Opioid addiction and abuse in the United States has become a prolonged epidemic, endangering public health, economic output, and national security. Summary Since 2000, more than a million people in the United States have died of drug overdoses, the majority of which were due to opioids. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have been driving the crisis...
Health
Hope Is on the Horizon for a Malaria-Free Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionally affected by malaria. The region accounts for 95% of the world’s malaria cases. The disease kills an African child every 60 seconds. These figures are alarming. But malaria is preventable and treatable. The progress made between 2000 and 2015 is proof of what can be achieved. Support from global donors helped...
Better Social Drinkers Don’t Earn More
Social drinking after work is traditionally seen as an important way to build relationships in East Asia. There’s sometimes even a fear that missing out could leave you on the back foot when climbing the career ladder. However, a joint paper looking at the drinking habits and economic situation of working men in Japan, Taiwan...
Worldwide, Those with ‘Traditional’ Values Adhered More Strictly to Covid Precautions
Given the battles over COVID-19 rules and recommendations in the United States over the past three years, the findings of a new UCLA-led study may come as a bit of a shock: Globally, those who professed to hold traditional values tended to adhere more closely to coronavirus-prevention measures than those who considered themselves more liberal....
Impact of Coronavirus on States’ Fertility Rates Tracked with Economic, Social, and Political Divides
Experts have found that at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, Americans chose not to become pregnant as they grappled with stay-at-home restrictions, anxiety, and economic hardship. Now, a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine shows that some states actually experienced steeper decreases in fertility than others....
U of I Study Gives a Thumbs Up to Carefully Formulated Vegan Diets for Dogs
In today’s pet food market, there are products to match nearly every lifestyle, value system, and price point pet owners demand, including vegan formulations. New University of Illinois research shows at least two human-grade, lightly cooked vegan diets provide adequate nutrition for dogs. “The trends of vegan foods and human grade foods are increasing for...
Picture a Dream: Dream Collaboration’ for Neuroscientists and Artists
Dreams are being turned into reality as new research investigating the unusual experiences of people with depersonalisation symptoms is being brought to life in an art exhibition at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, England. ARU neuroscientist Dr Jane Aspell has led a major international study into depersonalisation, funded by the Bial Foundation. The “Living...
Use of Melatonin Linked to Decreased Self-Harm in Young People
Medical sleep treatment may reduce self-harm in young people with anxiety and depression, an observational study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden suggests. The risk of self-harm increased in the months preceding melatonin prescription and decreased thereafter, especially in girls. The study is published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Melatonin is a hormone that controls...
Mocktails or Cocktails? Having a Sense of Purpose in Life Can Keep Binge Drinking at Bay
A new study reveals that having a sense of purpose in daily life can influence college students’ decisions on day-to-day alcohol consumption. Heavy alcohol use is common among college students—and as a consequence, it puts young adults at risk for a wide range of health issues, from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Day in and day...
Using Running to Escape Everyday Stresses May Lead to Exercise Dependence Instead of Mental Wellbeing
Different kinds of escapism can motivate people to take part in running, but using running to escape from negative experiences rather than using it to escape to positive ones may lead to exercise dependence. Recreational running offers a lot of physical and mental health benefits – but some people can develop exercise dependence, a form...