Ketamine, a promising new treatment for depression, works through the brain's opioid system, Stanford study finds, defying long held beliefs.
Category: Addiction
Digging out of the opioid epidemic won’t be easy, new model illustrates
Even substantial efforts in reducing opioid addiction, preventing overdoses and providing addiction treatment won't curb the crisis any time soon.
Deep brain stimulation might benefit those with severe alcoholism, preliminary studies show
Stanford researchers examine the use of deep brain stimulation therapy to treat alcohol use disorders and reduce relapse rates.
Tackle opioid addictions at the onset, the doctor’s office, Stanford researchers urge
In a JAMA opinion piece, Gary Peltz and Tom Sudhof argue for policymakers and health leaders to combat opioid addictions early.
From loss to a legacy of hope: A father makes a gift to advance addiction medicine
After his daughter died of a drug overdose, George Ting established the Esther Ting Memorial Professorship in Addiction Medicine at Stanford.
Spotlight on prescription drug abuse: A Q&A with a Stanford psychiatrist and addiction researcher
Years into the opioid epidemic, Stanford psychiatrist and addiction researcher Anna Lembke cites signs of slow improvement and comments on benzodiazepines.
“Slow and steady wins this race”: Stanford pain specialist studies opioid tapering
Stanford pain expert Beth Darnall discusses her clinical trials on methods to taper opioid doses for patients with chronic pain.
Using history as a guide to end tobacco addiction
The public’s opinion of tobacco use has dramatically changed over time. Gone are the days when cigarette companies advertise using slogans like “fresh as mountain …
On addiction, psychiatric disorders and primary care: A Q&A with a Stanford clinical psychologist
Resolving America’s opioid crisis is clearly more difficult than just saying “no” to opioid use. A key complication is that many opioid addicts also have mental health issues, …
New simulations may guide future brain surgeries
A team of researchers, led by Ellen Kuhl, PhD, a Stanford professor of mechanical engineering, is developing a new simulation tool to help guide surgeons …
Shifting the focus from opioids to life beyond pain: A Q&A with pain expert Beth Darnall
Deaths from prescription painkillers and opioids in the United States have reached epidemic proportions in recent years. Stanford pain psychologist Beth Darnall, PhD, has seen …
Homeward bound: An addiction specialist travels home to help
Few things tug at the heart quite like the thought of home. Whether it’s our birthplace, current address, or just somewhere we love, home is …
It’s a no-brainer: Neuroscience should influence policy on psychoactive substances
Non-smoking campaigns that tell teenage boys that they'll get lung cancer in 30 years if they don’t stop smoking just don’t work. “But prevention programs that …
Opioid abuse among seniors: Stanford pain expert testifies on issue before U.S. Senate
Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, a Stanford professor and expert in pain management, got a last-minute request to fly to Washington D.C. late last week to testify before …
Stanford scientists uncover new approach to reduce opiate withdrawal
Opiates produce a sense of euphoria that is highly addictive. If addicts stop taking the drugs, they are faced with opiate withdrawal, which can feel like …
For some African Americans, light smokers may not have lower lung cancer risk than heavy ones
Although the relationship between smoking and lung cancer has been established beyond any doubt, it's still difficult to know how a patient's ethnicity might play …