New Approaches for Cocaine Addiction Drug 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 Trigger News 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
Cyber Millennials Found to be Heaviest Binge Drinkers Adolescent 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
Painkiller Patch Can Lead to Dangerous Addiction Featured, 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
Terrorist Attacks Lead to Increased Use of Alcohol AlcoholismBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 16, 2009In the aftermath of terrorist attacks such as September 11, 2001, the Oklahoma City Bombings of 1995, and the Intifada uprisings in Israel, more people are turning to alcohol use and abuse. According to researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the University of Michigan, approximately one in 12 people exposed to… Details
Cocaine Use Among U.S. Workers Down, Amphetamines Up AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 15, 2009Statistics from Quest Diagnostics, the world’s largest provider of diagnostic tests, show that fewer U.S. workers used cocaine or methamphetamines in 2008 than in 2007, but that more took amphetamines. Based on 5.7 million urine tests analyzed by Quest, the findings said cocaine use fell to 0.47% from 0.58%, but that amphetamine use rose from… Details
Long-Term Use of NSAIDs Is Dangerous for Elderly People, Experts Say News and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 14, 2009Most people don’t think about the consequences of taking too much ibuprofen or aspirin over time. But experts say that people over 75 should think twice before using NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to treat their pain, especially if the pain and pill-taking are chronic. In late April, a panel of the American Geriatrics Society removed… Details
All in Our Heads: How the Brain Creates Addiction AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 14, 2009It wasn’t very long ago that most people considered addiction to be a moral failing rather than a treatable disease-it was largely thought that people who succumbed to drugs and alcohol were simply making poor decisions. Even when the American Medical Association announced in 1950 that alcoholism is a disease, people continued to hold onto… Details
Smoking Hinders the Brain’s Recovery from Alcohol Abuse AlcoholismBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 12, 2009After quitting drinking, many recovering alcoholics turn to smoking cigarettes to help manage their negative moods and keep their minds off of wanting to drink. Researchers agree that the rate of smoking among recovering alcoholics is more than triple the general population’s rate. But besides the obvious health risks of smoking such as lung cancer… Details
Illegal Adderall Use Increasing as “Study Drug” Substance AbuseBy Promises Behavioral HealthMay 10, 2009While Adderall is routinely used to treat those suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), more and more people are finding that it also works to help boost endurance during tough days. A prescription amphetamine, most people who are using Adderall for its ability to stimulate are doing so without a prescription. According to a… Details
