#Drugabuse

A new scientific breakthrough could accelerate global efforts to treat cocaine use disorder. Researchers at a major university have created the world’s first fruit fly model of cocaine addiction. By disabling the flies’ bitter-sensing nerves, the team caused them to self-administer cocaine-laced sugar water, a behavior never before seen in fruit flies. The study, published in a leading neuroscience journal and summarized by science outlets, signals a fast, cost-effective path to uncover genetic factors behind addiction.

In a scientific advance with potential global impact, researchers have engineered the world’s first fruit fly model of cocaine addiction—an innovation that promises to accelerate our understanding of cocaine use disorder and speed the development of effective treatments. By genetically modifying fruit flies to disable their bitter-sensing receptors, a research team led by a psychiatry specialist at the University of Utah has successfully encouraged addictive, voluntary cocaine self-administration in the insects, an outcome described in their recent Journal of Neuroscience publication and highlighted by Neuroscience News.

A recent study has revealed a shocking reality in the United States: one in four children—over 18 million young people—live with at least one parent who struggles with addiction. This figure, reported by Newser and drawing from the work of US public health researchers, underscores an increasingly urgent social and health crisis not only in America but also prompts reflection on the potential implications for Thailand.

This news is highly significant for Thai readers because it demonstrates how substance abuse extends its impact far beyond the individual, affecting millions of innocent children and shaping the next generation’s opportunities, mental health, and educational success. While the study is from the United States, drug and alcohol misuse is a challenge that transcends borders, and the dynamics of family suffering due to addiction have marked resonance in Thailand, where family cohesion is highly valued in Thai Buddhist culture.

A new study reveals a sobering reality in the United States: more than 18 million children live with at least one parent who struggles with addiction. The finding, drawn from US public health research and reported by outlets such as Newser, highlights a pressing social and health crisis with potential lessons for Thailand.

For Thai readers, the message is clear: substance misuse harms far beyond the individual, affecting millions of children and shaping their mental health, education, and life opportunities. Although the study is US-centric, the dynamics of family trauma from addiction resonate in Thailand, where family cohesion—an important value in Thai culture—shapes daily life.