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Archive for November, 2009

Older Addicts

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Elderly AddictsAs we push the boundaries of middle age, substance abuse is reaching older individuals who have special needs when it comes to overcoming addiction.

We’ve all heard the pronouncements: “60 is the new 50!” “50 is the new 40!” As a society, we are pushing the boundaries of middle age. Americans are marrying later, putting off parenthood longer and looking younger than ever.
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Alcohol and Football

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

football and beer adsFootball and beer may seem as American as baseball and apple pie, but they can be far more dangerous as a recent study proves.

Football and beer: It’s a marriage made in advertising heaven.

Football season is in full swing and along with hours spent in front of the TV watching the big game, there are hundreds of pricey ads vying for sports fans’ attention between plays. For years pro sports and ads for alcohol have been intertwined, but now there’s proof that there’s a direct link between alcohol sponsorship and hazardous drinking among fans.
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Diazepam (aka Valium)

Friday, November 20th, 2009

DiazepamValium has become a well-known name in the prescription market, but what does this popular drug do and where does it come from?

Valium has become one of the most popular prescription drugs around. It’s also one of the most abused. But what is it and where does it come from?

Valium is the brand name for diazepam, which is from the benzodiazepine family. Prazepam, lorazepam, quazepam, medazepam and clonazepam are also part of that same family, all producing different effects and with longer or shorter acting results making them better suited for different uses from treating insomnia to anxiety.
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The Medical Marijuana Debate Continues

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

medical marijuanaFormer U.S. drug czar General Barry McCaffrey speaks out about the controversy behind legal pot for medical purposes.

“I believe that with drug abuse in America, you look back over time, and drugs never go away, but it gets out of control. It creates a huge societal wave of criminal, social, medical, legal [and] family-related mayhem. Society organizes itself in desperation, but the drugs and alcohol are always there,” General Barry McCaffrey (Ret.), former Drug Czar under President Bill Clinton, told Behavioral Health Central (www.behavioralhealthcentral.com) in a recent interview. (more…)

Daylight Savings Time & Depression

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Seasonal DepressionAs the days grow shorter, it’s more important than ever to get outside, especially for those in recovery for drug or alcohol addiction.

As the days grow shorter and it’s dark before you even begin your evening commute, there’s a tendency to want to huddle inside where it’s warm and hibernate. The gray days of late fall and winter lead to a seasonal depression for many people. That’s why it’s so important to take advantage of the natural light the season does offer. (more…)

Afghanistan’s Drug Problem

Friday, November 13th, 2009

afghanistanIran and the U.N. are sounding the alarm on the growing production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan.

It’s nothing new for Afghanistan to be in the news, but usually it has to do with U.S. military in that country or the ongoing war on terror. This week, Iran changed the subject and spoke out about the nation and its growing production of illicit drugs.

A senior Iranian judiciary official has warned the West about the devastating outcomes of the ongoing growth in the production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. (more…)

Stephen’s Blog:The New College High

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

adderallAt La Paloma, we know that keg parties aren’t the only thing parents of college students need to worry about. Students are turning to prescription meds to get high.

In the course of my job as an addiction specialist, I see firsthand new trends in substance abuse and addiction. One drug that I’m seeing on the rise is Adderall. This prescription medication, which is usually prescribed for ADD, is huge among the college student population right now. But it’s not being used to keep Attention Deficit Disorder in check. Instead, college students are using it to help them stay up and study. (more…)

Family Link In Addiction

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Osbourne FamilyKelly Osbourne blames her famous rocker dad for her addiction. What role do genetics play in drug and alcohol abuse?

The Osbourne family’s drug problems have been well documented. Dad Ozzy battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol for years, but how did his struggles affect children Kelly and Jack?

The two were teens when they became famous in their own right due to the family’s MTV reality show (older sister Aimee opted out of appearing), making their troubles tabloid fodder as both kids struggled with addiction. (more…)

Addiction TV

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Addiction Reality TVWhy are reality shows about substance abuse or process addictions so popular? Is it voyeurism, education or a little of both?

Are TV viewers becoming addicted to shows about addiction? If you look at the growing range of programs on the schedule, you’d think so.

The latest additions include VH1’s Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew, set to premiere Nov. 1, 2009, and DJ AM’s last effort before his untimely death, Gone Too Far, to begin airing on MTV in October. (more…)

Charges In Anna Nicole’s Death

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Anna Nicole with Howard K. Stern Several years after Anna Nicole’s death, charges are still pending against those who gave her the medication that allegedly lead to her death.

More than two-and-a-half years after the death of model and reality TV star Anna Nicole Smith, the courts are still trying to determine if anyone will serve time for their roles in her death by accidental drug overdose.

Howard K. Stern, Smith’s lawyer and companion, and two doctors are charged with conspiracy to provide the drugs that led to Smith’s February 2007 death. In early October 2009, special agent Danny Santiago of the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement testified at a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles. Stern faces 11 felony counts while the doctors are charged with six each. Charges include an illegal conspiracy to prescribe, administer and dispense controlled substances to an addict. (more…)

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