In an effort to deal with the issue of increased heroin and opioid overdoses in the state, a groundswell of support seems to be growing for a measure that would make it legal to force people with substance abuse issues into treatment in the state of Pennsylvania. The highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate has introduced […]
Pennsylvania Considers Proposals to Force Addicts into Treatment Read More »
One of the more serious, yet under-acknowledged, side effects of cocaine use is the risky behavior that can arise after using the drug. Risky behavior can include actions such as violence, theft or other crime, and poor decision making regarding sexual encounters. In fact, risky sex-related behavior is exactly what researchers investigated in a recent
Research Explains Why Cocaine Addicts Display Risky Behavior Read More »
Let’s face it. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) as we know it will be going away. As with other political arguments, this inevitability is met with scorn by some people and is praised by others. Right now, the only thing that is certain is that there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this change, including
What Does a Repeal of the ACA Mean for Addiction Treatment? Read More »
The results of a new study have identified how drug abuse and addiction can increase the rate of aging, as well as age-related illnesses. These include inflammation, cellular aging and decline in brain volume and function. The list of age-related ailments also includes early onset of brain, liver, kidney and heart diseases. The study, which
The business of selling OxyContin is dying in the US, but the drug maker earned billions of dollars during its heyday. The country is currently in the throes of what has been described as an opioid epidemic that is responsible for 200,000 deaths. Many people believe that OxyContin was one of the drugs responsible for
Adults with a troubled childhood may be at higher risk of developing bipolar disorder, according to researchers. The co-author of a study published in a recent issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, Filippo Varese of the University of Manchester in England, said, “(T)he link between experiencing a troubled childhood and subsequently being diagnosed with
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The connection between mothers and their children is possibly the strongest bond in the human race. Until recently, this bond has been often overlooked in the treatment process for mothers who become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Now there is a new study showing that mothers do considerably better when their children are involved in
Bond with Children Can be Effective for Mothers in Treatment Read More »
One of the outcomes from this tumultuous election that was widely overshadowed but still carries a huge impact is that four more states approved measures to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults over the age of 21. Now California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada have joined Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington State, the District of Columbia with
Concern Over More States Legalizing Marijuana Use for Adults Read More »
In April of this year, soccer start Abby Wambach was arrested for driving under the influence. Wambach, who had recently retired from professional soccer, had secretly struggled with drugs for years. But it wasn’t until her arrest that she was able to begin on the road to recovery. In the early morning of April 3rd,
Every year in September, people in recovery, advocates, family members, treatment and intervention professionals and other providers celebrate National Recovery Month. The goal is to not only raise awareness about the fact that recovery from substance abuse and mental health problems can happen, but also to show support for those who are helping to rehabilitate
People become addicted to drugs and alcohol for many reasons. However, researchers have long believed that traumatic experiences during adolescence may increase people’s risk of developing addictions later as a teen. A recent study has strongly reinforced this possibility, and the evidence suggests that childhood trauma may increase the risk of teen drug use. From
Misuse of The Word Addiction: What Does Addiction Really Mean? People misuse words and phrases constantly. In fact, some people misuse words so much that they no longer know the true meaning of the word they are using over time. People seem to make up their own definitions for the words they use. The word
