After Addiction and Broken Dreams, a Life Gone Good
Each day, Brent Clark carries five index cards in his back pocket as a reminder of where he’s been and where he could be headed.
Tag Archives: Alcoholism
Musician Charts a Path From Addiction to Authenticity
When musician, singer and songwriter Michael Shapiro tells the story of his drug and alcohol addiction, he starts in 1976, when his father took him to see Carlos Santana perform.
Movie Review: Revealing ‘The Skeleton Twins’ in the Closet
Every family has its secrets, and the Dean twins, Maggie and Milo, are examples of what happens when the skeletons in the closet gradually start rattling. This is the premise of the movie “The Skeleton Twins.”
Abstinent Alcoholics Can Regain Brain Volume
The chronic, excessive pattern of alcohol consumption associated with alcoholism is known for its ability to damage several key aspects of brain function. One of the most common indicators of alcohol-related brain damage is a loss in the volume of tissue contained in the brain’s main structures. In a study scheduled for publication in 2014 […]
Four DUIs in 30 Hours? People Do Worse During Blackouts
You’d be surprised how many problem drinkers in a blackout have come out of it having flown to another country. To the untrained eye they may appear sober and rational while complete lack of reason and control have overtaken them, said Dr. Anita Gadhia-Smith, a Washington, D.C., specialist and author of From Addiction to Recovery: […]
#14 Days on the Wagon
Are you ready to take a dare? Can you go two weeks without hoisting a pint, sipping chardonnay, or slinging a shot? What would it be like to abandon alcohol for two weeks? Parvati Shallow of CBS News challenges viewers to do just that. She writes, “Nearly 23 million Americans need treatment for a drug or […]
Even in Addiction, It’s Never Too Late to Start Over
There are those who realize that they have a drinking problem and are able to cut back or simply stop. I wasn’t one of them. I abused alcohol for 20 years knowing that it was causing problems both physically and mentally, but didn’t stop until I had lost everything. Here’s what I learned from thinking […]
Once-Broken Mom Moves Beyond Stigma to Strength
To those in AA, it’s known as The Big Book. Chrisi Hard’s copy is deep blue with the title Alcoholics Anonymous embossed in the same color on the cover, rendering the words almost invisible. “They design them that way,” she explains, “so that if you’re reading it in a coffee shop or somewhere, no one […]
Who Do You Think You Are? Discovering the Person You Were Meant to Be
By Carolyn Hughes, BA Hons, CQSW — Who do you want to be? If you’ve experienced traumas that have left you numb, or the pressures of an image-conscious, success-driven society are forcing you to live your life trying to be someone you’re not, perhaps it’s time to start finding out who you really are. As […]
Fish Oil May Help Prevent Alcohol Abusers From Dementia
Alcohol-related dementia is an unofficial term used to describe a decline in mental function caused by the habitual, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes this dementia under a more general heading called “substance/medication-induced major or mild neurocognitive disorder.” In a study presented in September 2013 by Loyola University Chicago, a team […]
Mike Tyson Tells Matt Lauer: ‘I Won’t Survive If I Don’t Get Help’
Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson has survived a world of scrutiny as his post-championship career included imprisonment for rape, a face tattoo and other out-of-control behavior. But he told NBC “Today Show” host Matt Lauer and millions of viewers Thursday that his relapse from sobriety and internal demons may kill him.
Narconon Stockpiles Addicts, Erroneously Claims 70 Percent Success Rate
Narconon has reportedly completed renovations to its “Freedom Center” in Michigan, allowing it to now house up to 100 recovering drug users. The news would be excellent if we were talking about any other organization, as more treatment options are always a good thing in the world of drug and alcohol addiction, but sadly the […]
Is Alcoholism Inherited? Dr. Sack Talks Genes With iTriage
It’s definitely not easy growing up with an alcoholic parent – and even more difficult if both parents are alcoholics. Alcoholic homes are often chaotic, volatile, and unpredictable –factors that render children especially vulnerable to a host of emotional and behavioral problems. That background greatly increases the odds that they, too, will abuse alcohol or […]
The Insidious Connection Between Substance Abuse and Stress
Stress is a normal and inevitable part of life. We all experience situations or emotions that activate stress responses. Sometimes stress is relatively mild, such as becoming tangled in traffic before an appointment. Other times it’s severe and prolonged, such as the stress experienced by victims of ongoing emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. While we […]
Family Dinners Help Teens Stay Sober
If parents want to keep their teens clean and sober, they may need to look no further than the family dinner table, according to a new study shown in the I B Times. CASA recently released a report that shows the importance of having family dinners. Joseph A. Califano, Jr., with CASA, says that parental […]
Depression Worsens Over Time for High-Risk Women
Researchers at the University of Michigan’s Health System have released the latest developments of their ongoing longitudinal study on women in their 30s and early 40s who are considered to be at high-risk for alcohol abuse, antisocial behavior, and depression.
New Compound Could Become Important Antidepressant
Chemists at Oregon State University have discovered and synthesized a new compound that in laboratory and animal tests appears to be similar to, but may have advantages over, one of the most important antidepressant medications in the world. A patent has been applied for on the compound, and findings on it published in the Journal […]
Drunken Fruit Flies Provide Insight into Alcohol Tolerance
Fruit flies are more than just the pesky bugs that appear in later summer and seem to want to swarm your kitchen. Now, researchers at North Carolina State and Boston universities are using these pests to identify entire networks of genes – which are also present in humans – that play a vital role in […]
Chronic Alcohol Consumption Impairs Formation of New Brain Cells
A new study found that chronic alcohol consumption reduces the number of new brain cells that form in the hippocampus of adolescent rhesus monkeys. This finding suggests that these cells are vulnerable to alcohol and their presence may be essential for preventing alcohol dependence.
Alcohol Abuse May Lead to Overeating and Depression in Women
A new study of young professional women finds that excessive alcohol use can relate to overeating and depression. Researchers surveyed 393 men and 383 women at ages 24, 27, and 30 about their weight, alcohol use, and depression symptoms within the last year. They found that women who had alcohol use disorders at age 24 […]
Depression, Substance Abuse, and Mental Illness in the Military
By Colin Gilbert A 2007 CBS News story recounted the life of a soldier, Staff Sgt. Daniel Shannon, who had been injured in combat and subsequently suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Shannon was prone to violent outbursts, where he would find himself destroying furniture in fits of rage. Sadly, stories like his are common; […]
Childhood Adversities, including Parental Alcoholism, Play a Role in Peptic Ulcers
New research shows that childhood adversities such as long-lasting financial difficulties, serious family conflicts, and a seriously or chronically ill family member have a predictive role in peptic ulcer. Adjusting for smoking, heavy drinking, stress, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use had no further influence. Science Daily reports that smoking and NSAID use are the […]
Gender Plays a Role in Perception of Depression
There are many elements that can play into whether or not a person will suffer from mental-health problems such as depression. Genetics and environment have long been known to be major contributors. Now, scientists are looking at the role that gender plays in this illness, how it contributes to the way it is treated, and […]
Signs of a High-Functioning Alcoholic
By Susan Campbell It is not always easy to spot an alcoholic. Not everyone who has a drinking problem is falling down on a park bench with a brown paper bag concealing the bottle in their hand. Nor is every alcoholic spending their evenings perched on a bar stool ordering round after round to satisfy […]