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Archive for the ‘Drug Use’ Category

Harms of Marijuana and Cigarette Smoke Compared

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Harms of Marijuana and Cigarette Smoke ComparedA new study suggests marijuana smoke isn’t as dangerous as tobacco smoke, making experts worry young people will think lighting up is safe.

“Legalize marijuana” groups will likely see new research that suggests marijuana smoke does not damage lungs in the same way tobacco smoke does as a victory for their cause. The problem is, the new study doesn’t in any way prove that smoking pot regularly is safe, just that the smoke it generates may not damage lungs in the same way cigarette smoking does. Marijuana use does still impair response times and can be particularly dangerous to teens and college students whose brains haven’t finished growing. (more…)


The Addiction Gene

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

The Addiction Gene	A new study finds a connection between genetics and lack of self-control often present in those who’ve battled substance abuse.

It’s a question often asked by those battling addiction as well as family and friends: Why do some people seem to have no problem saying “no” to drugs, while others can’t stop once they start?

It turns out that many addicts inherit a brain that has trouble just saying no to drugs. We’ve long known that there is some sort of genetic component to addiction, but new studies continue to discover more specifics. The latest research from the publication Science shows that cocaine addicts have abnormalities in areas of the brain involved in self-control, and these abnormalities appear to predate any drug abuse. (more…)


Our Growing Prescription Drug Shortage

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Our Growing Prescription Drug ShortageThose with a legitimate need for drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall are having trouble finding them, due in part to growing abuse of the medications.

In an age when prescription meds are often seen as a quick fix and doctors seem more willing than ever to prescribe medication, it’s surprising to discover that some people with legitimate prescriptions are finding it hard to get their hands on the medicine they need to function.

Reported drug shortages nearly tripled in 2010 from 2005, according to The Huffington Post, and more than 80 percent of the products in short supply are generic, according to the IMS Institute, which provides information services for the healthcare industry. (more…)


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…)


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…)


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