How to prevent opioid addiction before it begins
USC Viterbi researchers respect privacy while reviewing medical histories to predict the possibility of a person’s dependency on opioids.
Opioid abuse leads to heroin use and a hepatitis C epidemic, USC researcher says
Nearly everyone who used heroin transitioned to drug injection in about six months — a trend that contributes to the hepatitis C epidemic, USC-led study finds.
Where patients get prescription opioids: It’s not where you might think
A new study is a hard look in the mirror for how providers have contributed to the addiction epidemic.
A nonaddictive opioid painkiller with no side effects? USC researchers think it’s possible
USC Michelson Center scientists are part of an international team developing new alternatives to easing pain in the midst of a national crisis.
Teens who vape higher doses of nicotine are more likely to become regular smokers
Nicotine is extremely harmful to the developing adolescent brain, USC study finds.
Addicted to your smartphone? Half of teens in U.S. and Japan say they are
First study to compare data from both nations reveals teenagers and parents feel distracted and anxious due to device use.
Happy 10th birthday, iPhone: You’ve changed the world in addictive ways
Our love of smartphones shows no sign of stopping a decade after Apple released its first one.
Opioid epidemic may be driving illicit drug users to use needles sooner, USC study finds
Injection comes more quickly to those born in the ’80s and ’90s, increasing their risk of HIV, mental health disorders, overdose and early death.
Social upheaval in America: Why so many working-class whites are dying in midlife
USC Presidential Professor Angus Deaton and his colleague look at the rising trend of deaths from drug overdose, alcohol-related disease and suicide.
Nutritional guidance often missing from substance abuse treatment
Patients in drug and alcohol recovery face the risks of malnutrition, dramatic weight changes and eating disorders.
More teen vaping could reverse progress in tobacco reduction
Experimentation with e-cigarettes could become nicotine addiction for youth who have never used any other tobacco products, USC study suggests.
Fifteen percent of Medicare patients go home with pain-relieving prescriptions
Hospitals with higher rates of opioid prescription also had the best ratings for pain management, study finds.
New smoking alternatives gain popularity among teens
The use of e-cigarettes and hookah by adolescents has grown in recent years.
Teens with fewer mental health issues turn to e-cigarettes
Adolescents with moderate emotional health problems do not smoke, but they may vape, USC study finds.
Alumnus spreads kinship among former gang members
Master of Social Work grad heads a project that supports participants, helping them develop coping skills that lead to productive lives.
Despite ban, online interest in flavored cigarettes remains high
The illegal product is a popular search target five years after its ban, Keck School of Medicine researchers find.
Midlife career change for USC Price student leads to mental health
From running sports card businesses to overcoming personal challenges, Bill Dully combines leadership skills and experiences to make a difference in his new field.
Technology fuels fight against cocaine use in Mexico City
Researchers project words and images onto buildings in areas frequented by hard-core drug users.
E-cigarette smoke found to contain toxic metals
USC researchers and colleagues discover chromium and nickel at levels unseen in traditional cigarettes.
Potential drug treatment for alcohol abuse studied at USC
Repurposing of a familiar medicine may provide a much-needed pharmaceutical treatment to reduce problem drinking.
How housing affects HIV risk
New grant will allow USC researchers to examine how a move to permanent housing changes social networks among the homeless in Los Angeles.
The butts stop here for Keck Medicine tobacco prevention expert
Keck School Professor Jonathan Samet sees the recent CVS decision on tobacco products as a sign that America may be in for a healthier future after years of a smoke-filled haze.
Researcher takes new approaches to alcohol treatment
Associate Professor Daryl Davies hopes to develop an effective treatment for alcohol use disorders through two new studies.
Patrick Kennedy to discuss students with mental illness
Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who has struggled with bipolar disorder and addiction, will kick off USC’s Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics discussion this fall.