Posts tagged with ‘Addiction’
Addiction can be used strictly to describe a specific dependency on alcohol or drugs that involves increasing tolerance for the drug, increased dosage, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms when stopping using the drug. Addiction is also used to describe process addictions, compulsive behaviors that while not based on a specific substance, is often described as similar in its progression (such as gambling, sex, shopping, Internet addiction)
Scientists Identify Gene Related to Addiction
Many individuals who experiment with drugs or alcohol move on from the experimentation and experience little to no negative consequences associated with use. For others, however, experimentation leads to a behavior pattern that eventually develops into addiction. Understanding why some people develop an addiction and others do not, is the subject of many research studies. Full Story
Baby Dies After Receiving Heroin-Laced Bottle
According to the CDC, 105 Americans die every day from drug overdose. Ordinarily, however, these are adults struggling with addiction to drugs such as prescription painkillers; unable to control their behavior and eventually taking too much in one sitting. It’s not every day that the victim of an overdose is a five-month old baby, but that’s exactly what happened to the daughter of Ryan Barry and Ashley Cyr of Quincy, Massachusetts. Their daughter Mya was pronounced dead in 2011, and after appearing in court in October they have been charged with manslaughter. There was heroin in a bottle of formula that was fed to their daughter, and the baby died of an overdose.
Working Through Alcohol Dependency
Not every alcoholic has trouble holding down a job. In fact, high-functioning alcoholics often appear successful on the outside. But upon closer inspection, it’s evident that a problem exists as many of these individuals can’t make it through the day without a drink. Like a trusty friend, they rely on alcohol to help them function, and the drug starts to occupy a central role in their day-to-day life. Full Story
Addicted to Technology
The following article, written by Dr. Ali Binazir, was published on HuffingtonPost.com:
Increasing Neurogenesis Could Prevent Drug Addiction and Relapse
pResearchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center hope they have begun paving a new pathway in the fight against drug dependence. Their hypothesismdash;that increasing the normally occurring process of making nerve cells might prevent addictionmdash;is based on a rodent study demonstrating that blocking new growth of specific brain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse./p Full Story
Former Harpist to Prince Charles Admits Addiction to Heroin
Jemima Phillips, a 28-year-old harpist accused of committing a series of burglaries, has told Gloucester Crown Court that she was addicted to heroin while she was official harpist to Prince Charles.
Tracing the Pattern of Drug Use to Drug Dependence
What makes the difference between a casual drink and alcohol dependence? How do you know when someone goes from trying marijuana now and then to having a serious abuse problem? Scientists still do not know how all of the factors involved in substance abuse work together, but a series of studies provides insight into how age plays a factor in going from using a substance to abusing it.
The Link Between Addiction and Suicide
Each year, more people die from suicide than by any other form of violence, including war, terrorist activities, and homicides, an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) said recently, in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day. Nearly 1 million people committing suicide annually, making it the 10th leading cause of death worldwide.
Of those who attempt suicide, about half use alcohol or illegal drugs to do so. Of those who successfully take their own lives, 25 percent were abusing drugs and/or alcohol at the time of their death. For those who suffer from addiction, it’s important to understand that suicide rates increase among those who abuse alcohol and/or drugs, putting users at a greater risk of death. ] Studies show that 50 percent of teens that commit suicide have a history of alcohol and drug use.
Fortunately, suicide is preventable, according to Brian Mishara, president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). In areas that are targeted with prevention campaigns, suicide rates do decline.
Suicide can also be triggered by depression, which often co-occurs with substance abuse disorders. This is why it’s so important to treat any co-occurring disorders that may arise among those suffering from substance abuse disorders. If you or someone you know is abusing alcohol or drugs and is having suicidal thoughts, it is imperative to seek help immediately.
DJ AM’s Addiction Intervention Show Premieres on MTV
DJ AM’s reality television show, “Gone Too Far,” premiered on MTV on Monday. Although he lost his own battle with drugs a few months ago, AM (born Adam Golstein) set out to help others overcome their addictions with the show, and he succeeded with Amy, who is featured in the series premiere.
Dr. Keith Ablow on David Hasselhoff’s Addiction
According to a recent report, David Hasselhoff was hospitalized with a dangerous level of alcohol in his bloodstream. The actor was apparently at home with his 17-year-old daughter Hayley and had been drinking for more than a day when she called 911, worried that he wouldn’t survive the binge. He was hospitalized with a high blood-alcohol level in May.
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The Addiction Primer: Everything You Need to Know to Get Help for a Loved One
A very inexpensive yet indispensable guide for anyone struggling with a loved one's addiction. Chapters on intervention, what to expect from rehab, and information on how addiction impacts the family.
