Number of Painkiller-Addicted Newborns SoarsAddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 21, 2013The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville is busy this year. Every day, there are more than a dozen babies born who are hooked on painkillers and other drugs. It’s an alarming trend that has health officials worried. They’re calling it an “epidemic” that could become commonplace across…
Kids With Stomach Aches May Face Anxiety, Depression as AdultsAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 20, 2013Stomach pain is not uncommon in childhood. Sometimes it is a result of an infection like the stomach flu. It may be from an allergy, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, or other conditions. Sometimes, though, abdominal pain never has an explanation or an obvious cause. New research suggests that this type of unexplained tummy ache in…
Can Religion Be an Addiction?Behavioral AddictionsBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 19, 2013We throw the word addiction around too casually sometimes. When a woman claims she is addicted to shoes, or an athlete says running is addictive, are these statements true? The idea of behavioral, or process, addictions is gaining ground in the addiction community. And, yes, it is possible for one’s obsession with buying shoes or…
From Masturbation to Molestation: ‘Severity Levels’ in Sex AddictionSex AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 19, 2013Two conference room tables have been pushed together to form a more intimate setting for a group to gather. In the room, there is a man who has a history of arrest and termination for public exposure and possessing child pornography. To his right is a woman who is recovering from drugs and alcohol, and…
‘I’m Not an Addict,’ Says Toronto Mayor Rob FordAddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 19, 2013To the citizens of Toronto, Mayor Rob Ford has these re-assuring words: “Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine. But … do I? Am I an addict? No.” The allegations had been floating around for months, but Ford admitted it early in November, claiming he smoked crack about a year ago in a “drunken stupor.” Ford…
Has Lady Gaga’s Marijuana Habit Damaged Her Brain?Drug AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 16, 2013“Lady Gaga says she’s addicted to pot, so be on the lookout in case she starts exhibiting any odd behavior.” — Stephen Colbert A performer who wears raw meat knows how to get attention, so it was no surprise that Lady Gaga would announce this week that she’ll be the first singer in space. What…
Complications in Diagnosing Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderMental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 14, 2013Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental condition well known for its ability to produce a combination of mental obsessions and compulsive behaviors. Sometimes, mental health professionals have a fairly easy time diagnosing the condition’s presence in their patients. However, certain factors can complicate an OCD diagnosis and create a much more complex picture for doctors.…
Physicians Warned About ‘Caregiver-Fabricated Illness’ in KidsNews and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 14, 2013The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a report warning healthcare professionals about the dangers of “caregiver-fabricated illness” in children, giving a new name to the condition and emphasizing the harm it can do to kids. As a result of the rarity of the condition, it is often overlooked, and the AAP is urging…
Rethinking Drinking: Is Your Drinking Pattern Risky? Take the TestAlcoholismBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 13, 2013What if alcohol education and addiction prevention weren’t so much about shaming the user or relying on fear and shock factors to force better behavior? What if the conversation could come from a place of understanding, encouragement, and a desire to help people not necessarily become teetotalers, but smarter, more mindful consumers of alcohol? “Rethinking…
Addiction Is Not a Matter of Choice, Right Step’s Dr. Jason Powers Says in Texas School AppearanceNews and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 12, 2013Many of us have heard the story of the starving lab rat that will choose cocaine over food and water, and, just last month, how Oreos light up a rodent brain’s “pleasure center” more than cocaine or morphine.
