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.
Systematic review of 54 RCTs found limited evidence for cannabinoids treating mental health conditions. Most robust findings for cannabis use disorder, but overall quality low.
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Psychiatric disorders share genetic variants that cluster into five main factors. Understanding shared biology could improve treatment, but more diverse genetic data urgently needed.
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Umbrella review of global prison populations finds 40% with antisocial personality disorder, 39% with drug use disorder, 24% with alcohol use disorder, 18% with hepatitis C, and 11% with major depression. Healthcare provision inadequate.
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New study using Millennium Cohort Study data finds that young people facing both persistent poverty and parental mental illness showed highest rates of police involvement (27.8%) and weapon-carrying (8.6%) at age 17.
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13% of vapes confiscated from English schools contained synthetic cannabinoids mis-sold as THC. Refillable vapes and social media platforms enable this dangerous trend.
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Recent research suggests that lower IQ and cognitive performance link to higher alcohol use disorder risk, but education and societal factors can amplify or reduce this vulnerability, not genetics alone.
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Do people with ADHD have higher rates of behavioural addictions? This study compared 209 adults with ADHD to 137 healthy controls, finding increased impulsivity, compulsivity and problematic internet use in the ADHD groups.
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This Danish study of over 3 million people found that having a first-degree relative with depression increased risk 2.35-times, resulting in 15% lifetime risk (compared to 7.8% in the general population). However, 60% of depression cases occurred in people with no affected close relatives, highlighting that family history is only part of the story.
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Healthcare workers have twice the risk of fatal drug overdose compared to other workers. This study of 58 coroner reports found that occupational hazards (workplace access to drugs, clinical knowledge, prescribing power) combined with mental health problems and work stress contributed to these deaths, highlighting the need for systemic workplace interventions.
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Alcohol causes 2.6 million premature deaths each year, yet remains the world’s favourite drug. This new global analysis exposes how weak policy, powerful industry lobbying and slow action are undermining WHO’s efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm.
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