Exploring the underlying emotions that lead to alcohol and cannabis use

Theoretical models of alcohol and cannabis use disorders often focus on the idea that people consume alcohol and cannabis use to regulate their negative emotions – in other words, to make themselves feel better. New research does not support this idea, finding instead that people mostly consume alcohol and cannabis in their daily life when they are experiencing positive emotions.

COVID19 ANXIETY, JOB LOSS ARE LEADING TO WIDESPREAD SLEEP DEPRIVATION

The COVID19 pandemic is creating unprecedented levels of sleep deprivation, presenting a significant risk to our mental and physical health. Now, a new randomized controlled cross-over pilot trial published online today in Neurophysiology explains that high doses of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) are just as effective as caffeine in raising alertness in sleep deprived men and women. Importantly, this research is the first of its kind to show that hydrogen water and caffeine had an impact on different domains of alertness. Specifically, the study results demonstrate that; hydrogen improves orienting to sensory stimulation, while caffeine alters awareness and executive attention that refers to the ability to control our attention and ongoing cognitive processes, including thoughts and feelings.