Here, we review evidence from human studies with designs (i.e., family-based, genomic and longitudinal) that allow them to assess the plausibility that grey matter correlates reflect predispositional risk factors and/or causal consequences of alcohol involvement. These studies provide convergent evidence that neural correlates of alcohol involvement largely reflect predisposing risk factors, with some evidence for potential alcohol-induced atrophy.

Blockade of κ opioid receptor (KOR) prevented METH-induced cognitive impairment. Chronic METH administration increased dynorphin and KOR mRNA level in prelimbic cortex (PL) but not infralimbic cortex (IL). KOR antagonist injections into PL but not IL attenuated cognitive impairment after METH exposure.

Intra-BLA infusion of β-butyrolactone immediately after memory retrieval effectively reduces cue- and heroin-induced reinstatement, with the observed effects persisting significantly for a minimum of 28 days. Inhibition of Cdk5 in the BLA for a duration of 6 h following the memory retrieval trial, or without it altogether, had no discernible impact. Cdk5 inhibition in the BLA can disrupt the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory, thereby diminishing the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior.

As it is unclear whether quetiapine increases the risk of fatal methadone poisoning, the combined effects of three accumulated doses of methadone, and quetiapine was investigated in conscious freely moving rats using telemetry and compared to vehicle and treatment with each drug alone. No additive effects on respiratory rate or haemodynamic variables were observed. However, the two drugs seemed to lower body temperature synergistically. We suggest studying this finding further in human settings.

In this study, we investigated the shared genetic architecture between externalizing and addiction risks. We explored alternative structural models that capture their covariation, examined their correlations with external traits and quantified their degree of polygenic overlap. Overall, we found that externalizing and addiction risks share a substantial proportion of their genetic influences in common while also retaining meaningful unique genetic variance.

GQD treatment during Meth withdrawal period efficiently alleviates anxiety, partially through regulating the local GABA IN-PN pathway and transcriptomic profile of mPFC. The present study confirms that TCM, such as GQD, will be a desirable therapeutic approach in the treatment of drug withdrawal symptoms.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, human laboratory study examined the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in individuals receiving methadone therapy for opioid use disorder (OUD). The 25 participants were given varying oral doses of THC and placebo, with measures taken for pain sensitivity, abuse potential, cognitive performance and physiological effects. The study found that lower doses of THC provided greater subjective pain relief without significant evidence of abuse potential, highlighting a potential avenue for future studies on pain management in OUD therapy.

Chronic treatment with propranolol provides therapeutic efficacy in reducing the escalation of cocaine self-administration, with no side effects on the self-administration of natural reward. Beta-blockers should be further investigated as a potential treatment for cocaine use disorder.

By comparing the data of the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods for drug seizures, individuals identified as drug users, registered and newly discovered illegal drug users and community-treated drug users, we showed the accelerated decline in illegal drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.