20 April 2023
Just like people, the simple nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is driven to consume high-calorie food when its cannabinoid receptors are activated, hinting at a common signalling pathway for preventing starvation
14 April 2023
The US has made a medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses available without prescription – it will no doubt prevent some deaths, but it’s not enough to tackle the opioid epidemic
25 November 2022
Researchers have reproduced the entire biochemical pathway for how coca plants make cocaine in another plant, which could help people manufacture the drug for scientific study
5 January 2022
Low and no-alcohol drinks taste better than ever – but do they really help you cut down on boozing, and are they healthier than the real thing?
20 October 2021
A sample of saliva placed on a strip and analysed with a smartphone camera can reveal if a person has ingested cannabis in the past 12 hours
14 July 2020
National lockdowns and a lack of chemicals due to the covid-19 pandemic have affected the illegal drug trade – but cartels have found workarounds
11 September 2019
Urges to play video games, watch pornography or have sex are now spoken of as addictions. Is the science rigorous, or are we just helping people excuse their behaviour?
26 November 2018
Painkillers like pregabalin are increasingly being prescribed instead of opioids, but they are being misused for their mood-boosting and sedative effects
29 August 2018
Old Scientist digs into the September archives and uncovers fears over digital wristwatches, a potent Korean stimulant and a British ban on New Scientist
1 August 2018
Light drinking helps prevent dementia, and now we may know why: it revs up the brain’s waste disposal system
