Author Archive
Childhood Trauma Common Among Alcoholics
A new study shows that those who experienced childhood trauma such as emotional, physical and sexual abuse are often later in life treated for alcoholism. Trauma can also include emotional or physical neglect. Full Story
Young People With Low Responses To Risky Situations More Likely To Drink
Young people who drink more than average amounts tend to be risk-takers. Now a new study from Yale University finds that their brains respond differently to risky situations, which may in turn predispose them to drinking more alcohol. Full Story
Addiction Begins in Adolescence
Parents generally worry during their child’s teen years about the pressures their child may be facing. Risky behaviors such as drug use and alcohol consumption are often introduced during adolescence and parents worry about the decisions their child will make regarding these substances. Full Story
Substance Abuse Among Teens Continues to Rise
The number of young adults dabbling in marijuana, prescription drugs and alcohol is on the rise. Before they graduate high school, more than half a million American teens will try illegal drugs at least once. A recent news article highlights the many reasons behind drug use and alcohol abuse among teens today. Full Story
Binge Drinking Among Young Adults And Older People
According to Psychology Today, binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in a short amount of time. For men, it equates to five or more drinks and for women, it equates to four or more drinks in a short time frame. Full Story
Alcohol, SSRIs During Pregnancy Damage Babies
Children exposed to tobacco, cocaine, and/or marijuana during their mothers’ pregnancies perform just as well on academic tests as other children their age, according to a new study from Boston University School of Medicine. However, those exposed prenatally to alcohol score lower in tests of math, reasoning and spelling, even if they do not have fetal alcohol syndrome.
Examining Brain Differences in Siblings That Contribute to Addiction
Recent studies have shown that there are certain brain function differences in those who use stimulant drugs when compared with controls that do not use drugs. The studies have often focused on the fronto-striatal systems of the brain that are responsible for functions of self-control. Full Story
Babies Born to Women Using Ecstasy Have More Developmental Delays
Multiple studies over the years have revealed the harm that drugs can inflict on unborn children. Recently, researchers have studied the babies of mothers who had taken the drug, Ecstasy (also known as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA), before and during their pregnancy. Results of the first study ever conducted on this topic were published in the February 28 issue of Neurotoxicology and Tertology. Full Story
Those Born After WWII More Likely to Binge Drink and Develop Alcohol Disorders
Drinking might be influenced by a number of things from personal and societal issues, political instability, social norms and also economic fluctuations. These factors turn into different types of drinking cultures over time periods and among varying countries. Full Story
Drug Abuse Weakens the Ability to Recognize Emotion in Facial Expressions
From very early ages children can recognize the nuances of facial expressions. Infants and toddlers quickly learn to recognize happiness, sadness, or anger in their guardian’s face. As adults, we can tune in to body language and recognize the complex feelings behind each of these expressions. But some adults have lost this natural ability to recognize emotions in the human face. Full Story
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The Addiction Primer: Everything You Need to Know to Get Help for a Loved One
A very inexpensive yet indispensable guide for anyone struggling with a loved one's addiction. Chapters on intervention, what to expect from rehab, and information on how addiction impacts the family.
