Addiction
Drug or Alcohol Intervention for Your Elderly Loved Ones
When it comes to our parents or older adults in our family, we often have blinders on. On the one hand, we tend to think of our parents as having their act together. After all, they raised us and have years of accumulated wisdom. But we may also be preoccupied with our own lives and unable to recognize signs of drug or alcohol abuse that may be going on with them. Full Story
Adolescents May Drink More Because of Media Habits
Researchers from Sweden and colleagues from the United Kingdom are closely looking at the connection between the media practices of adolescents and their consumption of alcohol. According to an article in Science Daily, a professor of practical philosophy, Christian Munthe, says there appears to be a strong link between adolescents who watch Tv shows involving alcohol and an increased level of drinking. Full Story
The Cycle of Chronic Relapse
Chronic relapse is a repeated cycle wherein a person seeks help to overcome addiction, gets clean, and then later falls prey to substance abuse again. The chronic condition can see multiple repetitions of this cycle, frustrating everyone involved – the addict, their family and their doctors. A number of high-profile celebrity examples testify to the difficulty in avoiding chronic relapse. Full Story
Report on Medicare Cites Prescription Drug Abuse as Major Problem in U.S.
According to a recent article in the NY Times, Congressional investigators explain that thousands of Medicare recipients are abusing prescription drugs by shopping around for new doctors while obtaining prescriptions from each of them, resulting in dangerously large amounts of painkillers. Full Story
Younger Women at Risk for Alcohol Use Disorders
According to a recent study looking at different birth groups and differences in gender relating to alcohol consumption, women are now narrowing the gap between men with alcohol-related problems. Many experts in this area say that people who were born after WWII are more apt to partake in binge drinking and develop an alcohol use disorder, or AUD, according to an article in Medical News Today. Full Story
Alcohol Dementia
Many people fear the losses associated with growing older. One concern that people often mention is memory loss or the reduced ability to continue to vibrantly interact with their surroundings and others. Exercising mind and body and staying socially involved can help to reduce the risks of losing precious cognitive abilities. What many people may not realize is that 15 to 20 percent of dementia cases are attributable to the abuse of alcohol. Full Story
New Study Shows Women Are at Risk for Problem Drinking
According to a new study brought up in Web MD, women are now catching up to men when it comes to drinking alcohol in terms of both consumption and frequency. Those born after WWII are more likely to binge drink or develop an alcohol-related disorder. Full Story
What Makes Alcoholics Anonymous Successful?
The fact that Alcoholics Anonymous offers strong potential for success in helping an individual recover from alcohol addiction is not news. Although most medical and addiction professionals recognize its effectiveness, no one had investigated which elements of the 12-Step approach make it so, until recently. A new study investigates this question: Which aspects of Alcoholics Anonymous account for its high rate of success?
Researchers worked with 1,700 participants through a federally funded trial called Project MATCH. This trial set out to compare three separate approaches in alcohol abuse treatment: cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy and AA’s 12-Step approach. Participants were asked to follow one of the designated treatment protocols but were also permitted to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings if they so chose.
The researchers scheduled follow-up interviews at three months, nine months and 15 months after the conclusion of the Project MATCH trial. The follow-ups focused on five key indicators to measure and examine behavioral changes:
“Respectable Addicts”
The face of drug addiction is changing. While the general perception of a drug addict is a young person in their teens or twenties struggling to maintain employment and having the appearance of someone down on their luck, that stereotype is being offset by a new group of people struggling with drug abuse: the “respectable addict.” Full Story
Need Help Finding an Intervention Specialist?
We can refer you to an experienced interventionist who can help you help your loved one.
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.
