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.

That response seemed to frustrate addiction expert and TV host Dr. Drew Pinsky.

“That’s spin — nothing more than spin,” he said on his HLN show. “I have a stronger word for that, but not able to say it on television. I’m sick and tired of reps shooting things out that don’t make sense. Exhaustion isn’t a diagnosis that requires hospitalization.”

Downplaying addiction issues doesn’t help anyone, but why was Dr. Drew so bothered? Do public figures owe us the details of their addiction issues? Is their treatment negatively affected by downplaying the problems in the press? We know honesty is important to the healing process, but are getting clean and coming clean related?

It’s a topic that’s certainly open to discussion and debate. For now, Dr. Drew is trying to stay focused, saying, “Treatment works, and I hope she engages in that treatment.”

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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.

The study, led by Dr. Sagnik Bhattacharyya, a psychopharmacologist at King’s College in London, included 15 healthy men with minimal previous marijuana use. The researchers used functional MRI scans to observe the men’s brains after they took pills containing THC, cannabidiol or a placebo. The resulting images showed changes in the areas of the brain that are believed to be linked to symptoms of psychosis. Men taking THC had increased activity in the prefrontal cortex but lower activity in the region called the striatum, changes that the study says could be attributed to THC’s ability to alter the brain’s levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

While those in charge of the study don’t go to far as to say that prolonged marijuana use will make you psychotic, the findings are interesting and provide just one more argument for abstaining from pot use.

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While the health effects of hookahs, or water pipes, haven’t been studied as rigorously as cigarettes, the risks are becoming clearer as the pipes grow in popularity in the US. A major concern is that they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, according to health officials.

Drawing the attention of young users, hookahs are viewed as a less dangerous way of using tobacco. Hookah bars, where many go to indulge, feature water pipes that are used to smoke a blend of tobacco, molasses and fruit called shisha. But researchers are finding that the water in the pipe does not filter all the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. In fact, the smoke inhaled in a typical one-hour hookah session can equal 100 cigarettes or more, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Even after it has been passed through water, the tobacco smoke in a hookah pipe contains high levels of cancer-causing chemicals.

Poison Centers are reporting seeing hookah users with significant carbon monoxide poisoning, and regular hookah users may develop long-term health problems from increased carbon monoxide levels, including neurological damage. In severe cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to a coma or death.

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The days of the Florida pill mills may soon be coming to an end. In the past, thousands flocked to the state’s more than 1,000 pain clinics to obtain prescription drugs – often illegally – resulting in 89 percent of all the oxycodone sold to practictioners in the US in 2010 being bought by Florida doctors.

Officials are now using tougher laws to change that. In the past year, more than 400 clinics were either shut down or closed their doors, and prosecutors indicted dozens of pill mill operators, suspending the licenses of nearly 80 doctors for prescribing mass quantities of pills without clear medical need.

New laws are also cutting off distribution. As of July, Florida doctors are barred, with a few exceptions, from dispensing narcotics and addictive medicines in their offices or clinics. As a result, doctors’ purchases of oxycodone, which reached 32.2 million doses in the first six months of 2010, fell by 97 percent in the in the first half of 2011.

As doctors face tough new restrictions, law enforcement agencies are turning their attention to pharmacies. The number of applications to open new pharmacies in Florida has nearly doubled in the past two years, accounting for up to half of all the requests in the entire country, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Violators, whether they are pharmacists, doctors or clinic owners, face stiffer, swifter penalties if they prescribe or distribute legal narcotic drugs to people who do not need them or without following required steps. In one case, a Florida doctor who worked at one of the pain clinics was even charged with murder when a patient died of an overdose in 2009 a few hours after the doctor prescribed him 210 pain pills. And this wasn’t an isolated case. Prosecutors say the clinics in question were responsible for 56 overdose deaths.

Charging a doctor and a clinic owner with homicide “was a game changer,” said Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw of Palm Beach County. “You are not going to get a slap on the wrist. You are looking at life in prison.”

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As we read continuous stories of troubled celebrity offspring, it can be tempting to write off these troubled individuals as beyond help. Redmond O’Neal’s troubles seem endless and the son of Michael Douglas, Cameron Douglas, faces new drug charges – even though he’s already behind bars.

The younger Douglas is serving a five- year federal prison sentence for drug dealing and has now pleaded guilty to possessing drugs in his jail cell. These latest charges could mean a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, plus a $250,000 fine.

The 32-year-old is charged with possessing items that tested positive for cocaine and heroin, which were found in his cell by an investigator. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Anderson told the court one of the substances tested positive for methadone, which he described as “something that people take when they’re coming off a heroin addiction in order to facilitate the withdrawal,” according to a court transcript.

According to the charges, Douglas obtained the narcotics at not one but two different facilities — the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan and a minimum-security jail in Lewisburg, Penn.

While in court to face these most recent charges, Douglas admitted struggling with addictions to heroin, cocaine and alcohol, telling the judge “God knows I am sorry.” He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 21.

In response to this most recent arrest, Michael Douglas issued a statement that said “Cameron accepts full responsibility for his conduct, which involved a small user-quantity of drugs. While he has made much progress, he is still not cured. Most people and their families are able to address this illness privately and outside of the spotlight. Unfortunately this has not been possible here, for reasons completely outside of his control. He thanks those that have rooted for his recovery and looks forward to the day when he will not disappoint.”

While it may be tempting to write off those who have received treatment, wakeup calls and even jail time and still continue to use, it just shows how insidious the disease of addiction really is. For many, negative consequences or positive reinforcement aren’t enough to beat it. Others undergo several rounds of treatment before arriving successfully in recovery. There’s no quick formula for success when it comes to overcoming drug addiction. For most, it’s a long road filled with stumbles and obstacles. All those of us on the outside can do is continue to educate ourselves and provide support while leaving treatment to the pros.

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Apparently, intelligence doesn’t carry over to the ability to “just say no.” A new British study finds children with high IQs are actually more likely to use drugs as adults than people who score low on IQ tests as children. The data can be traced back to the 1970 British Cohort Study, which has been following thousands of people for four decades.

In the noted study, the kids’ IQs were tested at the ages of 5, 10 and 16. The study also asked about drug use and looked at education and other socioeconomic factors. Then when participants turned 30, they were asked whether they had used drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin in the past year.

What researchers found was that men with high childhood IQs were up to two times more likely to use illegal drugs than their lower-scoring counterparts. Even more frightening is the stat that girls with high IQs were up to three times more likely to use drugs as adults.
So what constitutes a high IQ? A high IQ is defined as a score between 107 and 158, while an average IQ is 100. The study appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The lead researcher says he isn’t surprised by the findings. “Previous research found for the most part people with high IQs lead a healthy life, but that they are more likely to drink to excess as adults,” says James White, a psychologist at Cardiff University in the UK.

While information is great, it’s not clear what it means yet. Experts are still trying to determine just why people with high childhood IQs are more likely to use illegal drugs. “We suspect they may be more open to new experiences and are more sensation seeking,” says White. In the paper, White and his co-author also mention other studies that find high IQ kids may use drugs because they are bored or to cope with being different.

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What is it about Miley Cyrus and birthdays that make her say and do things that cause a stir? Last year, she was filmed smoking salvia to celebrate turning 18. Now, the former Hannah Montana star has caused a new drug-related controversy at her 19th birthday party last week.

Miley marked the milestone with a bash hosted by Kelly Osbourne at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel where she was presented with a cake baked to look like reggae artist and famed marijuana aficionado Bob Marley. While the confection was likely a joke, Cyrus’ comments were anything but funny. She responded to the treat by saying, “This is amazing,” adding, “You know you’re a stoner when your friends make you a ‘Bob Miley’ cake. You know you smoke way too much f***ing weed.”

Adding to the problem. Osbourne then took the mic chime in with, “I thought salvia was your problem, Miley.”

While not aware that she was being filmed or that the comments made at a private party would get out, the girls were forced to do damage control after the fact. Osbourne took to Twitter to insist the whole thing was a joke, explaining that Cyrus’ friends started calling her “Bob Miley” after the salvia incident. Osbourne also lashed out at the individuals who sold the video footage in the first place.

Meanwhile, a rep for Cyrus responded by saying, “This is so ridiculous. The cake was a joke, and Miley was being sarcastic.”

Even if it was a joke, Osbourne, who is eight years Cyrus’ senior and has done several stints in rehab, should have known better. And Miley should have learned from the backlash last year. While she may be 19, she still has young fans who look up to her and aren’t able to discern a star’s sarcasm when it comes to drug use.

Unfortunately, Cyrus seems to have developed an even more blasé attitude toward drugs in the past year. Following the incident where she was recorded smoking salvia out of a bong at a party (FYI: salvia is a legal herb with hallucinogenic effects, the teen said, “It was a bad decision because of my fans and because of what I stand for.” Now, just a year later, she’s (purportedly) joking about being a stoner and not apologizing once her controversial comments went public. We’re not saying Cyrus has an issue with drugs, but after seeing the toll they have taken in Hollywood and beyond, she should be able to comprehend that addiction is no laughing matter — ever.

Drug Addiction

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To many teens, pot seems harmless. Smoking a little marijuana is almost a right of passage. But drugs are dangerous in any form, as the recent death of a 13-year-old reminds us.

The young teen became ill after smoking synthetic marijuana and would later require a double lung transplant. Unfortunately, those heroic efforts weren’t enough to save him. The boy, Brandon Rice, died in October 2011 at a Pennsylvania hospital, according to his mother, Tonya Rice.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the trouble began last summer when the boy smoked the fake marijuana out of a plastic candy dispenser, suffering chemical burns to both lungs. He was put on a respirator in June and had a double lung transplant in September. Anti-rejection drugs he’s taken since the transplants weakened Brandon’s immune system and made him unable to fight off a recent infection, his mother says.

A ban outlawing such substances took effect in August, signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett just a few days after the tragic incident was first reported. It was too late to save Brandon, but hopefully it will keep other kids from meeting the same tragic fate.

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Usually parents are concerned about finding ways to keep their children from drinking when they are underage, but a Connecticut mom recently pleaded guilty to charges the she forced her 4-year-old son to drink beer and gave her 10-month-old daughter beer and cocaine.

The mother, Juliette Dunn, 29, pleaded guilty to the risk of injury to a child, acknowledging that she doesn’t agree to the facts but agrees the state has enough evidence to win a conviction, according to The Connecticut Post. A companion of Dunn’s pleaded guilty to the same charges.

The crime was discovered when police officers were waved down by a neighbor who complained that a woman was feeding children beer at a playground. Authorities took the children to the hospital where the son tested positive for alcohol and the daughter for alcohol and cocaine, local station WVIT reported.

According to the warrant, Dunn admitted to giving her son a bottle of beer every day, and when questioned by a social worker, the preschooler was able to list off brands he liked and ones he didn’t.

The children were turned over to the Department of Children and Families and their mother could face up to two years in prison when she is sentenced in December. It isn’t clear what the mother’s reasoning was or if she struggled with an alcohol addiction or a cocaine addiction.

Alcohol Addiction

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What is behind the death of former Predator Wade Belak, an enforcer who retired in March, ending a career that included five different NHL teams? Just 35 years old, he was found dead this week in Toronto.

Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said officers found a man dead when they were called to a hotel and condo complex in the early afternoon. No foul play is suspected and an investigation is ongoing.

While any unexplained death of an athlete still in their prime is disturbing, the fact that Belak is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May is especially alarming.

Winnipeg’s Rick Rypien, only 27, was found dead in August 2011 at his home in Alberta. A police official termed it a “sudden and non-suspicious’’ death, but ESPN reports that the implication was that Rypien’s mental health issues were directly linked to his untimely death. Teammates and coaches were surprised, as it seemed Rypien had turned a corner in recent months after twice leaving the Canucks during the season for personal reasons. Meanwhile, former Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard, 28, died in May from what was ruled an accidental mix of alcohol and the prescription painkiller oxycodone.

After the first two deaths, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he expected the NHL to review its substance abuse and behavioral health program.

“It’s not only about the deaths, it’s the deaths that surround similar type players,’’ former Flames general manager Craig Button told The Canadian Press. “It’s not just getting hit in the head, it’s everything that goes with that role. I think that people are paying very, very serious attention to concussions.’’

Pro athletes need to be particularly vigilant when it comes to injuries and the use of prescription drugs and alcohol to dull chronic pain. An injury on the field, court or rink can easily turn into a substance abuse problem. Would OxyContin treatment have helped Boogaard? Would treatment for co-occurring disorders have saved Rypien? We’ll never know.

While retired from the game, Belak was set to return to the rink as a sideline reporter on Nashville television broadcasts this season.

OxyContin Addiction Treatment

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