Though there’s been a lot of discussion about the issue, let’s take a moment and review the facts about addiction. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease. Substance abuse actually alters the chemical structure of the brain. The result can be long-term changes, […]
Category: Drug Addiction
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Schizophrenia and the Risks of Substance Abuse
One of the most stigmatized mental disorders in the United States is Schizophrenia. Much of the population associates this severe, chronic and disabling illness with violence, drug abuse and even homelessness. It’s then startling to find out that the National Institute of Mental Health estimates […]
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Force Fed Pain Pills? Ex-NFL Players Lawsuit Against The League
In San Francisco last month, more than 600 former NFL players, led in part by hall of fame quarterback Jim McMahon, filed a class action complaint against the National Football League in U.S. District Court. The players claim that they were regularly administered addictive pain […]
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Is Stimulant Use Disorder a National Frenzy?
Is it time for a coffee break yet? Thanks in part to a designer coffee house on every block, America is the now largest consumer of stimulants, both legal and illegal, in the world. Our relationship with these drugs is a complicated one, too. Air […]
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Inhalant Abuse: 3 Health Risks Parents Should Know About Huffing
More prevalent among teenagers, inhalants are a growing drug abuse problem. Products that readily found around the house such as paint, glue, aerosols and cleaning solvents all have mind-altering properties and therefore the potential for abuse. Also known as “huffing”, most inhalants can cause slurred […]
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Al-Anon and Alateen – Support for Families of Addiction
The chaos of addiction isn’t limited only to addicts and alcoholics. It extends outward to a person’s family and friends, who suffer right alongside their addicted loved one. While addiction is a disease, it’s a unique medical condition that can tear families apart, and often […]
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Why is Teenage Drug Use Such a Big Deal?
Teens in the 60s did a lot of drugs and they turned out okay, right? Well…maybe some of them would have turned out better without the drugs. Saying that the human brain is a complex system is an understatement. Four weeks after conception, the brain […]
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The Straight Dope: Cannabis Use Disorder, Intoxication And Withdrawal
With over 30 states legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana, and Colorado and Washington’s landmark passages of recreational usage, pot is all over the news. More than 80 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once making it the most […]
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Too Wired? 10 Facts About Energy Drinks and Caffeine Addiction
The marketing of caffeinated beverages has come a long way since creating jingles like “the best part of wakin’ up is Folgers in your cup,” or “Maxwell House is good to the last drop.” Now there’s Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster Energy, and even 5 Hour […]
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Baby Boomers and Senior Substance Abuse Addiction
Anyone born between 1946 and 1964 in the United States is part of the Baby Boomer generation. In fact, “Boomers” are the largest segment of the population, with more than 75 million of them. As of January 2011, approximately 10,000 people started turning 65 every […]
