Posts tagged with ‘substance abuse’
Substance abuse refers to the overindulgence in and dependence on a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual’s physical and mental health or the welfare of others. Substance abuse may lead to addiction or substance dependence.
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
Alcohol and Anxiety Can Be a Dangerous Mix
Some things go together well: summer and baseball, good books and armchairs, cookies and milk. Other things don’t pair up so successfully. For people who experience high levels of anxiety in social situations, downing wine with dinner or a couple of beers to calm the nerves could prove to be a bad match.
Comorbidities are illnesses which co-exist. Understanding what connects two conditions for patients could prove instrumental in not only treating those conditions but in the development of new preventative measures and interventions.
Anxiety Linked to Substance Abuse
In a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, a Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers sought to untangle the connection between self-medication for anxiety and future instances of substance abuse. The study involved 34,653 adult Americans considered to be representative of the general population. The study was conducted over a period of three years with an initial reporting in 2001/02 and the follow-up reporting taking place in 2004/05.
Participants in the study were divided into three categories:
Study Explores Why People Respond Differently to Environmental Drug Cues
A new study has found that differences in people’s responses to environmental cues can change chemical responses in the brain. This finding could help researchers develop new treatments for substance abuse, compulsive gambling, sexual addiction, and other compulsive behaviors.
School-Based Intervention can Help Prevent Teen Substance Abuse
Research shows that over the last 10 years, underage drinking has doubled in the United Kingdom. Researchers at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry conducted a study that suggests that a personality-based intervention held by teachers can help prevent substance abuse among adolescents.
Educating Children About Marketing Messages Can Help Prevent Substance Abuse
Media Detective is an activity-based program used to help prevent alcohol and tobacco use among children, helping them understand the intentions of marketers and advertising. A new study suggests that teaching children as young as eight or nine to be more skeptical of marketing tactics can help prevent substance abuse.
George Michael Opens Up About Drug Use
Simon Hattenstone of the Guardian says that compared to four years ago, British pop singer George Michael looks better, bigger, and stronger. “I was probably more stoned in those days,” the singer told Hattenstone during a recent interview. “I was existing on a balance of Starbucks and weed.” In the bad old days, Michael estimates he was smoking around 25 joints a day, and was worried he’d permanently damage his voice.
Tips for Preventing Substance Abuse among Teens
With the growing problem of substance abuse among adolescents, it’s important for parents to be equipped with the necessary tools to communicate with their children about the dangers of abusing alcohol and other substances.
The Link Between Addiction and Suicide
Each year, more people die from suicide than by any other form of violence, including war, terrorist activities, and homicides, an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) said recently, in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day. Nearly 1 million people committing suicide annually, making it the 10th leading cause of death worldwide.
Of those who attempt suicide, about half use alcohol or illegal drugs to do so. Of those who successfully take their own lives, 25 percent were abusing drugs and/or alcohol at the time of their death. For those who suffer from addiction, it’s important to understand that suicide rates increase among those who abuse alcohol and/or drugs, putting users at a greater risk of death. ] Studies show that 50 percent of teens that commit suicide have a history of alcohol and drug use.
Fortunately, suicide is preventable, according to Brian Mishara, president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). In areas that are targeted with prevention campaigns, suicide rates do decline.
Suicide can also be triggered by depression, which often co-occurs with substance abuse disorders. This is why it’s so important to treat any co-occurring disorders that may arise among those suffering from substance abuse disorders. If you or someone you know is abusing alcohol or drugs and is having suicidal thoughts, it is imperative to seek help immediately.
Study Examines Role of Race and Ethnic Background in Coping with Disaster
Through the years, researchers have examined a number of different contributing factors that have led to the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol. Significant traumatic events have been known to lead to the use of drugs and alcohol as individuals seek to cope with the impact of the event.
How Trauma Can Lead to Addiction
In her Huffington Post blog “The Road to Addiction,” Carole Bennett discusses how trauma can be a trigger for addiction. “Trauma is an incident or occurrence that happens inexplicably or without warning,” she writes. “It is categorized as an overwhelming life-changing experience (and) is typically a physical and/or emotional shock to the very fiber of one’s being.”
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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.
