Addiction News

Studies Show That Giving B-12 Supplements During Detox Helps Recovering Alcoholics

There are numerous side affects to alcoholism, according to an article on the Live Strong website. A deficiency of important nutrients the body needs is just one of them. B-12 is one of the most common deficiencies and giving this vitamin during the detox phase can help prevent relapse as well as other health problems including withdrawal symptoms. Full Story

Marijuana the Teen Drug of Choice Overtaking Alcohol – What Parents Can Do

Teen alcohol use is declining while marijuana use is on the rise. Read Part One on Marijuana the Teen Drug of Choice Overtaking Alcohol.

Faced with the alarming increase in marijuana use by teens, it might seem that there’s not a lot that parents can do to reverse the trend. The fact is, however, that there is a lot that parents can do to help their teens come to grips with the reality of just how dangerous marijuana use is as well as discuss the dangers of alcohol and other types of drug use. Full Story

Marijuana the Teen Drug of Choice Overtaking Alcohol

Savvy parents have known for some time that their teen offspring need direction and guidance so they won’t fall prey to peer pressure to drink and do drugs. Some parents do it right and still their teenage son or daughter may wind up experimenting with either alcohol or drugs. Full Story

Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Among Seniors Could Triple by 2020

The baby boom generation, those born in the tidal wave of U.S. childbirths which occurred between 1944-1964, is beginning to enter the golden years. Older boomers are hitting retirement age with large numbers following just behind them. Some predict that the baby boom generation could soon present health and mental health care providers with needs that stress the system. Rather than aging with the accrued wisdom of years to benefit the Gen Xers, addiction specialists worry that the boomers may rebel against aging by engaging in addictive behaviors. Full Story

Drug Free Communities Program Hopes to Bring Awareness to Community Leaders

Director Gil Kerlikowske with the National Drug Control Policy office recently announced a new program to offer support to 87 communities through 20 new Drug Free Community (DFC) grants throughout the country. The $12.3 million program is in addition to the already existing $76 million in grants from the DFC Mentoring Continuation Coalition, which provides needed support to stop substance abuse among youth. Full Story

Binge Drinking and Drug Use Soar in America

Binge drinking in the United States is a problem that continues to get grow. Not only does 23 percent of the population exceed the regular amount of daily drinks, but also many of the 23 percent are not even of legal age to consume. About 8 percent of underage drinkers illegally get drunk every week.

The Risks of Binge Drinking

In a recent study of states with the highest amount of binge drinkers, North Dakota took first place at 29.7 percent, while the District of Columbia followed in at 29.96 percent. Other states rounding out the top five are Wisconsin, Iowa, and Rhode Island. The state with the lowest percentage of binge drinkers is Utah with 14 percent. The average number across the United States is 23.4 percent.

Studies have shown that binge drinking can lead to many health problems. The risk of heart disease and diabetes are much higher, not to mention all the extra calories that are added to your body. If a woman finishes a bottle of wine in one sitting, that bottle can add up to four inches around the waist. The same habit for men can add up to two extra inches.

Drug Abuse Trends

While binge drinking is increasing at a high rate, another problem that is burdening the U.S. is the use of illicit drugs. In a recent report, it was found that in the past month, 6.4 percent of Americans and 10.8 percent in the past year have used marijuana.

When each individual state was looked at, it was discovered that Alaska had the highest rate of illicit drugs used in America at 13.5, and Rhode Island followed close behind with 12.6 percent. Vermont, Oregon, and Hawaii were also in the top five. The state with the lowest number of illicit drug users was Iowa with 5.29 percent. The average among all of the states is a staggering 8.3 percent.

In another report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was shown that since the rates of drug use and binge drinking have risen, so has the rate of mental health disorders. Nearly 9 percent of all Americans have become dependent on illegal drugs or alcohol. In Americans over the age of 18, it was also reported that fewer than 5 percent have had a severe mental illness. Rhode Island is leading the count with 7.2 percent. Following are Hawaii and South Dakota, with the lowest reported numbers at 3.5 percent.

Illegal drugs are becoming such a big problem that tobacco is being seen as less risky. Smoking and tobacco use have fallen in the past two years, from 9.5 percent to now only 9 percent. Unfortunately more dangerous drugs, like cocaine and prescription drugs are becoming more of a problem and need greater attention and treatment.

Alarming Levels of Illegal Drugs Bought and Sold Daily on Craigslist

The fight against illegal drug use has taken another turn with law enforcement agencies working together to help crack down on ads promoting illegal drug use on craigslist, a popular national Web based forum for buying and selling items.

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Hypertension and Binge Drinking Don’t Mix

Hypertension places a person at risk for a stroke or a heart attack. When this condition is combined with binge drinking, the individual’s risk of dying from that stroke or heart attack is greatly increased.

 

This finding was shared in a recent report in My Fox Detroit as part of a study conducted by South Korean researchers. The study determined that for men with blood pressure at a minimum of 168/100, the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was four times higher than non-drinkers if they had consumed six drinks on one occasion.

 

Consuming as many as 12 drinks on one occasion raised their risk of dying from stroke or heart attack up to 12-fold. As a result, researchers suggest that the pattern of drinking matters more than the total volume of alcohol per week when examining the risk of stroke mortality.

 

Dr. Heechoul Ohrr, a professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, and lead researcher on this study, suggests that it is especially important for those with high blood pressure to avoid having 12 drinks or more on one occasion.

 

This warning could easily be extended out to anyone with hypertension who may also have a tendency to want to engage in binge drinking. These activities significantly increase the likelihood of death due to pre-existing conditions. As a result, anyone with hypertension would be better off and assumable much safer if they simple avoided alcohol altogether.

 

Former Korn Guitar Player Faces Addiction

From heavy metal to heavy recovery, Brian “Head” Welch, the former guitarist for multi-award winning hard rock band Korn, has come through an addiction battle with methamphetamine and alcohol that is leading even his own fans to give up their addictions.

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Older Adults Experience Dizziness, and Possible Falls, From Sleep Aids

Sleep problems are not uncommon among the elderly population, with millions of older adults complaining of the situation to physicians every year. In turn, many sedative prescriptions are also given to people over age 60 – but the benefits and the possible negative side effects should be closely considered, according to results of two research reviews.

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