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.

Drug Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love is in need of help drug addiction or treatment for other substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

For much of the last century, those battling addiction also had to battle misconceptions about their disease. Many attributed their chronic substance use to a lack of willpower or a moral flaw. Thanks to science, today our views and our responses to drug abuse have changed dramatically. Groundbreaking discoveries about the brain have further revolutionized our understanding of drug addiction, enabling treatment experts to respond more effectively to the problem.

Research on Addiction as a Disease

Scientific research has proven emphatically that addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior, says Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Through science, we have identified many of the biological and environmental factors and are beginning to search for the genetic variations that contribute to the development and progression of the disease. Scientists will then use this knowledge to develop more effective prevention and treatment approaches that can reduce the toll drug abuse takes on all it touches.

Ongoing education is key, though. Despite these advances, many people today still do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how these substances change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse. NIDA believes that increased understanding of the basics of addiction will empower people to make informed choices in their own lives, adopt science-based policies and programs that reduce drug abuse and addiction in their communities, and support scientific research that improves the nation’s well-being.

Drug Rehab

If you or someone you love is battling an addiction paired with a mental health issue, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about drug rehab, financing or insurance.

Marijuana isn’t just hazardous to your health just because it causes distorted perception, memory issues, loss of coordination, increased heart rate and affects brain function. Regularly lighting up can also lead to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

It turns out that both cigarette and pot smoking can increase a person’s risk COPD almost threefold, but smoking pot alone doesn’t seem to increase the risk of the deadly lung condition, researchers report.

What is COPD?

A progressive condition with no cure, COPD is characterized by diseased lungs and narrowed airways. So who’s at risk? Most cases are caused by prolonged smoking, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and yet most anti-smoking campaigns focus solely on cigarettes.

“Anti-smoking campaigns should include a reduction in marijuana use among their goals, aiming especially at those who smoke both marijuana and tobacco,” said study lead researcher Dr. Wan Tan, of the University of British Columbia and St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Tan’s findings were published in the April 14 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

How Smoking Brings on COPD

The researchers found that smokers who use both marijuana and tobacco are 2.5 times more likely than nonsmokers to have respiratory disease and almost three times likelier to have COPD. This led researchers to theorize that smoking marijuana in relatively low doses may act as a “primer” or sensitizer in the airways to amplify the adverse effects of tobacco smoke on respiratory health.

“Smoking marijuana — even in small amounts — is very harmful for your lungs, increasing the risk of COPD by several fold,” Tan said.

Marijuana Rehab

If you or someone you love is battling a marijuana addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

The connection between chemical or alcohol addictions and emotional issues is now recognized by experts. Depression, anxiety, ADHD and other disorders can contribute to addiction, with individuals turning to drugs or alcohol to numb the pain of emotional problems, especially those that remain undiagnosed.

Now, informal studies point to a possible loose connection between sleep apnea and addiction as well. The sleep disorder, which causes sufferers to stop breathing for brief periods during the night (often many times per night), leads to extreme fatigue which can bring on anxiety disorders and depression. Sleep apnea may also cause nighttime panic attacks in some people. Those emotional issues make it more likely that someone will abuse either drugs or alcohol, putting them at greater risk of addiction.

Cutting-edge Treatment

We knew getting a good night’s sleep was so important, but now it can help lower your risk of addiction. La Paloma is committed to staying on top of new approaches to prevention and treatment. If you or a family member is already struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call us at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

An ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure, but it’s a lesson the federal government isn’t applying to our country’s drug problem. While addiction and the consequences of substance abuse cost the U.S. government nearly $500 billion in 2005, a very small fraction of that money was spent on prevention and treatment, according to a recent report from Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

Figures show that a paltry 1.9 percent was spent on prevention and treatment, and less than 1 percent was spent on research and interdiction. Meanwhile, approximately 95 percent was spent cleaning up the aftereffects of addiction and substance abuse. That means that for every dollar spent on prevention and treatment, the federal and state governments spent more than $50 on public programs aimed at addressing the effects of addiction, the report says.

The medical community knows that addiction is preventable, treatable and manageable, with facilities like La Paloma Treatment Center seeing great success in treating a wide range of addictions. But instead of focusing on treatment and prevention, federal, state and local governments spent some $467.7 billion in 2005 on substance abuse-related costs ranging from healthcare, justice systems, family court, child welfare and homelessness.

The eye-opening report, which includes stats for 2005 (the most recent year for which data was available over the course of the study), is the result of three years of study.
Titled “Shoveling Up II: The Impact of Substance Abuse on Federal, State and Local Budgets,” you can read more here: http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=112&zoneid=49

Are some kids just born bad? Not necessarily, but researchers have found links that contribute to the development of disruptive children and rebellious teens.

“That prenatal exposure to smoking combined with a specific genetic variant places children at greatest risk for behavioral problems,” according to a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Quoting a NIDA press release on March 4, 2009: “These findings illuminate how the interaction between genes and the environment can mold behavioral patterns very early in development,” says NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow. “This research provides a foundation for studies of the impact of these interactions on brain development during pregnancy.”

For both boys and girls, the more their mothers smoked during pregnancy, the higher the risk of disruptive behavior.

While the dangers of smoking during pregnancy have been made known for decades, pregnant women continue to smoke. “According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2006-2007 slightly more than 16 percent of pregnant women aged 15-44 (426,000) were current cigarette smokers,” NIDA says.

We’ve all heard the warnings about gum disease: It can be a precursor to heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. So you brush and floss, but what else can you do to keep your mouth healthy? Cut down on your alcohol consumption.

For the first time, researchers have proven a connection between heavy alcohol consumption and an increase in the risk of developing gum disease. Oral biologists at the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine found the link. (The also found that a diet low in antioxidant vitamins puts you at risk, too.)

As alcohol consumption increased from five drinks per week to 10, 15 and 20, the risk of periodontal disease rose from 10 percent to 20, 30 and then 40 percent, giving researchers confidence that there was a clear link.

The studies were presented at the combined meeting of the American Association for Dental Research and International Association for Dental Research.

What should I expect when I call the 800 number?

When you call, you will speak with a counselor who will guide you through a brief and confidential telephone assessment. Once the assessment is completed, they will determine the most appropriate level of care.

Will my call to the 800 number be recorded?

No. Your phone call is confidential and not recorded.

Who am I talking to when I call?

Someone who’s “been there.” You will be talking to someone who has a vested interest in your recovery because they themselves have had their lives affected in one way or another by alcohol and drug abuse.

Why shouldn’t I choose a treatment center that is closer to home?

This is a common question from loved ones and the patients themselves, but we see being separated from your existing environment as an added benefit to your recovery. Starting fresh in a new environment helps patients rebuild themselves without distractions from the usual triggers.

Will my employer find out if I inquire about treatment?

No, your employer will not be informed of your inquiry. During the admissions process we may need to access employer information for insurance reasons. However, under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act), your information is always confidential.

Will someone help me with the application and admissions process?

Yes, our staff is here to assist in a quick and easy application process so that you receive treatment as soon as possible. Again, your application process is strictly confidential.

Do you take insurance?

We do take insurance at some of our facilities, but we do not accept public insurance such as Medicaid, Medicare or state insurance. During the application process we will assist you with researching what your insurance can provide.

What is an Individual Recovery Plan?

Recovery means returning to a healthy state. Because treatment is not one size fits all, the process of recovery varies from person to person. Generally, people move through different stages of readiness to recover. These stages reflect changes in the person’s understanding and acceptance that a problem exists and a plan is needed to address it. Often, people are affected by more than one issue, such as an addiction and an emotional complication (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.). A recovery program should be individualized, based upon these needs and symptoms, and might involve any combination of a self-help group, treatment services, medications, sponsorship or more.

Do I need to be abstinent before I begin treatment?

The term addiction implies that getting “sober” is, in itself, a challenge that generally feels impossible to tackle alone. Hence, a program that requires sobriety as a condition of treatment can be unrealistic and likely to fail. If a particular treatment setting requires sobriety, the provider should offer or help you or your loved one access a range of services, including a setting to help gain sobriety, followed by treatment to help stay sober.

What if my doctor wants me to take medications?

There are many classes of mental health medications that can be taken safely regardless of whether substance use continues. There are also many medications that help reduce cravings and symptoms of withdrawal if you or your loved one wants to stop using substances. It is very important that you communicate openly with your psychiatrist about any substances you are using so that a safe and appropriate regimen can be prescribed.

AboutRecovery.com – This site offers clear-cut descriptions of addiction as well as specific research for those dealing with alcohol or drugs abuse, eating disorders, as well as gambling or sex addictions. Get information on treatment options as well as help finding a treatment center that fits your specific needs.

DualDiagnosis.org – More than half of those battling an addiction also have a mental disorder that is contributing to their addiction. This Web site presents the facts about Dual Diagnosis and explains why this method of treatment is so successful. Research articles and assistance in finding a treatment center round out this professional site.

Drinkerscheckup.com – This site was developed under a federal grant from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to help people develop a better understanding of their drinking through an online assessment. Personalized feedback can help you determine whether to change your drinking behavior and how to go about making that change.

Lapage.com/arr/phelps.htm -The Phelps-Nourse Addictiveness Test won’t tell you definitively that you’re an addict, but the confidential online questionnaire developed by two MDs will help you determine your risk factors for addictiveness. Based on their theory of the biochemical basis of addiction, the test includes five parts (diet, family history, depression, alcohol use and drug use), but it can be completed in just a few minutes.

Before you make a final decision, ask any treatment center you’re considering the following questions:

What are the staff credentials?

You want to know you’re getting professionals with the training and experience to help you through treatment and get you on the road to recovery.

What is the staff-to-client ratio?

More staff per client means more personalized care.

Do they use an integrated treatment model?

Dual diagnosis is much more than a buzzword. It’s one thing to stop the behavior, but your success rate greatly increases if you not only deal with your addiction but also any mental or emotional conditions that led you to use in the first place.

What is their stance on length of stay?

It is tempting to choose the shortest program available, but 45- and 60-day stays are becoming more popular as research proves that longer treatment times lead to better success rates. Rehab can’t be rushed. You don’t do yourself or anyone else any good if you wind up back in treatment because you left too soon.

What type of continuing care do they offer?

While your focus now may be on the actual treatment process, it’s important to also look at what happens when you leave treatment. Is there continuing outpatient care or sober living options that you can take advantage of? Most people do better when they ease back in to “normal” life in stages rather than jump in fresh out of treatment.

To what extent will family be included in the process?

Your loved ones have been affected as well and will need help and guidance. An intensive family program can be very helpful at getting to the root of any issues.

Taking the time to ask these questions and do a little bit of homework will ensure the best outcome possible and isn’t that what everyone wants?