Addiction
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? Full Story
“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
Working Long Hours Puts Young People at Risk for Alcohol-Related Problems
Young people who work more than 50 hours a week have more than double the risk for alcohol-related problems than the unemployed, according to a new study from New Zealand.
Impulsivity and Alcohol a Dangerous Mix
The results of a long-term study reveal that people who struggle with impulse control may die sooner than those with more self-discipline. This is especially true for those who compound their risk with improper use of alcohol. Full Story
Gender Differences Affecting Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol dependence is caused by a number of factors, including genetics, environment and personal experience. Scientists know that men and women struggle with alcohol dependence at different rates, but understanding the cause of the difference has been difficult – that is, until the results of a recent study provided new clues about the way men and women differ in genetic responses to alcohol. Full Story
Having Faith Helps in Recovery
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States, best known as the President who led the U.S. through World War II, often referred to by his initials, FDR (1882-1945) Full Story
Young Women Find Success Following Twelve Step Program
A recent study completed using data from the Hazelden Center showed positive results for young women who followed a Twelve Step program for substance abuse that offers mutual support, including meetings for those in the early stages of drug and alcohol treatment. Frequent attendance at these meetings promoted abstinence from drinking and drug abuse over a six month period after treatment. 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:
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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.
