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Demi Moore Goes to Treatment

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Demi Moore Goes to TreatmentAre you buying the “exhaustion” diagnosis her reps are pedaling, and does it matter? Do celebrities owe you an honest explanation when their problems are made public?

Demi Moore had to be hospitalized recently after a concerned friend called 911, telling the operator that the 49-year-old actress was having convulsions and “burning up” at her Los Angeles home. The health issues were attributed to Moore smoking an unknown substance that could have been similar to bath salts, according to the recently released recording of the 911 call.

A rescue crew arrived 10 minutes after the call went out and Moore was rushed to a local hospital. She is now seeking “professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health,” according to her rep, Carrie Gordon. (more…)


Internet Addiction Mimics Cocaine Use

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Internet Addiction Mimics Cocaine UseA new study finds that a non-chemical addiction like obsessive Internet use can cause changes to the brain that are similar to those produced by illicit drugs.

The public’s understanding of addiction seems to be growing, with a more general acceptance of the scientific reality that it is a disease, not a personal weakness. At the same time, non-chemical addictions are still more of a mystery. While some are skeptical, studies have shown that gambling, sex, food, even video games or the Internet can produce addictive behaviors. One recent study even found that Internet addiction can change the brain in a way that is similar to the effects of cocaine. (more…)


The Alcoholic Brain

Monday, January 30th, 2012

The Alcoholic BrainEver wonder why some people can’t seem to stop drinking? A new study suggests it has more to do with a chemical reaction in the brain and less to do with willpower.

Look around at a bar full of people. How come some can have one or two drinks – or even choose a nonalcoholic option – while others can’t stop drinking until they’re well past the point of intoxication? It’s not because they’re unaware of the health risks, the dangers of driving drunk or the other negative consequences alcohol abuse can cause. Instead, the reason may be because their brains react to alcohol differently. (more…)


Does Pot Use Produce Psychosis?

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Does Pot Use Produce Psychosis?If you think marijuana is harmless, think again. A new study shows it can have powerful mental health side effects.

In the movies and among many teens and college students, the perception is that pot is relatively harmless. It mellows you out and the worst side effect is a bad case of the munchies, right? Not according to a new study. An article published in the latest issue of the professional journal Archives of General Psychiatry shows a much scarier potential effect of marijuana. It turns out that a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), found in pot, increases the brain processes that can lead to symptoms of psychosis.

So what does that mean for the average person? Can smoking pot lead to psychosis? Are there are other possible health concerns uncovered by this new study?

Previous research has found that THC can induce symptoms of psychosis in healthy people and worsen psychotic symptoms in people already experiencing them. Long-term cannabis use is also associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, the study suggests.

The study is groundbreaking in another way: Its findings are the first to use images of the brain to demonstrate that the reason symptoms of psychosis arise in marijuana users may be because THC interferes with the brain’s ability to distinguish between stimuli that are important, and those that aren’t, according to the study. (more…)


Heather Locklear’s Latest Troubles with Substance Abuse

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Heather Locklear’s Latest Troubles with Substance AbuseThe former Melrose Place star landed in the hospital after reportedly mixing alcohol and prescription painkillers. Is rehab in her future?

Actress Heather Locklear has been in the news lately, but it’s not welcome publicity. The former Melrose Place star landed in a Los Angeles-area hospital after her sister called 911 on January 12. The brief hospitalization was attributed to mixing prescription drugs and alcohol, according to People magazine.

Her parents quickly issued a statement through the hospital that Locklear was in no immediate danger and was healthy, while other sources suggested she was being urged by loved ones to seek treatment. Locklear, 50, has had issues with alcohol in the past, undergoing treatment in 2008 for what her reps classified as “anxiety and depression.” Just months later, she was arrested for DUI in Southern California. Now, many worry that she’s relapsed. People.com recently ran a story that cited sources who claimed the troubled actress was “out of control” in the weeks leading up to the incident. (more…)


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