In 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…
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In 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…
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Statistics 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…
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It 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…
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Most 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…
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After 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…
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While 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…
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The assumption that depressed people are also overweight may have a ring of truth to it. A new Science Daily report examines research that indicates people who are obese may also be more likely to become depressed and vice versa. Sarah M. Markowitz, M.S. led researchers in examining this link between depression and obesity and…
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The state of the global economy seems to be on everyone’s mind and for some, it is taking a health toll. According to a UPI report, the majority of U.S. women polled in a recent survey report that the sagging economy is having a negative impact on their mental health.
Even with the increasing amount of knowledge that is available as to the risks associated with alcohol abuse and the growing number of treatment centers, the number of women falling victim to alcohol abuse continues to increase. According to a story in the Evening Standard, London’s only treatment center for female alcohol and drug addicts…
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