Addiction
Genetics May Play a Role in Addiction, but Genes Don’t Make Addiction Certain
Just because a person’s father or mother was addicted to alcohol doesn’t mean that person or their children will be.
While research focused on the genetic factors involved in addiction points to connections between the ways addiction can travel through families, experts also remind people that this isn’t an affirmation that they’ll have a substance abuse problem, nor anyone else in their family. Full Story
Long Hours at Work and Alcohol Consumption
A long work week is typically associated with a high level of stress. However, some people claim to thrive on this type of schedule, working from early in the morning until late at night, and then toting a laptop home to finish up more assignments. Full Story
Report Shows Opioid Abuse is on the Rise
There are reportedly more cases of chronic pain sufferers and prescription drug addicts than ever before. Is one inhibiting the other? Learning to treat both is a double-edge sword. An online news article talks about the details in a recent Espicom report that elaborate on how pharmaceutical companies, medical professionals and law enforcement agencies are combating the growing problem. Because therapy for chronic pain can have side effects and sometimes no results, more people are turning to prescription meds. Full Story
Family History of Alcoholism Changes the Way the Brain Determines Risks
Teenagers with family histories of alcoholism respond differently during risk-taking task than those with no such histories, according to a new study from the Oregon Health and Science University. These physical differences, which show up on brain scans, may partly explain why some individuals are predisposed to alcoholism. Full Story
New Study Reveals Drug Abuse Among Baby Boomers
The current aging generation of baby boomers should be at almost one in every five North Carolinians by the year 2030. There is growing concern about this generation of people using combinations of alcohol and drugs in increasing amounts. The effects of this combination are still being studied but experience and science already shows the combination can be deadly. Full Story
Experts Recommend Two Drink-Free Days a Week
Medical Practitioners (MPs) from Great Britain’s Science and Technology Committee are calling for a reevaluation of the government’s guidelines for safe drinking. On Monday, the Committee released a new report recommending adults to refrain from drinking at least two days per week in order to prevent unhealthy lifestyles and risks. Full Story
Binge Drinking in the United States
Binge drinking is usually associated with college parties and young single men. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides evidence that binge drinking is also a common occurrence among older adults. Full Story
Kaiser Permanente’s Early Start Program Could Serve as Intervention for Substance Abuse
Kaiser Permanente has recently published the results of their online study helping at-risk pregnant women with obstetric care. The program could save almost $2 billion yearly towards health care costs in the United States if implemented. According to Medical News Today, the new Early Start program follows a 2008 study by Kaiser Permanente that showed how women could achieve safer health outcomes for themselves and their babies by not using alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. Full Story
The Consequences of Mixing Alcohol and Parenting
In the media today, it’s common for the stressed mother to be depicted as the drinking mother, one who is not stable without a drink in her hand. The trend was the topic of discussion in this recent blog in the Washington Post as the writer recounted a recent mom’s group event. 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.
