Tag Archives: alcohol abuse

Study: 18 Percent of Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol in 1st Trimester

Over the last three decades, non-profit groups and public health agencies have waged a relentless campaign to spread the word about the risks of drunk driving. In response to these efforts, a number of laws have been passed at the state and federal levels that have reduced allowable blood-alcohol content percentages for drivers, strengthened DUI-related […]

Diet During Pregnancy May Affect Child’s Risk for Alcohol, Drug Abuse

Almost 50 percent of U.S. women capable of bearing children weigh enough to meet the standard definitions for being overweight or obese. Without doubt, one the main contributors to excess weight in these women (and all other people) is consumption of a diet high in sugar and fat. In a study presented in August 2013 […]

‘The Anonymous People’ Questions Why Addiction Isn’t Treated Like Any Other Illness

Sadly, 23.5 million Americans are in long-term recovery for drug and alcohol addiction. This is a shocking statistic, but what’s more shocking is that these people can be considered the lucky ones. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, almost half of the U.S. prison population is incarcerated for drug offenses. The sad truth is […]

New Drug Reduces Desire for Alcohol

Naltrexone is a medication that alters normal function in the brain and body by blocking access to sites called opioid receptors, which appear on the exterior surfaces of certain nerve cells. Originally developed to combat the addictive effects of opioid narcotics such as heroin, oxycodone, and codeine, it is now also used to reduce the […]

Alcohol Industry Using Facebook to ‘Groom‘ Youths

Facebook is a great tool to use to stay connected and promote your business, but should it be used to lure a target market not yet old enough to purchase a product? According to researchers, that’s what is happening as alcohol companies leverage the social media platform to nurture a new generation of drinkers. According […]

A Functional Alcoholic

Alcoholism can be tricky. Maybe you have a friend who seems to drink a lot, but you cannot imagine that she is really an alcoholic. She has a good job. She takes care of her responsibilities. She always seems put together. So is it possible that she is dependent on alcohol? The answer is yes. […]

Substance Abuse and Suicide

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, resulting in roughly 35,000 fatalities every year. In addition, nearly 11,000,000 American adults attempt suicide without success at some point in their lives. Altogether, people who abuse alcohol and/or drugs attempt to kill themselves nearly six times as frequently as people who […]

Health Effects of Cocaethylene

Cocaethylene is the name of a unique chemical that forms in the liver when people simultaneously use cocaine and alcohol (known chemically as ethyl alcohol or ethanol). This formation occurs when the presence of ethyl alcohol interferes with the body’s attempts to eliminate cocaine circulating in the bloodstream. According to several different scientific studies published […]

Alcoholism, Alcohol Abuse, and Cancer

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are two conditions that stem from excessive alcohol intake. Technically speaking, alcoholics have an ongoing physical dependence on alcohol, while alcohol abusers have drinking problems that don’t involve physical dependence. Cancer is the general term for cells in the body that grow out of control and damage healthy organs and structures; […]

The Legal Drinking Age: 18, 21, or 25?

Debates over the age of legal drinking in the U.S. are a common occurrence, especially at times of the year when it comes into the spotlight, like during spring break and around graduation. Many people think our Puritanical ways are responsible for a drinking age that is higher than in European countries and that this […]

Teen Drinking and Driving

Driving the family car is a rite of passage for many teens. For parents it can represent their child’s first physical step outside of the family nest. Independence. A recent report from our nation’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that overall, teens are taking those initial driving steps more cautiously. Nevertheless, the […]

Study Examines Connection Between Cravings and Attentional Bias

Individuals who complete treatment for alcohol addiction are often trained through therapy to use skills designed to help them learn new responses to cues associated with alcohol. Some recovered alcoholics are able to utilize the new tools for staying sober, while others relapse back into drinking.

News Reports of Crimes Related to Alcohol Boost Support For Alcohol Laws

The use of alcohol involves many risks, including the risk of injury and a heightened willingness to participate in dangerous behaviors. While many vehicular accidents and injuries are related to alcohol, studies have shown that many news sources omit the involvement of alcohol in injury and crime reports.

New Clues From Scientists as to Why Alcohol is So Addicting

According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (USCF), endorphins in the brain are released that produce feelings of reward and pleasure for those who drink alcohol which is a clue into why it can be so addicting. This is the first time researchers have observed this endorphin release in humans, according to […]

Drinking Alcohol May Increase Amphetamine Abuse

Stimulant drugs such as amphetamines are widely abused by young adults who are looking to stay awake and increase their concentration. Previous studies have found an association between amphetamine abuse and the amount of alcohol consumed. A new study has found that there is a direct epidemiological link between alcohol consumption and prescription drug abuse.

Children’s Unhappiness Linked to Risk of Alcohol Use, Sexual Activity

Several studies have shown that intervening with troubled youth is the best strategy to prevent future mental health disorders or substance abuse problems in adulthood. Most chronic behavioral and psychiatric disorders—including alcoholism, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and schizophrenia—can be rooted in adverse events that are experienced during childhood, yet children who are generally most in […]

Motivational Interviews in Emergency Rooms can Prevent Alcohol Problems, Violence in Teens

A new study has found that a one-on-one talk with a therapist can help reduce violence and drinking problems among teenagers. For three years, researchers from the University of Michigan Health System offered to talk to adolescents at the Hurley Medical Center Emergency Department in Flint, Michigan, who reported aggressive behavior or having consumed alcohol […]

Use Science to Talk to Your Teens about Drinking

If you’re a parent, you should assume that your child will be tempted to drink on prom night and other celebrations that mark the end of the school year. In a 2005 survey of high school students, about 43 percent had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days, and 75 percent had tried alcohol at […]

Worsening Economy Likely to Increase Problems for Borderline Alcohol or Prescription Drug Users and Abusers

Economic woes threaten to derail our nation’s financial stability, but that’s not the only potential negative impact. As Americans face more and more economic uncertainty, and the stress that goes along with it, the greater the temptation to succumb to overuse and abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. For individuals who are already borderline for […]