According to an article in USA today, the new product is called Sativex and has already been approved for use in Canada and in eight European countries for different types of use, such as relief for Multiple Sclerosis pain.

Getting the FDA approval would prove to be a big milestone toward the nation’s uneasy relationship with the drug. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have already allowed residents to legally use the drug with a doctor’s recommendation. However, the DEA believes it is a dangerous drug which can be addictive.

If there is future availability of the prescription drug that may lead to increased pressure on our federal government to reevaluate their position and encourage other pharmaceutical companies to follow GW Pharma’s lead. A pharmacology professor with Virginia Commonwealth University believes there is disconnect between public demands, state demands and what this market actually provides. Possession of marijuana is still illegal in the UK but nearly ten years ago, the founder of GW Pharma, Dr. Geoffrey Guy was allowed permission to develop and grow it for prescription drug use.

The 45 year old Irish singer says she’s needed help since the ending to her short marriage to Barry Herridge, who was a drug counselor for teens. O’Connor had recently tweeted to fans for help saying she needed to resume her medications and was in grave danger if she did not receive assistance. The singer hopes going into the hospital for treatment will help her get it together quickly and feels it is the right decision for her.

The singer stated she has attempted to get help in the past but was routinely treated with drugs instead of having her emotional state evaluated. She added that she has often been misdiagnosed with other mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder when the truth was she suffered from serious PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder caused by her upbringing.

O’Connor also admitted she had a baby for another person’s husband and the result of this decision left her suicidal and depressed for five months postpartum. The singer has experienced difficulty in seeking medical treatment she believes because of who she is and has expressed the huge obstacle her celebrity has been in overcoming her depression.

With easier access to gambling venues, addiction specialists are wondering how much these sites will impact the lives of current gamblers and if it will initiate more gambling addictions.

Privacy Raises the Stakes

Nancy Petry, a psychologist at the University of Connecticut, is one of the few researchers who have started studying online gambling. She found that most gamblers still gamble outside the home; but of the ones who gamble online, most of them have gambling problems. The 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey found that online gamblers are 10 times more likely to have a gambling problem than those who gamble in public places.

Petry says that an online gambling addiction is similar to a drinking addiction. Some alcoholics don’t drink in public. They only drink in the privacy of their home. Gamblers can now do the same-gamble right from their kitchen table or couch.

Marvin Steinberg, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, believes that those types of people who like to use slot machines are the same types who partake in online gambling. There is privacy in both.

But gambling in privacy causes the same dangers that drinking in privacy causes. With no one there to pass judgment, an individual feels more comfortable to indulge excessively and will have a more difficult time determining how much is too much. At a race track or casino table a person can take cues from others as to when their gambling gets out of control.

Online Gambling is Reaching a Younger Crowd

In order to gamble in public, most places require individuals to provide identification that they are 18 years old or older. A group called Action for Children conducted a study in 2004 that found that children as young as 16 years old were gambling online. Out of 37 websites analyzed by the group, the 16-year-olds were able to use credit cards to gamble on 30 of them.

Petry and her research team have studied the impact that online gambling has on adolescents. They found that those who gambled had a high rate of addiction. However, their early gambling addiction did not lead into their adulthood.

Can Online Gambling Cause More Addictions?

The most significant question that researchers would like answered is whether online gambling causes more addiction to gambling. David Hodgins, a professor of psychology at the University of Calgary, says that online gambling could definitely hinder the recovery of someone who already has a gambling addiction. It is too accessible and tempting when it is always at your fingertips.

But, how much does online gambling attribute to new gambling addictions? Addiction specialists know that much research still needs to be done on this emerging trend. With research, support, and education, they can find the best ways to protect their clients from falling deeper into gambling addiction and help prevent a new wave of gamblers from falling into the tempting world of online gambling.

Recently a study was conducted that explored the impact of using marijuana and alcohol together (Harrington, Baird et al. 2012). The researchers sought to investigate whether specific clusters of individuals using the substances together existed and the spectrum of consequences that are associated with these behaviors.

To gather data, the researchers utilized information gathered during a randomized controlled trial related to brief intervention at an emergency room in a trauma department.

The researchers examined data from 427 participants who had agreed to sign up for a study focused on consequences of the use of alcohol and marijuana and had also indicated that they had used the substances within the past month. The researchers gathered information from the participants about their frequency of use for both substances during the past month.

Using a cluster analysis, the research team identified sub-groups of users of both marijuana and alcohol according to their frequency of use. There were also several additional inventories completed by the participants:

• Marijuana Problem Scale
• Alcohol Use Disorders Inventory Test
• Noteworthy Index of Problems
• Injury Behavior Scale
• High Risk Behavior Scale

The researchers used the separate measures to compute a single score for each individual enrolled in the study. Analysis of Variance and Tukey tests were used to compare the participants grouped in clusters and determine whether there were differences in behavioral and psychosocial factors.

The researchers’ analysis showed that there were four specific clusters of participants identified based on the frequency of marijuana and alcohol use.

The authors of the study note that there are limitations to the results of the study, such as the use of self-reported data can result in some bias. In addition, while the study measured frequency of use for the two substances, there was no inclusion of a measure to determine quantity of use.

The analysis of the clusters showed that for individuals who use alcohol daily, there were more alcohol-related problems when compared with those who used it weekly, despite the level of marijuana use. For marijuana, the pattern was not as apparent and there were more variations among the clusters of users.

The study’s findings may be very helpful for those who plan education and intervention for marijuana and alcohol users. Those who use both of the substances on a daily basis may require intervention because of the high number of consequences associated with the substances.

According to this Drugs.com report, there may be an alternative. Remoxy has been suggested by Pain Therapeutics Inc. as a safe alternative. The company claims Remoxy is more difficult to abuse, even among those with a history of abusing pain medications.

Remoxy was reported as less enjoyable than OxyContin by those with a history of prescription drug addiction and abuse. These individuals did not like the drug as quickly and claimed they could not chew the drug for any length of time due to its unpleasant texture and taste.

Research results such as these could help the company receive approval for Remoxy. Regulators request data proving that new drugs to treat chronic pain are less likely to be abused than OxyContin, made by Purdue Pharma LP.

A trial to test the effectiveness and abuse potential of Remoxy included 45 adults, each of whom had used opioid drugs at least five times in the past year to achieve a high. The study also focused on a comparison between Remoxy, OxyContin and a placebo. Reportedly, none of the participants were able to chew on the Remoxy tablet longer than 90 seconds.

The active ingredient in these painkillers is oxycodone, a substance one can access all at once by simple crushing or dissolving the pill. To make it harder to abuse OxyContin, Purdue Pharma has reformulated the drug, while competitors continue to seek approval for pain medications more resistant to abuse.

This Digital Journal report highlighted the issue of methamphetamine addiction and the serious issue it has become for society. The rise of mobile labs is a growing problem as producers aim to make it more difficult for detection. At the same time, mobile meth labs have also become around-the-clock operations.

As a problem drug, meth was reportedly wiped off the streets in the 1970s, likely replaced by more powerful or elite drugs. Meth came back with full force in the 1990s, however, and the steady increase has kept law enforcement searching for new methods of attack.

Detection and prevention of these labs are difficult, however, as they replaced the need for the larger lab. As a result, more labs are popping up almost consistently, and the mobility of the lab puts more people at risk.

Hospitals are now being overwhelmed with meth burn victims, children are at an increased risk, costs associated with meth injury and addiction are on the rise and the criminal justice system is bearing much of the burden in the battle to reverse the trend.

The cost to medical facilities and society as a whole should spur citizen action. According to the Associated Press, the average meth patient is uninsured and receives $130,000 work of treatment for meth-related burns. Another figure cited by the AP was $6,000 per day for the treatment of meth burn patients.

As long as these mobile meth labs continue to populate the landscape, non-addicts will bear the burden of the consequences.

An estimated three to five percent of the U.S. adult population is believed to have sexual addiction, with thousands of patients experiencing a loss of family, personal relationships, careers, finances and symptoms such as depression and anxiety each year.

Sexual addiction is hallmarked by obsessive, repetitive sexual behaviors that the patient is unable to control despite the consequences. Like other addictions to substances or alcohol, sexual addiction and compulsive sexual behaviors are progressive in nature and are believed to cause changes at the brain-level, especially in the frontal regions of the brain that are related to pleasure and reward.

While hypersexuality is under consideration for the forthcoming edition of the DSM, experts suggest in research articles that terms like sexual addiction and sexual compulsivity are not yet included because more science-based research is needed, in addition to a set of defined terms related to these disorders.

Further research on the ways patients with sexual addiction can demonstrate both addictive behaviors and obsessive/compulsive behaviors, as well as exhibit behaviors related to impulse control, is called for to help experts further define the complicated nature of sexual addiction and identify specific treatments that will help patients reach lasting recovery.

The public’s perception of substance abuse addicts is demeaning. Addicts are called names like "junkie", "stoner" or "drunk". Very seldom do you see someone with depression degraded with such a hated label.

Society’s acceptance of mental illnesses has come a long way and openly talking about PTSD or anxiety is now more commonplace. But those suffering from other mental illnesses, like prescription-drug addiction, are thrown to the side and accused of deciding their own fate. Mental health experts are now arguing that there is not difference.

The recent financial crisis is suggested to be at the root of the problem for addiction. However, the article doesn’t recognize that the misuse of prescription drugs can be directly linked to complete disregard of mental illness.

Troubles with depression and anxiety are easily explained to be triggered by adverse affects of a person’s environment, and addiction works in much of the same way. Many individuals began self-medicating which is how they are introduced to prescription painkillers. They use these pills in stressful situations, called maladaptive coping mechanism. This is where the person can become hooked and so goes the story of the drug addict.

The problem is so persistent in Ohio that a story in the New York Times recently pointed out how bad the prescription drug epidemic has hit suburbia. The writings of Sabrina Tavernise illustrate the staggering number of young people who have lost their lives to addiction.

Scioto County sees nearly one in ten babies born testing positive for drugs. Overdoses in the entire state have surpassed car accident death totals. Across the country, addiction of prescription drugs is taking more lives than crack cocaine did in the 1980s and heroin in the 1970s combined.

The solution, as explained in recent articles, is a digital detox in which a person deliberately sets aside their cell phone and social media accounts for a set period of time. Many people begin the experience with one week, such as celebrity musician John Mayer, who praised the concept to his fans last year after finishing his own seven-day unplugged period.

Digital detox destinations are also increasing, with a focus on relaxation, physical activity and even storytelling as a way to connect with others in a non-technological setting. The results can have strong benefits both mentally and physically. Many employers are also recognizing the consequences of employees who are too plugged in and are becoming distracted and overly stressed on their jobs by constantly managing social media and smartphones.

In March, a two-day period is designated as National Day of Unplugging, reflecting what experts call a trend for people to seek a release from their technology and a reestablishment of more simple types of communication. The symptoms of high stress, periods of panic and similar disorders may be connected to the constant stimulation provided by technological devices, with some people remaining in "alert" mode for up to 12 hours a day. A planned digital detox can help break the adrenaline-based cycle.

Even children are seeing the consequences of too much technology, with some children viewing an estimated eight hours per day of media or entertainment in technological format. Experts recommend that parents set aside time each day to truly disconnect from their devices and focus on their children to help their levels of safety and security, which can have lifelong effects.

Cough medicine is being abused? That’s right. The medicine found in our bathrooms across America is a quick and easy source of getting high for teenagers. It’s cheap, readily available, and easily explained. "I’ve got a cough, Mom. Can we get some more of that cough medicine?"

What mother is going to question that request from her son or daughter? Nurturing naturally takes over and the mother instinctively wants to protect her offspring. She may even ask what kind or brand her teen wants. Talk about enabling. But the mother, being none the wiser, doesn’t look at it like that.

It’s time to get the truth out to parents about cough medicine and what harm it can do when teens abuse it.

What’s So Bad About Cough Medicine?

The biggest obstacle to curbing teen abuse of cough medicine is the prevailing, and mistaken, opinion that because it’s sold over the counter, it must be safe. Compared to illicit drugs like cocaine or heroin, cough medicine is a far lesser evil, to be sure. But that doesn’t mean it is safe. In fact, medications containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, are far from safe.

In recommended doses, DXM is considered safe. But teens looking to get high are using anything but recommended doses. DXM can cause rapid heartbeat, liver damage, involuntary muscle movements, seizures and even death. Surveys have shown that teen misuse nationwide is widespread, with as many as one in 10 teens reporting current or past abuse of cough medicine.

Overdosing, while rare, does occur in some instances, usually when used in combination with other illicit substances.

Why is cough medicine abuse so bad for teens, in particular? Teens do not have the same ability to assess risk and consequence as adults. The reason for that is that the part of the brain that processes risk, the frontal cortex, isn’t fully developed until the child is well into his or her mid-twenties.

Common street names for dextromethorphan that you may hear your teens use include Dex, DXM, robo, Orange Crush, Skittles, Triple-C and Red Devils.

There are over 100 medications that contain DXM. These include: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine, Coricidin-HBP Cough and Cold, Dimetapp DM, Mucinex-DM, PediCare cough medicines, Robitussin cough products, Sudafed cough products, Theraflu cough products (Novartis), Triaminic cough products, Tylenol Cough and Tylenol Cold products, Vicks 44 Cough Relief products, and certain Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil LiquiCaps. There are also a number of store brands that contain dextromethorphan as well.

Specific Cough Medicine Warnings

Looking at the websites for some of these popular OTC cough medicines, it’s easy enough for parents to become educated about the dangers of teen abuse.

Vicks

Vicks, the manufacturer of NyQuil, has a section on its website about the dangers of teenage drug abuse (http://www.vicks.com/products/safety-information/child-teen-safety/teenage-drug-abuse/). Along with a recommendation for parents to maintain a good child-parent relationship as a first step in preventing medicine abuse, Vicks also urges parents to:

• Monitor all OTC drugs in the house and keep track of exactly how much medicine is in each bottle.
• Avoid overstocking OTC medications in the house.
• Not allow their teens to keep OTC drugs in their bedroom, school locker, car or backpack.
• Monitor teens’ Internet usage to make sure the child isn’t visiting sites promoting OTC drug abuse. There are literally hundreds of web sites devoted to promoting the abuse of DXM, including instructions on how much to take for different types of highs.
• Act as a role model by responsible use of OTC drugs and all prescription medications.

Novartis

Novartis, the manufacturer of Theraflu cough products, lists these OTC cough medicines that contain dextromethorphan:

• Theraflu Daytime Severe Cold & Cough Hot Liquid
• Theraflu Cold & Cough Hot Liquid
• Theraflu Warming Relief Daytime Severe Cold & Cough
• Theraflu Daytime Warming Relief Multi-Symptom Cold Caplets
• Theraflu Nighttime Warming Relief Multi-Symptom Cold Caplets
• Theraflu Max-D Severe Cold & Flu