When the economics within the family change for the worse, it stands to reason that anxiety, depression and stress would increase. According to the Tennessean, residents in Tennessee are turning to the mental health system in droves to cope with the emotional toll. Dr. Thomas Lavie, medical director of the Vanderbilt Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic told…
There are several popular misconceptions circulating in society today as to what exactly addiction is, and whether or not addiction should be treated as a disease by health professionals. To many scientists, addiction has long been associated as a by-product of altered mental states where the brain cannot distinguish between healthy and unhealthy behavior. For…
For years, methamphetamine has been considered the drug of choice for the lower class. It is cheap to make, easy to acquire and delivers the same euphoric high as more expensive “upper class” drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine. Now that perception is changing as the drug itself has found a comfortable market among the…
Proper treatments for drug addictions face an ongoing battle in fighting against a patient’s lack of willpower, lack of motivation and even self-destructive tendencies. Now, research just announced by Chemical & Engineering News indicates that a peptide produced in the brain might provide the answer. A natural appetite stimulant, the peptide is a melanin-concentrating hormone…
The University of Buffalo has completed new research, suggesting that nanotechnology treatment for drug addiction may offer the answer to long-term recovery. Scientists involved in the research have developed a stable nanoparticle that delivers short RNA molecules in the brain to disable the gene that has proven to play a critical role in a variety…
Alcohol is a problem for nearly six million women in the U.S. who abuse or are dependent upon the substance. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University announced these statistics this month as part of Alcohol Awareness Month.
While prescription drugs can play a vital role in the healthcare of individuals throughout the world, they can also be life threatening when used improperly or as a habit. For drug counselors, police officers, treatment providers and other professionals throughout the nation, prescription drug abuse is not only a health problem, it is a legal…
Economic woes threaten to derail our nation’s financial stability, but that’s not the only potential negative impact. As Americans face more and more economic uncertainty, and the stress that goes along with it, the greater the temptation to succumb to overuse and abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. For individuals who are already borderline for…
Is it really as easy to detect depression and other mental conditions as it is to detect a heart problem? It may be as a diagnostic technique invented by a Monash University researcher could make diagnosis and treatment a much more simple and rapid task.
Long-term alcohol use can wreak havoc on a person’s system, eliminating the ability to function properly in certain areas. Now, new research suggests that while long-term sobriety can help to improve balance problems in alcoholics, some may not be able to regain full stability while standing. A post in Business Week captures certain elements of…