Addiction
More Americans Are Binge Drinking, Dying
You don’t have to be drunk every day to have an unhealthy drinking problem. Many Americans are not alcoholics but a growing number are binging on alcohol. Alcohol abuse occurs on a spectrum of misuse, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a surprising number of Americans are overdoing it. Full Story
Elderly at Greater Risk of Alcohol Impairment
As Baby Boomers become senior citizens and health care advances extend the quality and quantity of life, Americans are living longer lives. This generation brings with it those who have healthy lifestyles along with those who suffer from substance abuse. With such a large percentage of Americans losing some regular mobility and possibly memory with age, comes a greater chance that those who already suffer from alcohol abuse will suffer even greater impairment as senior citizens, according to a new study from Baylor University. Full Story
Sleep Deprivation May Reduce Risk of PTSD
Sleep deprivation is a general term used to describe a lack of adequate restful sleep. When it occurs consistently or repeatedly, this lack of sleep can have a number of harmful health consequences, including mental confusion, the onset of hallucinations and disruptions in normal memory function. While sleep-related memory loss has detrimental effects in most circumstances, it may prove to be beneficial as a preventive treatment for the anxiety disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the results of a study published in 2012 in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Full Story
Oxycodone Abuse Rampant in U.S.
Oxycodone is a narcotic pharmaceutical that’s prescribed to treat pain raging from moderate to severe. It treats pain by depressing the central nervous system. When taken under the supervision of a physician, this powerful medication may alleviate suffering and increase quality of life in people struggling with chronic pain. However, Oxycodone abuse is rampant in the US, and has become such a severe problem that officials are calling it an epidemic. Full Story
To Endure Burning: The Cult of Celebrity and the Pressures of Recovery in the Public Eye
“What is to give light must endure burning.” – Victor Frankl
A celebrity heiress is charged with driving while intoxicated and spends time under house arrest. When caught violating the terms of her probation, she is not arrested, but is sent to treatment in the California hills. She isn’t seen for three months. A Fortune 500 CEO pleads no contest to similar charges which are summarily dropped. He takes a 90-day leave of absence from his firm and catches a private flight to Malibu. Shareholders go into cloak-and-dagger mode and begin to watch the market without blinking. A two-time Oscar-nominated actor is walked off the set of his latest top-ranked network series. The director sweeps the contents of his desk onto the trailer floor in one angry stroke. He paces a while, then gathers himself. He calls a three-month break in filming, and sends his lead actor to rehab. Full Story
New York City ERs Crack Down on Oversupply of Painkillers
New York City may be setting a precedent when it comes to waging war on the nation’s prescription drug addiction. It’s no secret that opioid analgesics have become a cult favorite among the population, with over 200 million prescriptions written every year. Full Story
Cocaine Use Shown to Speed Brain Aging
Brain aging is a general term used to describe structural, chemical and psychological changes that commonly occur in the brains of older individuals. While this process doesn’t affect everyone in the same way, aging in the brain is associated with a number of significant health problems, including Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Current evidence indicates that people who habitually abuse cocaine develop changes in their brains that point toward the onset of premature brain aging. In particular, habitual cocaine abuse can destroy grey matter, the material that forms the core of the brain’s communications network. Full Story
Shame Is No Good for Recovery
Shame is a feeling that addicts know well. Sometimes the shame is connected to one particular event. Maybe you drank too much at a family wedding and made a fool of yourself. The next day, you feel overwhelmed by embarrassment and shame and vow never to do that again. Or maybe your shame runs deeper. Society takes a pretty low view of drug addicts and alcoholics. No matter how much new research tells us about addiction and the biological, neurological, and genetic connections, we shame addicts. Full Story
Reaching Bottom: The Process of Addiction
The beginning of addiction often seems innocent: a couple of drinks after work to decompress, an extra pain pill to take the edge off, trying a narcotic just once to see how it feels. Once you have hit rock bottom, you may ask yourself how on earth you got there. If you are the loved one watching someone get to the bottom of the downward spiral of addiction, clarity may also be elusive. Denial is not restricted to the addict. It can be difficult for onlookers to see the process of addiction occurring as well. To help you better understand the disease in yourself or someone else, take a look at how addiction begins, progresses, and reaches the bottom. Full Story
Working Through Alcohol Dependency
Not every alcoholic has trouble holding down a job. In fact, high-functioning alcoholics often appear successful on the outside. But upon closer inspection, it’s evident that a problem exists as many of these individuals can’t make it through the day without a drink. Like a trusty friend, they rely on alcohol to help them function, and the drug starts to occupy a central role in their day-to-day life. 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.
