Substance abuse is rooted in both biological and environmental causes. While genetics play a clear role, not everyone with a specific genetic makeup will develop a dependence. Likewise, not everyone with another risk factor, such as a romantic partner that drinks heavily, will also develop an alcohol-related problem. Often a combination of both a genetic …
Economic Downturn Linked to Increased Alcohol Consumption Read More »
In advance of Super Bowl XLVIII, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has teamed up with Tennessee Titans Tight End Delanie Walker, named the 2013 Titans Walter Payton Man of the Year, to urge football fans to have a plan for how they’ll get home from Super Bowl parties with a non-drinking designated driver, MADD said …
Make Designated Driver Your MVP on Super Bowl Sunday Read More »
Alcoholics in recovery are in a vulnerable state and need the love, support and understanding of everyone who cares about them. Family ties and the bonds of friendship are powerful healing tools, and any person going through a life crisis related to substance abuse can be helped tremendously by the loving efforts of the people …
Drunk-driving teen Ethan Couch plowed into a group of good Samaritans, killed four people, paralyzed a friend and injured at least 11 others, yet got no jail time. The judge who heard testimony that the 16-year-old suffers from an affluent-kid condition dubbed “affluenza” sentenced him to a decade of probation under court monitoring, and a …
‘Affluenza’ Drunk-Driving Teen Ethan Couch May Still Face Jail Read More »
Aerobic exercise may provide more than just physical benefit to drinkers. A recent study, published in September, shows that exercise may also help mitigate the damaging effects of alcohol on a drinker’s brain. Scientists have known for years that alcohol causes vital tissues in the brain to deteriorate, leading to a host of cognitive issues. …
Exercise May Help Repair Brain Damaged by Alcohol Read More »
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s been the pie-faced punch line since his blustery denials of drug use were disputed by video of him smoking crack. TV’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, on the eve of the Thanksgiving Macy’s Parade, even joked that the portly Ford does helium benders.
To the citizens of Toronto, Mayor Rob Ford has these re-assuring words: “Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine. But … do I? Am I an addict? No.” The allegations had been floating around for months, but Ford admitted it early in November, claiming he smoked crack about a year ago in a “drunken stupor.” Ford …
‘I’m Not an Addict,’ Says Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Read More »
It’s no secret that drug abuse occurs in every community and every state in the U.S. But how, exactly, do the rates of drug use, and the drugs themselves, vary across the nation? Recent numbers released by the 2010-2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) are now available in graph and map form, …
The celebrity drug addiction story is one we’ve all heard numerous times. From the Keith Richards to the Lindsay Lohans and the Charlie Sheens, we expect excess from some of our celebrities. Others, however, cultivate such as wholesome image or play seemingly innocent characters in movies or TV shows that we’d never expect them to …
Zac Efron Went to Rehab? Celebrities You Didn’t Know Had Addictions Read More »
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 …
Study: 18 Percent of Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol in 1st Trimester Read More »