What Motivates Young People to Smoke Marijuana? Teen Drug AddictionBy The Right StepSeptember 7, 2014Marijuana use is relatively common in the U.S., especially among older teenagers and young adults. As with other substances of abuse, a number of underlying motivations can potentially explain initial and ongoing intake of this drug. In a study published in July 2014 in the journal Addictive Behaviors, researchers affiliated with three U.S. institutions used a… Details
Which Factors Increase the Odds of Drinking Before Sex? alcohol and drug addictionBy The Right StepSeptember 4, 2014It’s a firmly established fact that people who drink significant amounts of alcohol before having sex substantially increase their odds of participating in risky sexual practices and developing a sexually transmitted infection. However, researchers know relatively little about the factors that make a person more likely to drink alcohol before having sex. In a study… Details
The Connection Between Process and Substance Addictions alcohol and drug addictionBy The Right StepAugust 25, 2014Addiction has long been limited to the abuse of chemical substances that leads to physical and emotional dependence. While still debated by some experts, many now agree that there are many similarities between traditional substance addictions, and what are called process addictions. These are addictions to any kind of activity or behavior, and do not… Details
How Do Alcoholics Respond to Conflicting Brain Effects of Drinking? alcohol and drug addictionBy The Right StepAugust 22, 2014Alcohol consumption triggers both pleasurable brain effects (in the form of euphoria) and unpleasant brain effects (in the form of a negative reaction to other symptoms of intoxication). Any person who develops the symptoms of alcohol abuse and/or alcoholism must somehow withstand the unpleasant effects of drinking while attempting to access the pleasurable effects. In… Details
FDA Issues Warning on Pure Caffeine After Teen Overdose Teen Drug AddictionBy The Right StepAugust 20, 2014Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, soda and various over-the-counter medications. As a thoroughly legal substance, caffeine has a benign reputation, and very few people think of it as a drug.
For Depressed Kids, Combination Therapy Is More Effective Than Antidepressants Alone Teen DepressionBy The Right StepAugust 19, 2014Very few kids make it through their school years without passing through some period of feeling sad and blue. But clinical, also known as major, depression is more than childhood or adolescent angst. It is more than feeling down because a friendship has ended or family difficulties have arisen.
Men and Heavy Drinking: The Risks alcohol and drug addictionBy The Right StepAugust 15, 2014When it comes to alcohol consumption, you may not be surprised to learn that men are bigger drinkers than women. Yet, men face serious risks related to heavy drinking; risks that shouldn’t be ignored.
Four Families, Four Parenting Styles: Which Lead to Adolescent Drug Abuse? Teen Drug AddictionBy The Right StepAugust 13, 2014Family 1: The Authoritarian Style In this family, everything is black and white. The father rules with an iron fist and the mother supports him in all ways. The kids learn early on not to argue with their parents, and not to question any rules of the house. Things are done one way and one… Details
Turnabout in Teen Behavior: Smoking Less, Texting While Driving More Teen TreatmentBy The Right StepAugust 11, 2014Parents worried about the cloud of smoke hanging over their teens’ heads can breathe a little easier. Teen smoking is at its lowest level in years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But this type of risky behavior may have been traded for another, equally deadly one:… Details
Drinking With Others Reduces Risky Behaviors in Teens Teen DrinkingBy The Right StepAugust 6, 2014Researchers and public health officials know that peer pressure to consume alcohol can lead to increased participation in various types of dangerous drinking practices. However, such pressure could have the opposite effect if a person’s peer group promotes moderate alcohol intake. In a study published in June 2014 in the journal Addiction, researchers from two… Details
