Addiction & Recovery

Drug therapies show promise in the battle against addictive stimulants

Olivier Ameisen had tried everything to dry out--then he heard about baclofen

Don't blame your job, the traffic or your mindless chores. Battling boredom, researchers say, means finding focus, living in the moment and having something to live for

Two researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health published a review in the November 20th issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, of several hundred smoking studies. They conclude that success in quitting depends on a combo of meds and non-pharmacotherapy, but that a key component is the role of the physician. Just advising a patient to quit, actually doubles their quit rates. And long term follow-up, at least one year, is critical the researchers say.

In this episode, Scientific American's David Biello discusses his article on nuclear weaponry in the November issue of the magazine. And Scientific American Mind's Karen Schrock talks about some of the highlights of the Neuroscience 2007 conference that she attended last week in San Diego. Plus we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Websites mentioned on this podcast include: www.sciam.com/sciammind; www.sfn.org

According to new research, that's if the suckling infant has a certain version of a gene that helps process fatty acids

Smokers who use the drug varenicline to help them stop lighting up may discover it also reduces their urge to drink

Molecules may help young brain cells forge the right connections—but only at the right time and place

Study of rat brains identifies new culprit and possible therapeutic target for addiction