New Approaches for Cocaine AddictionDrug AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 27, 2009Results from two recent studies may offer the promise of new approaches in fighting cocaine addiction. Blocking MCH in brain cells limits cocaine cravings In the first study, which was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, pharmacological researchers at the University of California-Irvine discovered a blocking hormone related to hunger that may… Details
Gluten May Act as Schizophrenia TriggerNews and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 26, 2009With the countless stories available warning people against what they should eat, most are focused on the physical health of the person. Weight concerns are typically at the forefront, while cancer prevention and other benefits are also routinely examined. Now, new studies out of Scotland find that there could be a connection between certain foods… Details
Gender Plays a Role in Perception of DepressionMood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 25, 2009There are many elements that can play into whether or not a person will suffer from mental-health problems such as depression. Genetics and environment have long been known to be major contributors. Now, scientists are looking at the role that gender plays in this illness, how it contributes to the way it is treated, and… Details
Scrupulosity: OCD MisunderstoodNews and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 23, 2009By Susan J. Campbell Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is nothing new, but a misunderstood form of OCD may very well be. Some of the millions of people suffering from OCD actually have scrupulosity, a form of OCD that exhibits an excessive concern with sin that goes well beyond the norm for the average individual’s religious… Details
Signs of a High-Functioning AlcoholicAlcoholism, FeaturedBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 22, 2009By Susan Campbell It is not always easy to spot an alcoholic. Not everyone who has a drinking problem is falling down on a park bench with a brown paper bag concealing the bottle in their hand. Nor is every alcoholic spending their evenings perched on a bar stool ordering round after round to satisfy… Details
Cyber Millennials Found to be Heaviest Binge DrinkersAdolescent Issues, FeaturedBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 22, 2009Is there a potential link between those who are tech savvy and those who are more likely to engage in binge drinking? According to a Canadian Press piece, affluent, highly educated and tech-savvy young adults are more likely to engage in the binge drinking activity. A study examined the habits of “Cyber Millennials”, well-educated, tech-savvy… Details
Use Science to Talk to Your Teens about DrinkingAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 22, 2009If you’re a parent, you should assume that your child will be tempted to drink on prom night and other celebrations that mark the end of the school year. In a 2005 survey of high school students, about 43 percent had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days, and 75 percent had tried alcohol at… Details
Abuse of Prescription Drugs Rising among TeensAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 20, 2009Prescription drugs continue to be attractive to teens as they are often more easily acquired. These drugs are being abused by teens as they often deliver the same euphoria as illegal drugs without the cost. Now, studies show that roughly one in five teens are intentionally abusing prescription drugs and about one in 10 report… Details
Steroids: What You Need to KnowDrug AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 18, 2009Steroid abuse has plagued professional sports for decades—in fact, members of a Soviet team of professional weightlifters were found to be using testosterone injections to enhance their performance in the World Weightlifting Championships of 1954. Anabolic steroids have been a problem among athletes ever since, and it seems that every year multiple players are suspended… Details
Painkiller Patch Can Lead to Dangerous AddictionFeatured, Substance AbuseBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 17, 2009In 2005, morphine patches were introduced in Norway in the hopes of reducing the use and abuse of painkillers. However, researchers have found that the patches are often used incorrectly, which can lead to addiction. Like a nicotine patch, the morphine patch releases small, steady doses of medication over a long period of time, which… Details
