Shining laser lights on a certain part of the brain in rats can eliminate compulsive cocaine seeking, according to a study published in Nature. Testing of a similar approach in humans may begin soon, although it will most likely involve electromagnetic stimulation from outside the scalp rather than direct stimulation of the brain by lasers.
Electromagnetic Stimulation May Be Able to Wipe Away Cocaine Addiction Read More »
You’ve tried it all. You’ve lectured. You’ve given ultimatums. You’ve staged an intervention. Still, your loved one continues to spiral deeper into drug or alcohol addiction. If you didn’t care about this person so much, you’d have given up long ago. And, as much as you don’t want to give up, it feels like you’ve
4 Things to Try When You’ve Run Out of Options for Helping an Addict Read More »
According to a new survey, almost 40 percent of Massachusetts adults know someone who has abused prescription painkillers in the past five years, and almost three-quarters say that heroin abuse is an extremely or very serious problem in the state. The rise in abuse of prescription opioids has been called an epidemic, and it is
Opioid Abuse ‘Extreme’ Problem in Massachusetts, Survey Finds Read More »
If you’re in the habit of smoking only when you drink and hang out with friends, you’re a social smoker and you may think that you aren’t harming your health. This kind of intermittent smoking may not be as risky as daily smoking, but it may be causing more damage than you realize. If alcohol
Should You Give Up Drinking Because of Strong Urge to Smoke? Read More »
A team of Canadian and Israeli researchers believe that doctors may one day be able to target genetic factors in people addicted to cocaine and significantly reduce the severity of relapse-inducing cocaine withdrawal.
Epigenetic Approach Gives Hope for Cocaine Addiction Treatment Read More »
A new study has suggested that using Twitter to communicate with other smokers in a stop-smoking program can increase rates of quitting, as long as the tweets are related to abstinence, use of nicotine patches, countering roadblocks to quitting and expressing confidence about quitting. Although social media has been investigated for health interventions before, lack
Methamphetamine, or meth, as it is more commonly known, is one of the most addictive drugs that are susceptible to abuse. A controlled substance, meth is legal for doctors to prescribe for certain patients. It is only occasionally used to treat obesity and sleeping disorders. Because it is so addictive and can cause so many
New findings from an American research team indicate that even short-term use of prescription opioid medications during pregnancy can lead to neonatal abstinence syndrome, a condition normally associated with illicit/illegal opioid drug consumption.
Prescription Opioid Use During Pregnancy Can Trigger Withdrawal in Newborns Read More »
With Colorado and Washington taking the step to legalize marijuana for medical use, many wonder what this says about marijuana in general. Is it safer and better than we’ve believed? Is it something that we should all be doing? What should the legalization of marijuana mean to the individual?
Marijuana Legalization Is on the Rise: Does That Mean Pot Is Safe? Read More »
A new bill proposing reduced penalties for some drug offenses in Maine by classifying them as misdemeanors instead of felonies has sparked strong debate about how to deal with drug offenders. In many ways, the debate pits the more old-fashioned “war on drugs” approach against the growing trend toward reducing penalties and shifting the focus
Bill to Reduce Drug Penalties in Maine Sparks Discord Read More »
