Remarkable scientific progress over the past five decades has helped us develop knowledge of how drugs of abuse induce pleasure, reinforce use, and lead to the compulsive self-administration we call ...

Methamphetamine addiction has a way of looping back on itself. A rush of pleasure pulls you in, cravings follow, and the brain learns that the drug is the fastest route to reward. Yet scientists still ...

Prescribed drugs given tougher dependence warnings.

Many of the prescription drugs that are commonly abused or misused are brands most people have heard of. Painkillers, also known as opioids, are the most frequently abused ones, per data from the New ...

Where does opium come from? The opium poppy grows best in warm, dry climates. Most opium is grown in a long, narrow stretch of mountains in central Asia, an area that starts in Turkey and moves east ...

Since weight-loss drugs that target the hormone GLP-1 have surged in popularity, some additional health benefits have emerged. Beyond helping people shed pounds, they also lower the risk of heart ...

“Bath salts” is a term for a group of illegal drugs known as synthetic cathinones. Some people take them to experience euphoria. They can cause severe psychological and neurological problems. While ...