Rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among US soldiers and veterans has been on the rise in recent years, with at least 200,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from the disorder. It has become so widespread in recent years that the military stepped up efforts to educate doctors and servicemen about the disorder, in […]
We’ve all heard the expression “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.” From the foundations of rock, there have been references to drug use and speculation that lyrics were referring to using drugs. Veiled (or not so veiled) references to drug use appear in songs by everyone from Jefferson Airplane and The Doors to The Rolling […]
We all know meth is dangerous. Adults who are chronic users can even bear telltale signs like discolored skin and rotten or missing teeth. Then there are the locations where meth is manufactured. You hear stories on the news of busts happening in seemingly quiet rural or suburban neighborhoods, or worse, of explosions when the […]
When athletes are caught violating a sport’s drug policy, we usually comment on the impact it has on their career and the sport overall. Rarely do we talk about the substance use itself. It’s almost as if drug use to enhance performance is put in a different category than other types of drug abuse. The […]
A new study finds that a non-chemical addiction like obsessive Internet use can cause changes to the brain that are similar to those produced by illicit drugs. The public’s understanding of addiction seems to be growing, with a more general acceptance of the scientific reality that it is a disease, not a personal weakness. At […]
The race is on to create the next big powerful painkiller, but will these new drugs increase the already startling abuse rates here in the US? Prescription painkillers are big business in the US, with pharmaceutical companies racing to provide the next big thing to bring in huge profits from an overmedicated American public. Now […]
These confusingly-named drugs have finally been labeled a controlled substance and are now illegal in the US. They’ve been causing confusion and concern for months now. Finally, in the wake of a growing number of overdose visits to emergency departments, the US Drug Enforcement Agency is officially making psychoactive bath salts (PABS) a controlled substance. […]
A World Health Organization study estimates that one in three adults suffers from a mental health issue, which leads to a higher incidence of addiction, too. We’ve been saying it for a while now: Mental health issues and addiction often go hand in hand. And even for those who don’t turn to drug addiction or […]
Those in stressful careers need to be even more vigilant about signs of alcohol or drug dependence. Addiction can happen to anyone in any profession, but some high-stress jobs can put you at higher risk. Law enforcement is one, dangerous jobs like the type of crab fishing featured on the show Deadliest Catch is another. […]
Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual with a substance abuse problem. Loved ones are impacted, too. It’s especially hard when there are children who are affected by a parent’s drug use. Almost as difficult is finding a way to talk to your children about your addiction. Children in Substance Abuse Homes Blame Themselves