You may have seen Terrie Hall and struggled to watch her talk. Hall was once a competitive cheerleader, but now her mouth sags on one side and she’s lost her voice to smoking. In her halting YouTube account seen by millions, the North Carolina ex-smoker still fighting cancer makes a suggestion to those who’ve yet …
Landmark Anti-Smoking Campaign Scares 100,000 Into Quitting Read More »
Oceana, West Virginia, is a picturesque mining town nestled in Wyoming County that boasts extraordinary natural beauty. But underneath the surface, a problem is brewing. The prescription drug epidemic that engulfs the entire United States
When a medication is effective, we give thanks. Drugs that can alleviate problem symptoms help patients live normal lives and restore a positive and hopeful outlook that brings many other desired outcomes. But when good medications are misused, everyone suffers. Patients are greeted with more skepticism and eventually medications become harder to obtain. Doctors are …
If methadone is used to help with heroin addiction and nicotine replacement products are used to help with nicotine addiction, could a stimulant like Ritalin help with addiction to a stimulant like cocaine? That’s the question researchers asked in a new study, conducted at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York and recently published in …
Single Dose of Ritalin Helps With Cocaine Addiction, Study Finds Read More »
For the last several years, headlines have told the story of the new drug scourge in the U.S. Prescription narcotic painkillers are being used and abused like never before. From young teens experimenting, to adults with legitimate prescriptions, to junkies needing a new, cheap high, the number of people falling victim to abuse continues to …
Alarming Rise in Babies Born Addicted to Prescription Drugs Read More »
The nature-nurture debate is alive and well in the world of drug addiction research. Scientists and addiction experts have long-speculated whether the biological factors—genetic variations and the resulting susceptibility—or the psycho-social factors—like depression, parental substance abuse, or socioeconomic disadvantage—are responsible for addiction. It’s generally agreed that both factors contribute to addiction, with at least 50 …
Animal Study Links Missing Brain Enzyme With Addiction to Painkillers Read More »
Chronic pain has a profound effect on anyone’s life. If you’re saddled with chronic pain, you may not be able to work or exercise, let alone enjoy life in general. Pain causes sleep disturbances and, when chronic, often triggers symptoms of depression. In short, life with chronic pain can be miserable. It’s no surprise that …
Chronic Pain and Substance Abuse – A Challenging Combination Read More »
The widespread misuse of prescription painkillers has prompted the medical community to look for ways to better understand and regulate them. The doctors, pharmacists and policymakers involved in seeking to promote responsible use of prescription painkillers intend to provide solutions that prevent misuse of the drugs, but without threatening the relief that they offer to …
Pot Smokers More Likely to Abuse Prescription Drugs Read More »
New survey results released by The Partnership at Drugfree.org find that one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription drug at least once – a 33 percent increase over the last five years. The study is actually the 24th annual survey used by the organization to track and research drug use in this …
Wake-Up Call for Parents: One in Four Teens Has Abused Prescription Meds Read More »
Health care is a controversial and complex issue, especially now as political wrangling is hitting full tilt in states that are reluctant to accept Medicaid expansion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Today, only one penny of every dollar that is spent on health care will go to assist a person facing debilitating …
Addiction Treatment to Gain Big Boost Under Obamacare Read More »