance Use and Prevention, which focuses on SBIRT (Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment)

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