There’s been a shifting pattern in drug use and abuse around much of the country over the last decade; heroin use has been steady or dropping while abuse of chemically similar prescription painkillers has been skyrocketing. However, recently, the Minneapolis/St. Paul region in Minnesota has been seeing the opposite trend: Prescription opiate drug abuse has … Continue Reading

New research from the Boston Medical Center found that opioid overdose education programs are effective at saving lives. The study’s results, published in the British Medical Journal, demonstrated that a significant reduction in death rates from the current prescription drug epidemic might be averted with educational interventions. This is extremely important information as the number … Continue Reading

Despite the countrywide prescription painkiller epidemic, some people still mistakenly believe that the problem mostly exists in rural areas and that it’s not much of an issue for urbanites. However, a new study out of Columbia University recently demonstrated that this idea is a myth. The researchers discovered that from 1990 through 2006, the number … Continue Reading

Although 18 states plus the District of Columbia have made marijuana legal for either medical or recreational use, it does not guarantee that businesses considered legal within the borders of these states will not be raided by federal drug agents. Currently, there is a battle for more state’s rights and less centralized government power at … Continue Reading

Can the shape of your brain predict whether or not you will be more likely to become dependent on cocaine? A new study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry found that this may be the case. The shape differences found occur in the frontal lobe; a larger frontal lobe was associated with individuals who use … Continue Reading

Doctors and the pharmaceutical industry must work closely together in order for patients to receive the best medicines available for their particular ailment. However, the way in which drug companies and physicians interact has been put under an increasing amount of scrutiny in recent years because many worry that the pharmaceutical companies’ advertising tactics have … Continue Reading

Missouri is leading the way in the US for its implementation of drug courts in 43 of its 45 judicial circuits. The state has been using drug courts for more than two decades now and has seen great success with the graduates of these programs versus offenders who are sent through the traditional justice system … Continue Reading

It is not often you hear the words “priest,” “addict,” “crystal meth dealer” and “adult store owner” in the same sentence, but according to investigators, these appear to be the credentials of one Msg. Kevin Wallin, 61, the former pastor of St. Augustine’s Parish in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In court documents, Wallin is accused of selling … Continue Reading

Family and loved ones of individuals who have died due to an overdose of prescription painkillers begged federal drug regulators in Washington to change the labels on these medications. In the face of the prescription drug epidemic, many experts believe changes need to be made, but at the same time there is a concern that … Continue Reading

For the first time in America’s history, a state now has to determine how much marijuana is okay in an individual’s system to safely drive. When the drug was illegal, any amount in the system was deemed too much. However, in Colorado where marijuana was made legal for a limited amount of recreational use, this … Continue Reading

Drugs and alcohol have often been blamed for criminal behavior, but many often focus on the fact that possessing, buying, selling or using illicit substances is a crime in and of itself. A report published in Chester County’s Daily Local News says that arrests related to the purchase or use of drugs are not the … Continue Reading

After a series of crimes and a stint in prison, Ryan Mounts, 32, found himself once again standing in a front of LaPorte Circuit Judge Tom Alevizos in Indiana after his latest string of robberies. Unlike many individuals standing in front of judges for similar reasons, Mounts was not denying his guilt. He admitted to … Continue Reading

Over the last decade, addiction research has brought new understanding of the disorder and now scientists may be adopting the view that the issue at its core is a dysfunctional type of learning. Once any behavior is learned and pathways are set in the brain to make them function, whether they benefit or hurt us, … Continue Reading

In an attempt to crack down on the out-of-control prescription drug problem in the US, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has turned its attention to national drug store chains and their distributors. Up until now, the DEA had never banned a national chain from selling prescription drugs. Setting a new precedent, the agency ordered … Continue Reading

Cocaine addiction is an insidious problem and scientists have yet to find a prescription medication to help addicts break the potentially lethal grip of the drug. As users develop a tolerance for cocaine, they need more of it to get the same high. This process may repeat itself many times over until the individual increases … Continue Reading

Heroin addiction is defined in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) under the larger umbrella term “opioid dependence.” The disease, as with many addictions, is characterized by relapse. This problem can be mitigated with the use of prescription oral naltrexone, a medication that helps to reduce dependence on heroin by blocking the opioid … Continue Reading

On Election Day 2012, the state of Massachusetts voted to make the use of medical marijuana legal. According to state officials, there are many questions left unanswered by the legislation. What is clear under the new law is the following: The measure allows 35 medical marijuana dispensaries to open over the next 12 months. Only … Continue Reading

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia along with the University of Colorado believe they may have found a way to block addiction to opiate drugs, such as morphine and heroin. Up until now, most research in this arena has been aimed at the brain and blocking the opiate receptors that are stimulated when … Continue Reading

A tiny group of doctors in China have been allowed to perform a brain surgery aimed at curing addiction. While on the surface, this may sound like an honorable pursuit, the potential pitfalls are so great that few doctors in the US are even considering it as an option, much less taking steps to make … Continue Reading

For years, there has been a need for a prescription medication to treat addiction. Although most people agree that some drugs have proved extremely beneficial to help patients more comfortably get through the detox process, critics feel many of the drugs that are used to treat substance abuse itself are often just replacing one addiction … Continue Reading

Currently, Kentucky is fighting one of the worst prescription drug epidemics in the US. The state now sees more than 1,000 of its citizens die each year due to prescription medication overdoses. A local Kentucky newspaper, the Courier-Journal, launched a multi-year investigation to uncover all the treatment options available to help those who have fallen … Continue Reading

New research from Kent State University (KSU) shows that Ohio does not currently have a large gambling problem, but officials in the state worry that the rate of gambling addiction may increase as new gaming venues are opened around the state. KSU in conjunction with the Ohio Lottery Commission surveyed 1,200 citizens across the state … Continue Reading

Heidi Koehl has experienced more loss in her young life than any child should have to, but she is attempting to put a positive spin on her grief. Koehl lost her brother to drug addiction when she was 11, and he was 22. Every day, she runs to clear her head, pray and think about … Continue Reading

Alexandra Christopoulos is an example to all kids who think they are too young to make a difference. At the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH), Christopoulos heard there was a need for blankets in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and decided to use her time and talent to make a difference. The babies Christopoulos … Continue Reading

It’s not easy for child stars to transition into adult acting careers, and Maia Campbell who played Tiffany on the 1990s sitcom In the House with LL Cool J and Debbie Allen, is no exception. After her sitcom ended its run, Campbell ended up developing a devastating crystal meth addiction. On more than one occasion, … Continue Reading

It’s a heartbreaking story and it’s one that hits the news periodically: A young adult who seems in optimum health unexpectedly succumbs to stroke. Why does it happen? A new study suggests that a number of these unexpected early life strokes may be caused in part by the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Even those … Continue Reading

New research coming out of the University of Florida (U of F) supports the theory that food creates the same reaction in the brain as addictive drugs. Certain foods manage to trigger a reinforcing mechanism in the brain that is similar to narcotics. The result is a euphoric feeling and then cravings for more of … Continue Reading

When your loved one is living with a co-occurring disorder – the existence of both a mental health disorder and an addiction to alcohol or another drug – you may wonder which disorder should be addressed first through treatment. It’s a trick question; when your loved one is living with co-occurring disorders, they need treatment … Continue Reading

In San Angelo, Texas, the local authorities are seeing a disturbing trend: An increasing number of children are ending up in the foster care system due to their parents’ crystal meth abuse.  Many of these kids are newborns who were born addicted to crystal meth due to their mothers’ prenatal drug use. In other cases, … Continue Reading

MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, recently announced they had been granted a Notices of Allowances from the European Patent Office (EPO) for not just one but two pending patents for the same drug. The prescription MediciNova is looking to advance is known as ibudilast, or MN-166. The European patents will cover the MN-166s use for … Continue Reading

Heroin was once thought of as a drug used only by junkies – often those who were homeless or hardcore criminals. However, in the wake of the prescription drug abuse epidemic that has swept the country in recent years, a wave of heroin addicts is rising up in some of America’s most posh communities. Why? … Continue Reading

Staging an intervention is one of the most effective ways to “draw a line in the sand” when it comes to dealing with your loved one’s addiction. When he or she won’t listen to reason or accept treatment any other way and you are unable to continue living as you have been in relation to … Continue Reading

Operation Unite in Pikeville, Kentucky held a prayer rally for addiction in 2012. The event brought together hundreds of former addicts, family members and concerned individuals from the local community to pray for those who are currently living out an active battle with substance abuse. The crowd gathered at a place known as “Fire in … Continue Reading

Drug addiction rarely happens overnight. Usually, it starts small and slowly worsens over time. From the first experimental use to the moment that the patient realizes that he is living with an addiction that requires medical treatment, there are stages of progression. Which one describes your loved one’s experience? Experimentation For most people, experimentation with … Continue Reading

The moment that the number of individuals dying every year due to prescription drug overdoses surpassed the number of people dying in motor vehicle crashes in the same period, the prescription drug addiction issue was officially identified as an epidemic. However, this was not an epidemic that appeared overnight; it was a problem that took … Continue Reading

Some of the newer addictions that individuals are struggling with in our culture do not get the same respect given to recognized diseases like drug addiction, alcoholism, nicotine addiction and gambling addiction. When someone brings up Internet, smartphone or gaming addiction, many people think it’s comical, not tragic. This may be due, in part, to … Continue Reading

For years, sobriety itself was seen as the reward for all the hard work addicts endured throughout the recovery process. Perhaps that is the ultimate reward, but during the beginning stages of treatment when cravings and withdrawal symptoms are their strongest, it’s hard to bear the big picture in mind. The goals of sobriety and … Continue Reading

In the region around Charleston, the capital of West Virginia, the culprits responsible for a string of robberies were recently apprehended. In a story that is becoming more and more commonplace around the country, it turns out that these criminal acts were driven by the individuals’ desperate attempts to get money to feed their prescription … Continue Reading

The Internet is making more and more things feasible from your living room sofa, a concept that many classify as the beauty of modern technology. The next wave of drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs has taken advantage of this technology in an attempt to revamp how the treatment process functions for some. A new online … Continue Reading

Despite millions of examples to the contrary, many people still insist that marijuana is not addictive. Although it may be argued that addiction to this drug may not happen as quickly as other drugs or that the physical withdrawal symptoms are not as obvious or as intense as some other substances, it is incorrect to … Continue Reading

When people think of Cape Cod, they think of majestic summertime ocean scenes: family vacations, kids building sandcastles, eating fresh seafood, and the smell of the salty air. Unfortunately, the quintessential summertime retreat is now becoming well known for something other than its picturesque seashore. The Cape Cod community has been struggling with a growing … Continue Reading

When you’re actively abusing drugs and alcohol, the haze that comes with being under the influence and/or dealing with the aftermath of binges can make it difficult to be objective and analytical – especially about yourself. But at a certain point, when you start to notice that things are fraying at the edges in your … Continue Reading

For someone attempting to hide an active addiction, the primary focus is protecting their “stash” from you – or anyone who might take it – and protecting their ability to get more of their drug of choice. For this reason, deceit becomes a second language for many living with addiction, and hiding the signs and … Continue Reading

It’s been a hot debate across the country for years and, slowly, county by county, Americans are starting to understand that drug-related offenses that are perpetrated to maintain an untreated drug addiction (e.g., buying drugs, being high in public, possessing drugs or paraphernalia, etc.) should be addressed through treatment – not punishment. It seems unethical … Continue Reading

A high rate of heroin overdoses in Anchorage and surrounding areas has everyone on high alert. The heroin epidemic that has been slowing rising across the country has officially reached the furthest parts of the country. Most likely due to the associated rise in prescription painkiller dependence, it is likely that Alaska residents are turning … Continue Reading

It’s common among those in recovery to be somewhat proud of their addictive history. Though most are positive they never want to go back, they refuse to regret their actions under the influence and justify their choice by saying that it was those actions that made them who they are today. While that can be … Continue Reading

This year in Philadelphia, a new form of the 12-step model of recovery has appeared on the scene and it is called Hustlers Anonymous. Those who seek out this program have experienced a number of negative life experiences due to their poor choices including: Prison time (often multiple times) Broken families Police harassment Witnessed murders … Continue Reading

Are you really what you eat? Some studies say “yes.” Depending on what you choose to put into your body, the body responds by changing its physical appearance and overall functioning.  Simply by eating certain foods, an individual’s body will become more or less able to: Process insulin Circulate blood throughout the body Develop a … Continue Reading

The most current results from the Gallup poll show that less than one-third of Americans (roughly 29 percent) believe there is a serious drug problem in the US. Because citizens are not nearly as worried about the country’s drug policy as they are about other domestic issues like the economy, job growth, home prices, etc., … Continue Reading

A Canton Michigan woman and her ex-boyfriend were arrested recently in connection with the death of her 20-month-old son, Silas Rodgers. Silas passed away in June of 2012 due to a buprenorphine overdose, a drug prescribed for the treatment of opiate drug addiction. The mother, Andrea Rodgers, 20, and her live-in boyfriend, Ryan Moody, 25, … Continue Reading

A new survey conducted by YouGov at the request of the Huffington Post found that a solid majority of Americans are now in support of the legalization of marijuana. The poll discovered that the majority just squeaked by at 51 percent in support of making cannabis legal. The numbers, according to the pollsters, broke down … Continue Reading

One of the biggest risks of overdose occurs when patients mix their medication with an alcoholic beverage. The surprise is that it doesn’t even have to be an addictive medication – an over-the-counter cold medication can be deadly in the wrong amounts when mixed with spirits, says the National Institute on Aging. What Can Happen? … Continue Reading

With its first major mark on popular culture in the Rolling Stone’s song “Mother’s Little Helper” in 1966, Valium quickly became the go-to drug to help Americans reduce their anxiety. Valium was easily the first pill for emotional health that was prescribed and used on a mass scale. By 1974, Americans were downing 60 million … Continue Reading

There is one holdout when it comes to the statewide prescription drug databases that are saving lives by helping doctors identify patients who are “doctor shopping” and committing prescription fraud – and that holdout is Missouri. It’s not an issue that is being overlooked: US Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske met with authorities and medical professionals … Continue Reading

The Australian Football League (AFL) is struggling with drug addiction among its players – and with the new three strike drug policy, they’re hoping to put a stop to ongoing addictions in the league. Some are calling it “far from perfect” but everyone acknowledges that it’s better than nothing and that it’s about time that … Continue Reading

Drug detox is the first step in a comprehensive drug addiction treatment program but it’s not a complete treatment program for any addiction disorder. Its focus is dealing with the issues related to physical addiction, and it sets the stage for a successful exploration of the psychological addiction issues that can make drug addiction so … Continue Reading

Deciding to enter drug rehab isn’t a quick process. It can take years of buildup and consideration. It’s a big decision, and many put it off because they believe they aren’t ready. What are some of the most common reasons that people cite for procrastinating? They include: Fear they will be unsuccessful Fear they aren’t … Continue Reading

Since the late 1990s, prescription drug abuse in America has skyrocketed with no sign of slowing down. It seemed anyone could get the drugs, usually prescription painkillers, anytime they wanted by going into the family medicine cabinet or telling their doctor they were experiencing a certain set of symptoms. There were reports that the guidelines … Continue Reading

It’s not a question that’s easily answered. While your mother and best friends have likely been counseling you to head for the hills, in your heart there’s something else urging you to stay – and you don’t know who to listen to. Before you stands a man who you no longer recognize but occasionally, every … Continue Reading

he negative health impacts of smoking marijuana are always being debated, however, it seems that researchers at the University of Southern California may have found a health risk that will likely get the attention of most young men. The findings of the research were published in the scientific journal CANCER and demonstrate a correlation between … Continue Reading

Every few years, there is an overhaul of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the main reference used by healthcare professionals, researchers, and third-party payers in order to make decisions for diagnosis, treatment and coverage of mental health disorders. This periodic revamping of such an important document for the mental health community … Continue Reading

Researchers from both the University of Adelaide in Australia and the University of Colorado believe they may have discovered a drug that could help defeat opioid addiction while increasing the ability to stop pain. The drug being called (+)-naloxone is a variant of the medication naloxone which is already used in the treatment of opioid … Continue Reading

In his book “Too High to Fail,” Doug Fine makes the point that the war on drugs has been the nation’s lengthiest war as the policies have now been around for 40 years. This war has cost taxpayers more than $1 trillion and Fine feels there is sadly little to show for all the effort … Continue Reading

Dentists who prescribe painkillers to their patients, just to ask their patients to bring those drugs to their appointment and attempt to divert them for their own use. Doctors who prescribe drugs for their patients for cash and then buy part of those prescriptions back for their own use. Nurses who hold back drugs prescribed … Continue Reading

The Three Strikes laws adopted in some states around the country mandate minimum sentences for repeat offenders that can add up to 25 years to life in prison for the third offense. The Three Strikes law is a catchy political idea, it’s easy to remember, it shows you’re serious about enforcing the laws on the … Continue Reading

A fledging democracy is struggling to emerge in Egypt after years of oppression and a successful revolution in 2011, but the issues of security enforcement that come with the allure of fast money and social control from drug trafficking has thrown up a huge obstacle to stability – and caused a host of other problems … Continue Reading

More than one person has purposely gotten themselves put in jail in order to receive help for a drug addiction problem. Even though few jails offer any formal drug addiction treatment help, many say that the medical care, group sessions and minimal attention to the addiction issue is better than nothing at all. If nothing … Continue Reading

It’s not an uncommon scenario – a woman addicted to prescription drugs or heroin finds out that she’s pregnant. Because of the fragility of the fetus, it’s impossible for her to stop using drugs altogether – the withdrawal symptoms could cause a spontaneous abortion. The fix recommended by doctors? Methadone maintenance. Unfortunately, it’s this health … Continue Reading

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, also known as CASAColumbia, has been surveying American teens for the past 17 years in order to understand teen drug use trends and help parents and educators to prevent adolescent drug abuse. In their 2012 survey, they found some staggering numbers, including: About 86 … Continue Reading

The anti-drug lobbyists who have insisted for years that marijuana is a gateway drug now have the results of a Yale research study in their corner. The results from work out of the Yale University School of Medicine demonstrated that in both men and women 18 to 25, the use of marijuana was linked with … Continue Reading

It is becoming more and more well known that addiction is a quickly growing problem among patients 65 and older. A new study out of Europe found that one possible cause for this escalating epidemic may be improper prescription drug practices for this population. Researchers from the Netherlands examined 946 studies pertaining to outpatient prescription … Continue Reading

Representatives from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) are reporting that large cities in Switzerland are epicenters for cocaine use in Europe. The major cities mentioned in particular included: Bern Geneva Lucerne Zurich It has long been rumored that some of Switzerland’s metropolitan areas are laden with illicit drug use, but … Continue Reading

We’ve seen that individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can use stimulant medications to help them calm down and focus. It seems counterintuitive since stimulant drugs of any kind usually amp up their users, but when this health issue is present, the script is flipped. A similar thing happens when those diagnosed with bipolar … Continue Reading

With a motto like “Faster, higher, stronger,” most spectators want to believe that the Olympic performances they witness every four years come purely from the drive to win when the world’s top athletes compete against each other on a global stage. As performance times get faster and records get broken, we all want to believe … Continue Reading

The British comedian, Russell Brand, 37, has long been a vocal advocate for reform surrounding the treatment of drug addicts. A recovering heroin addict himself, Brand has been in the media lately voicing his opinion about the prescription of methadone to heroin addicts. In Brand’s opinion, it’s not a good enough solution. He says that … Continue Reading

Papo and Yo is a new video game designed by Vander Caballero based upon his own childhood experiences growing up in South America with an alcohol- and drug-addicted father. Caballero is not new to the video game industry and has been making games for years. However, this time, instead of making the typical violent, “shoot … Continue Reading

The prescription drug epidemic in America kills one person every 19 minutes – and it’s escalating every day. New York State legislators have decided that enough is enough and have enacted I-STOP, some of the toughest legislation in the US, in an attempt to curb the problem. New York Senator Andrew Lanza said: “I truly … Continue Reading

Portugal decriminalized all drugs – including substances considered hardcore, such as heroin and crystal meth – starting in July of 2001. They have had more than a decade to watch the trends in a variety of statistics and evaluate their decision to change the use of drugs from a criminal act to evidence of the … Continue Reading

President Obama recently signed into law the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, which was one part to a larger bill known as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safety Innovation Act. There are a few different types of synthetic drugs the federal government is attempting to control through this new legislation including: Synthetic … Continue Reading

Many European countries are moving toward methods of harm reduction based on scientific research and away from criminalization and punitive treatment for individuals addicted to drugs. The goal of numerous countries on the continent is to minimize the negative impacts to individual users and society as a whole rather than attempt to eradicate the behavior. … Continue Reading

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) are co-sponsoring a new bill to make it far more difficult for addicts to abuse time-release medications. Certain prescriptions such as OxyContin and Vicodin are designed for the medicine to be released over time in an individual’s system. However, those who are looking to get … Continue Reading

Too often it happens – one person in a group of people abusing a drug experiences an overdose and others in the group are too scared to call for emergency medical assistance because they fear arrest. Instead of getting immediate medical attention, they hope their friend will start breathing better, wait for the seizure to … Continue Reading

A wave of new designer drugs is nearly impossible to identify in the field due to their ever-changing appearance. “Bath salts,” a drug that comes in a plethora of incarnations, have caused continuous problems for law enforcement when on duty. However, a handheld device called the TruNarc may be changing the face of drug identification … Continue Reading

Recently, in a unanimous vote, the US Senate adopted an amendment to a new FDA prescription drug bill sponsored by both US Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) and US Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). The legislation aims to make it more difficult for patients to be able to get their hands on prescription hydrocodone pills for … Continue Reading

The idea of “community” is one that is extremely powerful in all aspects of healing and recovery. A quick look at the 12-step model, one of the primary traditional treatment models used in most programs across the country, is a positive demonstration of the role the support of others plays in recovery. Even those who … Continue Reading

Back in 2009, Yale’s Department of Psychiatry started offering training in ear acupuncture to all incoming fellows whose studies had an emphasis in addiction. Although the training was voluntary, every student took the course curious to see how complementary and alternative treatments can provide new ways to treat addicted patients. Katurah Bryant, RN, LMFT, is … Continue Reading

Tough laws on drug possession and small time dealers has meant a skyrocketing number of Americans in prison for drug-related offenses. It has also meant an ironic situation, in which those incarcerated for crimes caused by addiction to drugs are still able to get substances of abuse behind bars. According to The Fix, pretty much … Continue Reading

Amber Portwood, reality star on the show Teen Mom, was recently sentenced to five years in jail – a choice she made rather than opt for the judge’s other offer, drug addiction treatment. Why did she do it? Portwood says that drugs are too easy to get in rehab and that her best bet for … Continue Reading

In Indiana, a number of deaths due to heroin overdose have prompted a flurry of activity in Randolph County as residents and local officials alike move to stop the problem from growing into an epidemic. Over the past five years, multiple deaths have been linked to or caused by heroin, and it is believed that … Continue Reading

Weight loss surgery is generally believed to benefit the health and wellness of the patient who undertakes it. By inhibiting the consumption of an obese patient, it can mean a serious amount of weight loss that would otherwise be deadly. There are a number of different types of weight loss surgeries, also called bariatric surgery, … Continue Reading

Wrestling, church and drug addiction prevention – it sounds like an odd combination, but one Ohio church believes that it can work. Rivertree Christian Church is planning to hold the first annual Dustin Batdorff Invitational – “Dropkick the Addiction,” a fundraising event that hopes to answer the question: “Who had the best mustache in professional … Continue Reading

It’s not just the sale of baked goods laced with marijuana that is the focus of a new crackdown in San Francisco’s Dolores Park but the sale of all illicit substances and alcohol. For years, various vendors have made a living by selling everything from cold beer to marijuana- or mushroom-laced food items, but recently, … Continue Reading

It’s not always easy to see how extensively illicit drugs damage the body when that damage occurs internally. The body’s organs are designed to withstand a certain level of toxins but when you abuse drugs daily, it’s just too much for them to process without harm. The good news is that, in some cases, damage … Continue Reading

“Junkie of the Year Award.” It’s what Mike Inez of the band Alice in Chains jokingly calls the Stevie Ray Vaughan award, a music award that has often gone to current or ex-junkies in the past few years and was recently awarded to his band mate, Jerry Cantrell – also an ex-junkie. At the eighth … Continue Reading

Is it possible that a mother’s drug use during her teen years – long before she ever dreams of getting pregnant – could affect the health of her children down the line? Research from the Neuroscience and Reproductive Biology lab at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is suggesting that it can indeed. Of course, it’s … Continue Reading

The New Jersey Newsroom is reporting that the number of calls to poison control centers in New Jersey is on the rise due in large part to the abuse of bath salts, a synthetic drug meant to mimic the effects of cocaine and LSD. Hallucinations and a high-energy, stimulant effect are usually experienced by those … Continue Reading

Shopping, just like food addiction, may be a hard concept for people to grasp because it’s something we all do every day. Comparatively, substance abuse issues are easy to identify because it’s not “normal” for people to use these substances daily. In addition, when someone does indulge in a substance of abuse too heavily, it … Continue Reading

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse demonstrates that simultaneous addiction and mental illness is a common phenomenon. In fact, they report individuals with both anxiety and mood disorders are two times as likely to suffer from an addiction than those in the general population. Patients with both issues occurring at the same time … Continue Reading

Marc Lewis’s unique relationship with drugs permeates his new book, Memoirs of an Addicted Brain. Lewis spent the vast majority of his time between the ages of 15 to 30 high on whatever substance he could find. He was introduced to alcohol and marijuana while in a depressive state in prep school. This kicked off … Continue Reading

Buprenorphine is a medication used in rehabilitation clinics to help wean opioid addicts off their drug of choice. The withdrawal symptoms for the opioid class of drugs can be so overwhelming that they drive those with an addiction straight back to using to avoid the physical and emotional pain. Instead of going cold turkey, doses … Continue Reading