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Not Thinking Too Clearly Not Thinking Too Clearly David Kalman Recent studies demonstrate that chronic cigarette smoking compounds both structural and functional alcohol-induced brain impairment. Compared to their nonsmoking counterparts, alcoholic smokers have smaller temporal, cortical and total gray matter volumes, larger frontal white matter volumes and poorer cerebral perfusion. Research has also found lower concentrations of the...
Off the reservation Off the reservation 05/21/2012 Legislation in Nebraska that would curtail alcohol purchases to residents of a dry Indian reservation has stalled in a key committee whose members have received thousands of...
Medicating the troops Medicating the troops 05/21/2012 In a small but growing number of cases across the nation, lawyers are blaming the U.S. military’s heavy use of psychotropic drugs for their clients’ aberrant behavior and...
Christopher Hitchens, R.I.P. Christopher Hitchens, R.I.P. 05/08/2012 Even though substance use contributes to about one in four deaths in the United States, it is still rare to hear people come out and say that someone they know died because of an...
To Your Health To Your Health 03/13/2012 Eating to reduce stress Stress, the hormones it unleashes, and the effects of high-fat, sugary “comfort foods” push people toward overeating, the Harvard HEALTHbeat newsletter...
Eating to reduce stress Eating to reduce stress 03/13/2012 Stress, the hormones it unleashes, and the effects of high-fat, sugary “comfort foods” push people toward overeating, the Harvard HEALTHbeat newsletter reports. In the short...
The addicted brain The addicted brain 03/13/2012 Drug addicts have inherited abnormalities in some parts of the brain that interfere with impulse control, according to a British study. Previous research has pointed to these...
Shake and bake meth Shake and bake meth 03/13/2012 A crude new method of making methamphetamine poses a risk even to Americans who never get anywhere near the drug: It is filling hospitals with thousands of uninsured burn patients...
Smart kids, dumb habits Smart kids, dumb habits 03/13/2012 Smart children, especially girls, may be more likely to experiment with drugs when they grow up, according to a report in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In the...
“Am I Good Enough?” “Am I Good Enough?” 03/07/2012 At the height of her fame as a singer I asked her to be my co-star in a movie called ‘The Bodyguard.’ I thought she was the perfect choice, but the red flags came out...
A Sober St. Patrick’s Day? A Sober St. Patrick’s Day? 03/01/2012 By Suzanne Riss Tom O’Leary used to feel embarrassed on St. Patrick’s Day. Sure, he drank most days, but privately, at home, and all alone. He didn’t make a public spectacle...
“Bath Salts”: A Crude and Dirty Designer Drug “Bath Salts”: A Crude and Dirty Designer Drug 01/10/2012 By Jeffrey C. Friedman Growing up on his family’s 180-acre spread outside of Covington, Louisiana, Richard “Dickie” Sanders, III divided his time between sharing with his...
Is Your Child at Risk? Is Your Child at Risk? 10/17/2011 Early drinking, later effects People who begin drinking at a young age also may drink heavily during stressful events later in life, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and...
Is Your Child at Risk? Is Your Child at Risk? 10/17/2011 A growing number of universities are creating so-called recovery communities, which often feature on-campus clubhouses, recreational opportunities, academic support and recovery...
Is Your Child at Risk? Is Your Child at Risk? 10/17/2011 For kids who are at risk for drinking, smoking, using drugs, and delinquent behavior, attending a higher-performing school may be protective, according to the National Institute on...
Is Your Child at Risk? Is Your Child at Risk? 10/17/2011 Binge drinking may have lasting effects on the still-developing brains of teenagers, WebMD reports. A new study shows that, long after the hangover wears off, binge drinking...
Is Your Child At Risk? Is Your Child At Risk? 10/17/2011 People who begin drinking at a young age also may drink heavily during stressful events later in life, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Results from a recent...
To Your Health To Your Health 10/11/2011 A common beta-blocker, propranolol, currently used to treat hypertension and anxiety, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories associated with...
To Your Health To Your Health 10/11/2011 Anorexia is the most lethal psychiatric disorder, carrying a six fold increased risk of death — four times the death risk from major depression, WebMD reports. The odds are...
To Your Health To Your Health 10/11/2011 Do you take more than one medication to treat your mood disorder? If you do, you're not alone. A recent study finds that the number of adults being prescribed a combination of...
To Your Health To Your Health 10/11/2011 More than 100 medical disorders can masquerade as psychological conditions, Harvard psychiatrist Barbara Schildkrout writes in her new book, Unmasking Psychological...
In Passing In Passing 09/01/2011   The pop singer tried to get clean over the years, but in the end addiction claimed her timeless talent “They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, ‘No, no,...
In Passing In Passing 09/01/2011 By Kate A. Scannell, MD Betty Ford never actually set foot in my medical clinic. But I sometimes felt that she was there, accompanying patients who were motivated to seek care...
To Your Health To Your Health 08/08/2011 When parents have alcohol use disorders, their children are more likely to inherit the same issue and need alcoholism treatment at some point down the line, according to a recent...
To Your Health To Your Health 08/02/2011 Whether it’s called a beer belly, a spare tire, the apple shape, or the middle-age spread, abdominal obesity is the shape of risk. Abdominal obesity is a health hazard,...
I had it all I had it all 07/26/2011 Network news anchor Laurie Dhue revealed in March that she had been a closet alcoholic for a decade. “When people look at me they say, ‘You don’t look like an alcoholic....
To Your Health To Your Health 07/26/2011 Omega 3 fatty acids may be beneficial for more than just the heart. Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine disclosed at a molecular level a potential therapeutic...
To Your Health To Your Health 07/18/2011 Long-term relationships make the commonly abused drug amphetamine less appealing, according to a new animal study in the June 1 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings...
Fighting to change Fighting to change 07/18/2011 The celebrated and controversial fighter Mike Tyson is fighting now to change his life. When he was at the top of his game, Bill Whitaker reported in a CBS Sunday Morning profile,...
To Your Health To Your Health 07/12/2011 Alcohol dependence is four times more likely to occur among adults with mental illness than among adults with no mental illness (9.6-percent versus 2.2-percent), a survey...
The party's over The party’s over 07/12/2011 The singer Whitney Houston, 47, who has struggled with substance abuse in the past, entered an outpatient treatment program, it was reported in May. “Whitney Houston is...
In Passing In Passing 07/05/2011 Derek Boogaard, 28 Hockey player Derek Boogaard, 28, of the New York Rangers died in Minneaplis from an accidental overdose of the drug oxycodone mixed with alcohol, the New...
To Your Health To Your Health 07/05/2011 The combination of impaired impulse control and enhanced stimulation may make energy drinks combined with alcohol riskier than alcohol alone, a new study shows. “Young people...
Happy hour linked to pub violence Happy hour linked to pub violence 05/27/2011 A Cardiff University study has established a link in the UK between pub violence and happy hour-style drinking promotions. Researchers studied pubs and nightclubs with a history...
Alcohol industry opposes graphic health warnings in Thailand Alcohol industry opposes graphic health warnings in Thailand 05/25/2011   Alcohol makers worldwide don’t want Thailand to set a precedent by requiring large, graphic warning labels on all wine, beer, and liquor they sell. The plan, proposed...
Smoking kills half a million Americans a year Smoking kills half a million Americans a year 05/25/2011 More than 500,000 Americans die from smoking-related causes each year, according to new statistics. Smoking kills slightly more men than women, the report says. While the rates of...
Underage binge drinking can create lasting brain changes Underage binge drinking can create lasting brain changes 05/17/2011 Human adolescence, lasting roughly between the ages of 12 to 20 years, marks a critical period for brain development. This is when the growth of the cortex, our gray matter,...
Spirituality in AA improves recovery rates Spirituality in AA improves recovery rates 05/17/2011 New research shows that attending AA meetings may increase spirituality, which can lead to better alcohol outcomes and an improved rate of recovery. According to the study, as...
Alcoholism and marriage Alcoholism and marriage 05/10/2011 New findings published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research show that both the time it takes to get married, as well as the overall length of the marriage, are...
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 05/02/2011 Communities, organizations, agencies and individuals nationwide will be joining with the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on May 3 to promote...
Doctors not reporting impaired colleagues Doctors not reporting impaired colleagues 04/18/2011   A study from the Harvard Medical School finds that while most physicians support the professional commitment to report other physicians who they feel are incompetent or...
Energy drink use may lead to alcohol dependence Energy drink use may lead to alcohol dependence 04/18/2011   A hallmark of college life is staying up late to study for an exam the following morning, and many students stay awake by consuming an energy drink. Also increasing in...
Heavy drinkers don’t become ‘normal’ drinkers on their own Heavy drinkers don’t become ‘normal’ drinkers on their own 04/15/2011 In the general population, even if problem drinkers reduce the amount of alcohol they consume over a period of years, they are unlikely on their own to lower their consumption...
April is Alcohol Awareness Month April is Alcohol Awareness Month 03/31/2011 Since 1987, April has been designated as Alcohol Awareness Month, a national health observance first established by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence as a way...
Specialized treatment programs sparse for gay and lesbian clients Specialized treatment programs sparse for gay and lesbian clients 03/24/2011 The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population has higher rates of addiction than the general population in the U.S., but only a fraction of treatment programs offer...
ADHD, Depression and Addiction ADHD, Depression and Addiction 02/22/2011   A study published in the October 2010 issue of the “Archives of General Psychiatry” reports that children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)...
U.S. drinking is up U.S. drinking is up 02/22/2011 More people are drinking than 20 years ago, according to a UT Southwestern Medical Center analysis of national alcohol consumption patterns. Gathered from more than 85,000...
England: 2 hospital alcohol admissions every minute England: 2 hospital alcohol admissions every minute 01/09/2011 In England, the number of hospital admissions caused by alcohol has risen by two-thirds in the last five years, according to a September 2010 report. Statistics compiled for...
Operation Ivy League nets dealers not degrees Operation Ivy League nets dealers not degrees 01/08/2011 Five Columbia University students were charged recently with selling LSD-laced candy and other drugs at three fraternity houses and other residences on the Ivy League campus, with...
New center to help parents with kids’ substance use New center to help parents with kids’ substance use 01/07/2011 Philadelphia’s Treatment Research Institute (TRI) is launching a new center designed to help parents address alcohol and drug use by their children, TRI recently...
Study: Alcohol more lethal than heroin, cocaine Study: Alcohol more lethal than heroin, cocaine 01/06/2011 British experts evaluated substances including alcohol, cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy and marijuana, ranking them based on how destructive they are to the individual who takes them and...
Beermaker Objects to FDA's Caffeine Ban Beermaker Objects to FDA’s Caffeine Ban 11/29/2010 In a new twist to the case against caffeine, the New York Times reported yesterday the story of a Massachusetts beermaker whose product--OK, so it's called Moonshot 69--must...
Blackout-In-A-Can On The Way Out Blackout-In-A-Can On The Way Out 11/15/2010 The state's biggest beer distributors have agreed to stop selling alcoholic energy drinks within four weeks, after Alcoholic energy drinks (AEDs), which contain malt liquor and...
Addicts Turn To The Church Addicts Turn To The Church 11/05/2010 About 15 percent of people seeking recovery from alcoholism turn to clergy members for support, a University of Michigan study finds. A 2010 survey of 1,910 individuals with...
Russia doubles vodka prices in bid to curb alcoholism Russia doubles vodka prices in bid to curb alcoholism 11/04/2010 In a country where the average Russian drinks 18 liters (38 pints) of pure alcohol each year, President Dmitry Medvedev has put into effect a new minimum rate for his country’s...
Baby boomers raise midlife suicide rate Baby boomers raise midlife suicide rate 11/04/2010 Baby boomers appear to be driving a dramatic rise in suicide rates among middle-aged people, according to a new study by sociologists Ellen Idler of Emory University and Julie...
Alcoholics overrate their memory Alcoholics overrate their memory 11/02/2010 Alcoholics overestimate their ability to remember things, according to a new French study, and it may impact their ability to benefit from clinical treatment. Researchers...
NYC’s graphic warning signs challenged in court NYC’s graphic warning signs challenged in court 11/01/2010 The nation’s three largest tobacco companies have gone to court in a bid to block New York City from requiring retailers to post graphic images of smoking-related health problems...
Ban on Food Stamp Purchases: No More Sugary Drinks Ban on Food Stamp Purchases: No More Sugary Drinks 10/28/2010 Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson are trying to stop New Yorkers from spending food stamps on sugar-sweetened drinks. In an effort to fight obesity, Bloomberg and...
Marijuana, prescription drug and ecstasy use are up Marijuana, prescription drug and ecstasy use are up 10/28/2010 The use of illicit drugs among Americans increased between 2008 and 2009 according to a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration...
Saudi Treatment Facilities Look To U.S. Model Saudi Treatment Facilities Look To U.S. Model 09/20/2010 In Saudi Arabia, where alcohol and the use of other drugs is strictly forbidden by Islamic law, acknowledging and treating addicts poses significant challenges. But Mohammed...
Alcoholism: Not Just About the Drink Alcoholism: Not Just About the Drink 09/02/2010 While it may not be much of a secret to anyone familiar with alcoholism, researchers have recently determined that heavy drinking is just one part of a constellation of...
A Rose NOT A Rose By Any Other Name A Rose NOT A Rose By Any Other Name 09/01/2010 What’s in a word? Well, when it comes to alcoholism, it could be plenty, as researchers have recently discovered that the terminology used to describe someone struggling...
NJ Legalizes It NJ Legalizes It 09/01/2010 Earlier this year, the New Jersey State Assembly voted 48-14 to legalize medical marijuana. As the 14th state to pass such legislation, lawmakers have had the advantage of...
U.S. digital addicts get first inpatient treatment program U.S. digital addicts get first inpatient treatment program 07/20/2010 The Heavensfield Retreat Center, located in Fall City, WA, claims to be the first U.S. inpatient center to treat Internet, video game and texting addictions. Enrollment in the...
Caffeine doesn't reverse the impact of alcohol Caffeine doesn’t reverse the impact of alcohol 07/01/2010 People who drink may want to know that coffee won't sober them up, according to new laboratory research. Instead, a cup of coffee may make it harder for people to realize they're...
Parity mandated for addiction and mental illness Parity mandated for addiction and mental illness 07/01/2010 While Congress and the nation were busy focusing on passing the Wall Street bailout bill of 2008, a little-known piece of legislation was attached to it that provides a major step...
Feeling blue? Hit a meeting! Feeling blue? Hit a meeting! 07/01/2010 One of many reasons that attendance at AA meetings helps alcoholics stay sober appears to be alleviation of depression. A team of researchers has found that study participants...
Guardian Angel to help alcoholics prevent relapse Guardian Angel to help alcoholics prevent relapse 07/01/2010 Leaving rehab can be a critical time for any addict, and researchers from the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Charleston,...
Download support! 12-steppers get their own app Download support! 12-steppers get their own app 07/01/2010 Recognizing the need for a way to support recovering addicts, and help them find a way out of isolation, the ann-e (anonymous network) iPhone application debuted recently on the...
Study: U.S. drinking is up Study: U.S. drinking is up 01/05/2010 More people are drinking than 20 years ago, according to a UT Southwestern Medical Center analysis of national alcohol consumption patterns. Gathered from more than 85,000...
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