The Addiction to Self-Injury
Self-injury is a growing problem among teens across the nation. This act of cutting, burning, hitting, bruising, choking or otherwise inflicting self-harm is a compulsive behavior. Most victims of this addiction suffer from other mental disorders as well such as schizophrenia, anorexia, bulimia and borderline personality disorder. Continue Reading

Tanorexia: Brain Changes Similar to Drug Addicts
It is unlikely that anyone could still be surprised to hear that ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes melanoma or skin cancer. What might be surprising to learn is just how many people continue to visit tanning beds that use UV light to provide customers with a golden tan. And why they do so despite the known [...] Continue Reading

Brett Butler’s Spectacular Fall from Grace
Brett Butler spent most of the 1990s starring in a hit television series and enjoying the perks that fame can provide. She also spent those years abusing drugs until her addiction ended up costing her just about everything her fame had won for her. This month, the comedian/actress came clean about her past and what [...] Continue Reading

Johnny Jolly’s Struggle with Codeine Addiction
It is hard to watch young lives come unraveled by addiction. It is hard to watch your children make the same painful mistakes you made. It is hard to enjoy a victory without the presence of a valued teammate. In fact, nothing about drug use is easy. It hurts the person abusing and everyone around [...] Continue Reading

Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws Under Scrutiny
There is a debate among several college presidents over lowering the drinking age on college campuses to 18. Richard A. Grucza, from Washington University and his colleagues believe this would be dangerous for young adults on college campuses. Continue Reading

Limits of Confidentiality in Drug Rehab Treatment
When treating patients for drug and alcohol addiction, drug rehab treatment facilities must always balance the privacy rights of the patient against the facility’s duty toward other individuals and society in general. The very act of seeking treatment for drug addiction or alcoholism is protected from disclosure under federal law and exceptions are few. Even [...] Continue Reading

Alcohol Consumption at Work
The use of alcohol and drug testing is now a common part of new employee orientation, and many employers continue to do drug testing, sometimes using random drug tests, to ensure that their workplaces are safe and efficient. Continue Reading

New Way To Curb Hard Core Drunk Drivers: Alcohol Anklets
Ignition interlock systems, adopted by many states to help reduce the incidence of drunk driving crashes and injuries by preventing drinking drivers from driving have done a fairly good job. But they’re not fool-proof. Now, there’s a new way to curb the most dangerous offenders, hard core drunk drivers (HCDDs) from getting behind the wheel [...] Continue Reading

Experts Say Prescription Drug Abuse Should be Treated as Any Other Mental Health Issue
Addiction has long been coined as a matter of choice but experts are beginning to look at the problem as a mental health issue. A recent medical article talks about how some are considering the possibility that addiction is no different than depression, bipolar disorder or even schizophrenia. Continue Reading

More People in the ER for Abusing Muscle Relaxants
Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant most often prescribed to give relief from acute pain associated with muscle injury. Doctors usually write scripts for a 10- to 14-day course of treatment. Patients would recognize the drug by one of its several market names: Soprodal, Soma or Vanadom. Continue Reading

Substance Use Associated with Four Types of Fatal Accidents
The use of drugs and alcohol can impair individuals in many ways. Slow response time and a relaxation of inhibitions are two effects of alcohol and some drugs that can significantly contribute to impairment when it comes to driving a motor vehicle. Many accidents are attributable to drugs and alcohol, but it is sometimes difficult [...] Continue Reading

Don’t Drink and Drive this Fourth of July – or Anytime This Summer
The end of school, beginning of summer, vacations and the Fourth of July are times to savor, enjoy with loved ones and friends, meet new people, see new places, and do new things. But it’s also a time when many otherwise-intelligent people throw caution to the winds and proceed to get drunk out of their [...] Continue Reading