Addiction, alcoholism and rehab are three words that most people don’t want to hear, especially if they are drug addicts or relatives of someone who is struggling with addiction. When we go out to bars or restaurants, we usually don’t think too much about the possible consequences when we order an alcoholic beverage. For many [...]
How much worse off would the world be if drugs like Marijuana and Cocaine were legalized? Some economists (such as Milton Friedman) have pointed out the link between unnecessary government involvement and the unforseen impact on the drug market. Because the government gets involved with drug control, punishing those who use drugs by throwing them [...]
I recently read David Sedaris’ new book When You Are Engulfed In Flames which prominently contains the tail of how he stopped smoking. If you are not familiar with Sedaris, he is a frequent contributor to NPR, and the author of many books and magazine articles. Just think Truman Capote meets Bob Newhart Sedaris grew [...]
The line; “beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” is often attributed to Ben Franklin. While it is true that Franklin did indulge in beer every now-and-again, he was something closer to a tea-totaler. Some less known Franklin lines about beer, and alcohol in general, can be found at [...]
The abuse of crystal methamphetamine is an epidemic that is sweeping the nation. Estimates state that at least 1.4 million people try the drug each year, and that over 12 million people over the age of twelve have tried it since 2003. Crystal methamphetamine, also known simply as “meth” or “speed,” is a powerful and [...]
Prescription stimulants used to treat ADHD, most commonly Ritalin, are the new drug of choice on college campuses and in high school hallways. Though legal and helpful when prescribed to people who actually have ADHD, these pills are more and more commonly being abused by students who don’t have the disorder. Ritalin stimulates the central [...]
The power of positive thinking. Some people addicted to drugs and alcohol swear by it, and new science reaffirms the power of its effectiveness. Mauricio Delgado, a cognitive neuroscientist at Rutgers, led a study where participants were either flashed a blue or yellow card. Half the volunteers were told to associate the blue card with [...]
Soldiers returning from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to have developed serious drinking problems, a recent study finds. Isabel Jacobsen, who has a Masters of Public Health and works for the Naval Health Research Center, led the study that surveyed over 48,000 servicemen and servicewomen both before and after their deployment over a [...]
Substance abuse and bipolar disorder, a mental illness which affects about 3-5% of the population, are closely correlated according to a recent study that is based on years of research. The study leader, who’s the director of substance abuse services as Massachusetts General Hospital, analyzed data on 105 teenagers with bipolar disorder who were enrolled [...]
Crack cocaine is one of the most powerfully addicting drugs. While regular cocaine is produced as a white powder that is usually inhaled through the nose, crack cocaine is a different, freebase form of cocaine that has been made into a smokeable substance. Because it’s smoked, the effects of crack cocaine are more intense than [...]
