Addiction
Cocaine Use Increase Can Lead to Stroke Within 24 Hours
Researchers looking into leading risk factors for stroke in young people took a look at cocaine, not expecting it to be a large factor. But they were wrong, finding the drug to be the leading cause of stroke in young people.
Baby Dies After Receiving Heroin-Laced Bottle
According to the CDC, 105 Americans die every day from drug overdose. Ordinarily, however, these are adults struggling with addiction to drugs such as prescription painkillers; unable to control their behavior and eventually taking too much in one sitting. It’s not every day that the victim of an overdose is a five-month old baby, but that’s exactly what happened to the daughter of Ryan Barry and Ashley Cyr of Quincy, Massachusetts. Their daughter Mya was pronounced dead in 2011, and after appearing in court in October they have been charged with manslaughter. There was heroin in a bottle of formula that was fed to their daughter, and the baby died of an overdose.
Inactive Self-Control Systems in the Brain Tied to Risky Behaviors
Risky behaviors like unprotected sex or DUI seem to be the result of a driven personality that cannot seem to get enough of something. However, a recent study shows that it may be a lack of self-control instead of a pronounced level of desire that leads to risk-taking. The findings may lead to new ways of thinking about how to treat mental disorders, addictions and other disorders related to risk-taking. It may also have implications for how the criminal justice system determines the risk of a perpetrator becoming a repeat offender.
Alcohol Poisoning in Children
Alcohol poisoning is a serious and life-threatening condition that results from consuming too much ethanol, the type of alcohol found in drinks and other household products. The danger of alcohol poisoning probably calls to mind young people doing too many shots for their 21st birthdays, but the truth is that it can happen to anyone at any age, including children. Because they are smaller than adults, children can become seriously ill with much smaller quantities of alcohol. Know how to keep alcohol out of children’s hands, understand the signs of alcohol poisoning and be prepared to get help.
Mood Swings Common in Heavy Drinkers
Heavy drinking is a pattern of excessive alcohol consumption that increases a person’s chances of developing diagnosable problems with alcohol abuse or alcoholism. People already affected by these conditions also typically drink heavily on a regular basis. In a study published in January 2014 in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, researchers from the University of Vermont sought to determine if the “positive” and “negative” mood changes associated with heavy drinking differ between men and women. These researchers concluded that some mood changes occur in both men and women, while others tend to occur only in men.
Do Brief Alcohol Interventions Work?
Brief alcohol interventions are short educational sessions that doctors and other professionals can use to help people who drink alcohol in unhealthy ways alter their behaviors. Unlike formal treatment programs, these interventions are typically conducted by people who don’t specialize in alcohol-related issues. In a study review published in January 2014 in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, a multinational research team analyzed the real-world usefulness of brief alcohol interventions in modifying dangerous drinking patterns. These researchers concluded that such interventions clearly work, at least for certain groups of drinkers.
How Does a Sense of Self Control Influence Marijuana Use?
Cannabis (marijuana, hashish and hashish oil) is widely known as one of the world’s most popular recreational substances. Current evidence indicates that an individual’s expectations about the pros and cons of using the drug strongly influence that individual develops a regular pattern of intake. In a study published in January 2014 in the journal Addiction, researchers from several Australian institutions examined how a person’s belief that he or she controls participation in cannabis use alters his or her opinion on the drug’s benefits and harms.
People Engaged in Illicit Drug Use at Higher Risk for Suicide
Suicide is a great tragedy. It not only ends a life which may have been healed, but it devastates families and extended communities. Anguish over missed signals and an inability to help can haunt those who remain for years. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued its latest report on drug use in America, finding that drug abuse is one of the leading risk factors for suicide.
PG-13 Movies Portray Same Amount of Alcohol Use by Violent Characters as R Movies
Parents often rely on the movie ratings system to help guide decisions about which movies their kids are allowed to see. For teens, parents may limit them to PG-13 movies, or only allow R-rated movies if they are pre-screened by the parents for content and language.
Traffic Safety Experts Push for More Ignition Interlock Devices
According to government figures there are 1.5 million arrests for drunk driving every year. Some of those convicted for drunk driving will be required to use ignition interlock devices, which are highly successful in deterring repeat offenders. Every state has its own separate guidelines for who is required to use one and who is not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would like to see every state mandate the device for every person convicted of drunk driving.
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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.
