Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs in the world. It is an opioid that floods the brain with dopamine, a chemical that helps us feel pleasure. This causes a strong feeling of happiness, ...

Medically reviewed by Kira Graves, PhD Key Takeaways Addiction to a drug means you cannot control your use of the substance, ...

Take a good look around any major urban area– and now, many rural spaces too– and you’ll see signs of drug abuse and addiction. The Baltimore City Department of Health reports that “In 2023, Baltimore ...

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 ...

For decades, Americans have been told a simple story about addiction: taking drugs damages the brain—and the earlier in life children start using substances, the more likely they are to progress ...

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. We aim to emphasize the importance of seeking help for mental health issues early, as this is one of the most effective ways to prevent substance ...

Lorne J. Hofseth does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...

During brain development, neurons extend long processes called axons. Axons link different areas of the brain and carry signals within it and to the rest of the body. Growing axons "wire up" the brain ...