Electromagnetic Stimulation May Be Able to Wipe Away Cocaine Addiction Articles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchApril 1, 2016Shining 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.
Cocaine Use Plummets With Combined Psychotherapeutic Approaches Articles>Addiction TreatmentBy The RanchMarch 3, 2016Combining cognitive behavioral therapy and prize-based contingency management produces substantial benefits for cocaine program participants, a study finds. Cocaine addiction is a fairly common form of substance addiction that unfortunately does not respond consistently to any type of medication-based treatment. For this reason, cocaine-centered treatment programs typically rely on at least one form of psychotherapy…
DUI Conviction a Strong Sign of Addiction Alcoholism, Helpful ArticlesBy The RanchOctober 3, 2015Almost one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S. are a result of alcohol-impaired driving, with one death every 51 minutes as a result of driving under the influence (DUI). In 2010, 1.4 million Americans were arrested for driving with alcohol or narcotics in their systems, but what does it mean if you become one…
You Have a Family History of Addiction, Now What? Articles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchMarch 3, 2015Addiction is a complicated disease. It has genetic components, but having a gene or a set of genes for addiction does not mean you will become an addict. It isn’t a death sentence or even a life sentence for that matter. But it is scary. Whether you just found out the truth about those skeletons…
Small DNA Variations Play Big Role in Risk for Substance Problems Articles>Drug Addiction, Helpful ArticlesBy The RanchFebruary 6, 2015Researchers have conclusively determined that much of any given person’s chances of developing problems with substance abuse or substance addiction are genetically based. However, no one fully understands all of the genetic factors that increase or decrease the odds of experiencing these problems. In a study published in late 2014 in the journal Addiction, a…
Trauma Bonding in Addictive Relationships Articles>Mental HealthBy The RanchJanuary 29, 2015Jay and Lea met like many couples do these days—on an Internet dating site. The two had a great deal in common, more even than they understood from the rampant get-to-know-you messages the two passed between them. Private messages soon turned into texting and video chatting, and eventually the pair decided to meet. Their attraction…
Sex Addiction and Codependency Articles>Sex AddictionBy The RanchJanuary 29, 2015Sex addiction is a complicated issue. Some experts would argue that it is a true addiction, but all agree that people can develop unhealthy sexual attitudes, behaviors and compulsions. When sex addiction exists in a codependent relationship, two people are locked in a destructive way of living. Codependency is not uncommon, but when it comes…
Health Officials Scramble to Respond as Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic Sweeps through Tennessee Articles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchJanuary 13, 2015America’s rapid explosion of prescription painkiller abuse has put health officials across the country on the defensive. Nowhere is this truer than in Tennessee, where a virtual epidemic of addiction is stressing the state’s health care system to the breaking point.
Are You an Alcoholic? 10 Warning Signs of Addiction Articles>Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismBy The RanchJanuary 2, 2015It’s hard to be objective when it comes to figuring out whether you or your loved one has a problem with drinking. Emotions run high, rationalizations and denials lead to confusion and it can seem hard to draw the line between what’s acceptable and what’s going too far. Although the boundaries are fuzzy, issues with…
Heroin Cheaper Than Beer in Pennsylvania Articles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchDecember 31, 2014A new report has investigated the growing heroin epidemic in Pennsylvania, finding – among other things – that heroin is both easier to get than wine and cheaper than beer in the rural regions of the state. Heroin is a growing problem all across the U.S., and the rise in use of the drug is…
