Addiction
A Decorated War Veteran is Using His Personal Struggles With Alcoholism to Help New Veterans
It isn’t uncommon to see a correlation between veterans and alcoholism. As more soldiers return home from war, the number of those impacted by excessive drinking, and even substance abuse, are increasing. Retired Brigadier General Stanley Cherrie is using his experience with alcohol as a way to help other soldiers. He recently shared his personal story in a Fox News article. Full Story
Examining the Effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous
Substance abuse is extremely difficult to overcome. Many who enter treatment for alcohol abuse struggle against relapse. Cognitive behavioral therapy and the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous are both popular approaches to fighting the problem of relapse. Full Story
Research Shows a Correlation Between Social Behavior and Excessive Drinking in Older Adults
A recent study finds that there may be a link between excessive drinking patterns of older adults. A current news article talks about the role social and economic factors play in drinking habits. Full Story
DARE Program Being Cut in Many States
Once it was a rite of passage to adulthood to sit in a DARE class at your school and listen to a local police officer describe the dangers of drug abuse. At the end of the course, you might even be rewarded with stickers, free pencils, or even a DARE tee shirt.
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
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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.
