An April 4 article by Sanne Specht of the Associated Press described one woman's long struggle to free her family -- and protect her children -- from the downward spiral of drug addiction:

Adrianna Poot didn't want to pass on her parents' painful legacy of drug use, child abuse and neglect. But she did.

"I used to stick my daughter in a highchair in the morning when she was 1 or 2 years old," said Poot, of Medford. "I'd give her something to eat, turn on a video and just leave her there. Then I'd go back to bed because I'd been up all night. Doing drugs. Doing whatever." ...

Sobriety lessons learned at OnTrack's Moms Program and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, parenting skills acquired at the Family Nurturing Center and Community Family Court, and insights gained in her Women Against Violence group are all helping Poot become the kind of mother she never had. The kind of mother every child deserves.

"I used to stuff my feelings, and then I'd leak them all over the place," she said. "I never figured out what was really bothering me. Now I'm learning how to manage my feelings."

Labels: mothers, parents, addiction

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A study from the University of Valencia found that exposure to drugs like ecstasy or cocaine during adolescence may make people more vulnerable to developing addictions.

The study found that exposure to these drugs during adolescence produces changes that last into adulthood, increasing "reinforcing effects" of the drug.

Dr. Jose Minarro and his colleagues gave drugs to mice over an eight-day period, and found they developed an increased vulnerability to them, more so than adult mice exposed to drugs.

"Adolescence is a critical stage in development, during which time drug consumption affects plastic cerebral processes in ways that cause changes that persist right through adulthood," Dr. Minarro wrote in his report, which appeared in the journal Addiction Biology.

Labels: addiction, adolescence

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Recovery from an addiction to methamphetamine is possible. Just ask Josh Palmer.

At thirteen, Palmer started drinking and getting high. Before long, he also making and selling methamphetamine. When he was 23-years-old, his mom died from cancer, and shortly after that, he lost his home. Thats when he realized something needed to change.

A Nov. 22 article by George Anderson of the Daily Dunklin Democrat provided the following information about Palmer's comeback from meth addiction:

Palmer said he began his path to sobriety by going through the Dunklin County Drug Court and by getting involved with a faith-based meeting at Malden in April of 2004. After becoming sober, Palmer said he got back with his wife and kids and began working in substance abuse counseling ...

He recently became known nationally after becoming involved with an anti-meth campaign through the Office of National Drug Control Policy. ... The campaign, which kicked off on Sept. 1, 2009, is scheduled to run through the end of Nov.

Palmer said he has heard that the commercials are getting people's attention and has had a "good response so far."

Palmer said he got into the campaign to try to "give hope" to those who feel hopeless.

Labels: awareness, addiction, recovery, meth, methamphetamine

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A major research study of drug addiction in India found that the majority became hooked on drugs after friends introduced drugs to them. An additional 35 percent said they became addicted after trying out drugs for fun and out of curiosity.

• Researchers from the National Drug Agency in India surveyed 26,840 drug addicts, most of whom were addicted to heroin or morphine.
  
• Most of the study subjects were between 18 and 40 years old.
• Ninety eight percent of the subjects had attended school.
  
• The vast majority were men.

Dr. Mahmood Nazar Mohamed said that the first taste of drugs could put youngsters in risk for addiction. He also said rehabilitation could take between one to two years depending on the level of addiction.

Labels: addiction, research, peer-pressure

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On Tuesday, August 25, East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma will host a discussion on alcohol and substance abuse. This discussion will feature Reggie Whitten, a father who lost a son to drug addiction.

His multimedia presentation will be open to the public at no charge and will be geared toward substance abuse counselors as well as educating students. ...

When Whitten's son, Brandon, died in a motorcycle accident in 2002, Whitten was devastated. He has said he was 'a walking dead man' who was just trying to find a reason to live. -- Source: Ada (OK) Evening News

Whitten's son, who had been addicted to prescription drugs, died at the age of 25. Out of that tragedy, the Whitten-Newman Foundation was formed and now works to educate young people on the dangers of abusing drugs and alcohol.

Whittens presentation at ECU will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center.

Labels: parents, addiction, death, fathers

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John Tegano knows firsthand, the dangers of abusing prescription drugs such as OxyContin. At just 24 years old, Tegano is a recovering addict and former dealer.

In an interview with Amy Fletcher of the Juneau (Alaska) Empire, Tegano said he hopes that sharing his story will help young people -- especially those who typically ignore warnings about the dangers of drug use abuse.

"Though Oxy use usually starts off as a way to have fun, need soon supplants choice, Tegano told Fletcher for her June 14 article. "I will tell you first-hand that this has ruined my life so far. ... I'm trying to get people to realize what can happen -- what you lose, what happens to you."

Tegano has just completed a two-year jail sentence, and claims to be free from drugs after a three-year struggle to overcome his addiction. Though he's about to head home to his family in Nevada, he told Fletcher that he had to tell his story first. When Tegano returns home, he said, he intends to try and help some of his friends who, he says, are still struggling with drug addictions.

Labels: addiction, drug_abuse, warnings

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A "semi-autobiographical verse novel" novel by the mother of a former teen meth addict, Crank has been portrayed as a harrowing account of the rapidity with which a teen can sink into drug addiction -- and the depths to which that addiction can drag both teens and their families.

A June 22 review by Allison Spooner of examiner.com provided an outline of the novel's plot as well as a bit about author Ellen Hopkins:

Kristina [the novel's main character] is a typical, well behaved teenager; she gets good grades, she stays out of trouble, she loves her family. This all changes when Kristina goes to visit her absent, deadbeat father in an attempt to re-connect to the man she calls the "Prince of Albuquerque."

Her illusion soon crumbles as she discovers the "Prince" is a drug addict and exactly the same deadbeat her mother assumed he was. Soon Kristina is thrust head first into an addiction to "the monster."

The author states at the beginning that these events are loosely based on her experience with her own daughter's addiction, and that nothing in the story is impossible. To those who don't have any experience with addiction, it's scary to learn how fast one substance can take control (meth doing so faster than most).

Teen meth addiction can be a particularly devastating form of drug abuse. Methamphetamine is highly addictive, and can inflict significant damage upon an individual's body and mind in a relatively brief period of time.

Labels: teen_drug_use, addiction, meth

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Sergio and Maria Aviles never expected to bury one of their children. But at age 17, their daughter Sarah died of a drug overdose. She was addicted to a concoction called "cheese," which is a deadly combination of heroin and Tylenol.

"A pretty girl with a heart-shaped face and a 'thug life' tattoo, she died after two years of addiction, two stints in drug treatment, and fights with parents who tried to save her..."

Sarah's trouble started when her parents divorced. She took it hard, and drugs became her coping mechanism. Her parents hope that by sharing their story, they'll spare other parents from experiencing the same heartache. Source: The Dallas Morning News

Labels: addiction, parental_involvement, overdose

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According to a new study released by the RAND Corporation, the economic cost of methamphetamine (meth) use in the United States in 2005 topped $23.4 billion. This cost includes the financial tolls of addiction, premature death, drug treatment, lost productivity, and the cost of removing children from their parents' homes due to meth use. The study also counted costs related to the dangerous process of producing meth, including fires, explosions, pay for emergency personnel, hazardous waste cleanup, and treatment of injuries. The RAND study is the first to undertake a full assessment of the national costs of methamphetamine use in this country. Researchers called the burden of meth on American society "substantial." (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Labels: addiction, treatment, meth

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Carbohydrates may be difficult to resist - but are they as addictive as cigarettes and alcohol? Researchers from Auckland Regional Public Health Service believe that this could be the case.

Dr. Simon Thornley concluded that the "sugar rush" some people get after eating sweets, breads, sugary sodas, syrups, and other simple carbohydrates stimulates the same area of the brain as nicotine and other drugs do. Binge carbohydrate eaters experience a loss of control, need to eat more carbs to get the same effect, and then experience withdrawal symptoms and depression when they try to quit eating them. This is similar to the pattern of other addictions.

Dr. Thornley believes that governments should restrict advertisements for highly refined foods, levy taxes on them, and put warning labels on their packages.

Dr. Thornley's controversial theory appeared in Medical Hypotheses.

Labels: addiction, brain_chemistry, food

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Voters in Switzerland approved a measure allowing addicts to obtain heroin every day from government clinics. However, they voted down the legalization of marijuana.

The United States and the United Nations criticized the 14-year-old Swiss program that gives away heroin at 23 centers across that country as one that encourages drug abuse. However, advocates of the program successfully argued that the measure has reduced crime, improved the lives of addicts, and stopped drug users from shooting up in public places.

Labels: addiction, heroin, addicts

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A study published last month by the French university CNRS/Université de Poitiers indicates that environmental factors play a large role in the successful treatment of addiction. Specifically, the study found that "positive and stimulating environmental conditions" improved the success rate for treating cocaine addiction and preventing relapse in laboratory rats. Researchers found that exposing the animals to an environment which encouraged physical and social activity, allowed exploration, and stimulated their curiosity during cocaine withdrawal minimized abnormal behavior related to addiction. (Source: ScienceDaily.com)

Labels: addiction, treatment, medications

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Voters in Switzerland approved a measure allowing addicts to obtain heroin every day from government clinics. However, they voted down the legalization of marijuana.

The United States and the United Nations criticized the 14-year-old Swiss program that gives away heroin at 23 centers across that country, claiming that the effort encourages drug abuse. However, advocates of the program successfully argued that the measure has reduced crime, improved the lives of addicts, and stopped drug users from injecting the drug in public places.

Labels: addiction, heroin

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An experimental treatment for teenagers who are addicted to opiates worked better than traditional ones, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Standard treatment involves use drugs such as buprenorphine and naloxone only during the short-term detoxification process. However, the new study indicates that using these drugs for a three-month period increases a teen addict's chances of staying drug-free.

Dr. George Woody, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Psychiatry, assigned 152 people ages 15 to 21 years old to two groups. All the teens were addicted to prescription opiates such as OxyContin, street opiates such as heroin, or a combination of both. Patients in one group received buprenorphine and naloxone along with individual and group counseling for a two-week period. The second group did the same for three months.

Those in the long-term treatment cohort fared better on random urine tests, reported less use of opioids, cocaine, and marijuana, and had less need for further addiction treatment.

"If you keep these young kids, average one and a half years of addiction, on buprenorphine-naloxone, they did a lot better," said Dr. Woody. "When you took them off buprenorphine and naloxone, their opioid use went up."

Another expert on teen addictions, Yale University professor Dr. David Fiellin, said that between 200,000 and 400,000 teenagers experimented with prescription drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin last year.

"They are taking them in a way that is not appropriate," he said. "A fair number of these individuals will become dependent or addicted."

Labels: addiction, treatment, opiates

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Studies performed on animals indicate that adolescents are more likely than adults to become addicted to oxycodone (OxyContin), a powerful prescription painkiller related to opioids like heroin and morphine.

Researchers at Rockefeller University in New York allowed adolescent and adult mice to take as much oxycodone as they wanted. The younger mice were more sensitive to the drug and took less. If the drug was introduced to them again as adults, they were more sensitive and reactive to it than were mice that had never been exposed to it.

Some experts believe that this study shows that adolescents react differently to oxycodone, and that the drug can cause neurological changes that make them more sensitive to it as adults.

The authors of the new study believe that teenagers who abuse oxycodone recreationally react differently to it than people in pain do, and are therefore more likely to become addicted.

Oxycodone is frequently prescribed to terminally ill cancer patients. It has also become a popular drug of choice among 14- to 24-year-olds. While the abuse of cocaine and methamphetamine has fallen in recent years, the abuse of prescription painkillers rose 12 percent in 2006, the latest year for which government statistics are available.

Labels: addiction, teens, oxyContin

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A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that children who experiment with alcohol before age 15 are more likely to develop alcohol dependency as adults.

NIAA researchers analyzed records of more than 22,000 young people and found that those who took a first drink before age 15 had more drinking problems later in life than did those who delayed experimenting with alcohol.

The findings may indicate that parents should not offer a child and even young adolescent an alcoholic beverage because it could act as "trigger" for a problem, especially among those who have a genetic predisposition toward addictions.

Labels: teenage_drinking, alcohol_abuse, addiction

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A major new government survey of 50,000 teens indicates that overall drug use has continued to decline over the past ten years. However, more teens are abusing prescription painkillers.

Social scientists at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research investigated the behaviors of 8th, 10th and 12th graders and found that the percentage of eighth graders using illicit drugs at least once a year dropped to 13% from 25% in 1997. For 10th graders, the rate dropped from 39% to 28%; and for 12th graders, those figures are 42% compared to 36% today.

Lloyd Johnston, principal investigator for the National Institute on Drug Use study, said, "The cumulative declines since recent peak levels of drug involvement in the mid-1990s are substantial, especially among the youngest students."

The bad news is that more teens are experimenting with prescription narcotics like Oxycotin and Vicodin, which doctors prescribe to cancer patients and others in severe pain. These drugs can produce states of euphoria often followed by stupor. Almost 10% of the 12th graders in the study had tried Vicodin, and 5% of all students in the survey had tried Oxycotin.

Researchers found an increase in the use of ecstasy, but a decline in amphetamine and methamphetamine. In addition, anabolic steroid use is on the increase among teenage boys. Marijuana remains the most popular of the illicit drugs.

Labels: addiction, teenagers, abuse

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South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds has announced that September is "Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month." Several events are planned throughout the month, and recovery booths will be set up on college campuses throughout the state.

"This past year in South Dakota, 14,986 individuals sought recovery from some form of addiction. If an individual is interested in seeking recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction or gambling addiction, there are 61 providers across South Dakota to assist them in recovery."

Additional activities will include a "Fun Night" in the city of Mitchell for people who are recovering from alcohol or drug addiction. Source: State News Web

Drug Rehab Resources

Labels: addiction, recovery, college_students

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A new study of animal brains shows that subtle differences in brain circuitry can explain why some animals become addicted to nicotine and others do not. Scientists at the University of Western Ontario have also been able to reverse this process and make nicotine unpleasant to rats formerly addicted to it.

Studies published last year found that some teenagers could become smokers after just one experimental cigarette while others find the experience unpleasant. The Canadian animal studies indicate that the key to understanding why this happens may have to do with "nucleus accumbens" or areas in the reward circuitry of the brain.

Dr. Steven Laviolette, writing in the journal Neuroscience, said, "If we can develop pharmacological treatments to target those regions, we can basically affect the development of nicotine addiction by controlling the brain's perception of nicotine's rewarding effects."

Labels: prevention, addiction, medications

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Treatment for prescription drug abuse and addiction surged 321 percent in 10 years, according to federal statistics. Stephen Pasierb, president and chief executive for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America says this abuse is fueled in part by a low perception of risk.

"'There's a very low social disapproval. In fact, there are parents who are almost relieved that their kid is using Vicodin and not smoking marijuana,' he said."

Prescription drug monitoring legislation exists in 38 states, and some states offer pre-addressed, postage-paid envelopes for people to mail in unused medications for proper disposal. Still, the efforts seem to be making little headway in curbing this latest substance abuse trend. Source: Reuters

Labels: addiction, abuse, prescription_drugs

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The latest analysis from the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project found THC at its highest level in marijuana since testing began in the 1970s.

"Marijuana potency has grown steeply over the past decade, with serious implications in particular for young people, who may be not only at increased risk for psychological conditions, cognitive deficits, and respiratory problems, but are also at significantly higher risk for developing dependency on other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, than are non-smokers."

The Potency Monitoring Project has been analyzing marijuana samples since 1975. In their most recent quarterly report, the researchers documented THC levels as high as 37.2 percent, with average levels at about 9.6 percent. Of special concern among substance abuse specialists is the fact that increased THC levels increase the probability that users will become addicted. Source: U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy

Read for more information.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Labels: marijuana, addiction, THC

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Researchers with St. Louis' Washington University School of Medicine have determined that women who begin drinking at a younger age face an increased likelihood of becoming dependent upon alcohol later in life.

"An early age at the onset of drinking is a strong predictor of subsequent alcohol dependence," said Richard A. Grucza, Ph.D., who authored the study. "About one in three individuals who start drinking at age 17 or younger become alcohol dependent. For those who wait until age 21 or older, that number is one in ten."

Grucza, an assistant professor of psychiatry at WU, was quoted in a press release about the study that was posted on the school's website:

"In our previous work, we found that women born after 1944 had a substantially higher risk for alcohol dependence compared to those born prior to that. Now we have found that women born during this 'high risk' period also began drinking earlier than their predecessors, and this earlier drinking might explain the higher rates of alcoholism.

As the age of drinking onset got lower for women, the rates of alcohol dependence increased. ...There is a lot of discussion about whether the minimum drinking age should be lowered again. Our findings would suggest that from a public-health point of view, lowering the legal drinking age might lead to increased rates of alcohol dependence."

Grucza and his team analyzed data that had been compiled during the 1991-1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, which was completed in the early 1980s.

The results of the study are scheduled to be published in the August 2008 edition of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Labels: girls, addiction, binge_drinking

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On an average day, 13,000 teens and pre-teens try alcohol for the first time. Studies have shown that people who start drinking at age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol-dependent than are those who wait until they're 21.

"The sky is falling on our teens and young adults, and there is plenty of responsibility to go around: from permissive parents who think it's better to have their teens drink at home than risk drunk driving to colleges and universities turning a blind eye to ever-increasing binge drinking on campuses and at local bars."

The National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse found that alcohol misuse cost the United States $220 billion in 2005; more than the cost of cancer or childhood obesity. Now that summer is in full swing, teens have a lot more free time, and parents have the responsibility of making sure that time is used well. Source: The Free Lance-Star

Learn more by reading Higher Risks in Early Drinkers.

Labels: addiction, underage_drinking, binge_drinking

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A 19-year-old writes in to an advice column asking what to do about her boyfriend. He treats her well and is a good guy. He has just one "small flaw": He's a recreational cocaine user.

"...ask - demand - that Derek stop using cocaine. I hope he will, but I fear, despite his assurances to the contrary, that he's already hooked and unable to quit on his own... Insist that he do what's necessary to get off this substance and don't stay with him if he gives you excuses instead of immediate action."

Dr. Wallace also reminds her that cocaine is highly addictive and most who try to quit are unable. Read more at HollandSentinel.com.

Labels: addiction, cocaine, treatment

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Lindsey was a 4.0 high school student who was into swimming and was also the MVP of her softball team; until an older boyfriend introduced her to cocaine. Her addiction was immediate and the next year of her life was consumed by the drug.

"According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, by the time a teen reaches age 17, 7 out of 10 will have been offered an illegal drug. Many, like Lindsey, underestimate how quickly they can develop an addiction."

The key to recovery, according to therapist Paul Hokemeyer, is to put the addicted person in a new community; a residential treatment program that can help him or her break the cycle. Read more at WUSA.9.com.

Labels: addiction, athletics, high_school

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People who start drinking after young adulthood are less likely to become binge drinkers, according to a study from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Berkeley, CA.

Dr. Marcia Russell and her colleagues used data from a five-year study in New York. They found that risks are lower for people who start drinking after age 21 years and who drink only in moderation.

"Drinking patterns associated with early peak and stable drinking trajectories were distinctly different," she wrote. "Early drinkers drank fewer years, less frequently and consumed less volume of alcohol over their lifetimes but they averaged more drinks per drinking day and had higher rates of episodic heavy drinking and intoxication."

This study appears in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Binge drinking and general adolescent alcohol use can cause chaos in even the most stable families. Learn what you can do about adolescent substance abuse at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: addiction, research, binge_drinking

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Thanksgiving eve is commonly considered one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. Across the country, police and sheriff's departments will be issuing warnings about the dangers of drinking and driving.

"Much of the drinking tonight will be by college students returning home for the holiday and spending time at bars with friends, officials said during a press conference at the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department in Battle Creek."

Members of the Substance Abuse Council are using today as a platform to warn against underage drinking. Most studies have found that the earlier someone begins to drink, the more likely he or she will struggle with addiction later in life.

Don't waste your teen's winter break - use the time off from school to help your child get back on track. Check out the winter break program at Aspen Achievement Academy.

Labels: addiction, underage_drinking, drunk_driving

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Marilyn Babiarz didn't know what she was getting into when she agreed to let her daughter's friend stay with them for a while. Years later, she found herself speaking at the young man's funeral after he lost his battle with heroin addiction.

"The same week [he] died, Babiarz saw a flyer for Parents 4 A Change, a local group of residents seeking to combat drug use in town. Babiarz decided to tell her story in the hopes of encouraging other families to join the group and come forward with stories of their own."

For years, she watched Mark Gilbert, Jr. struggle to overcome his addiction. He would do well for a few months, only to relapse again. Babiarz wants parents to know the dangers of drug use are real and aren't just limited to "troubled" or inner-city kids. "He was a Southington [Connecticut] kid and he used with other Southington kids," she said.

Private schools often offer smaller, more personal classroom settings and a variety of after school activities. Visit BoardingSchoolsInfo.com to find the best private school for your child.

Labels: addiction, support, heroin

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Teens who suffer from depression and also abuse drugs can benefit from a combination of antidepressants and therapy or therapy alone, according to a new study from the University of Colorado.

When the teens in the study felt less depressed, they were more likely to drop their substance abuse.

Clinicians in the field are calling the study "landmark" because it is the first time that someone has shown that depressed, addicted teens can safely take antidepressants.

Dr. Paula Riggs and her colleagues studied 126 teenagers who had a history of abusing at least one drug but who also suffered from major depression. Three-fourths of the teens who took fluoxetines combined with talk therapy showed major decreases in their levels of depression and became more successful at addiction treatment. Some 67% of those who received only talk therapy without medications also improved.

Therapy helped the teens learn new ways of dealing with their problems and improved their ability to cope with cravings.

"These kids come into drug treatment with only one tool in their tool bags," Dr. Riggs said. "If their dog dies? I think I'll get high. If their girlfriend breaks up with them? I think I'll get high."

This study appears in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

An effective adolescent residential treatment program can accurately assess the needs of your troubled teen and then create an effective treatment plan. Learn more at SunHawkAcademy.com.

Labels: addiction, treatment, depression

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Several new studies that employ high-tech tools like MRIs are proving that the human brain is not fully developed until age 25 or so. Some scientists, such as Jay Giedd, head of the brain imaging project at the National Institute of Health and Dr. Deborah Yurgelun-Todd of Harvard Medical School are using this new data to urge changes in public policies. They and others argue that teenagers should not be allowed to drive, enlist in the military or vote.

However, other scientists are looking at the evidence in a different way. They argue that people ages 35 to 54 years old are the ones who behave the most irresponsibly. Here are some statistics:

Since 1975, there has been a 550% increase in the number of deaths by drug overdose among the middle-aged. Over 370,000 middle-aged people were admitted to emergency rooms in 2004 for drug overdoses, and 18,250 died, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Middle-aged people are 30% more at risk for automobile accidents than teenagers.

There are 21 million middle-aged binge drinkers - twice the percent of college-aged binge drinkers. Binge drinking is defined as five drinks in a row taken once a week.

About four million middle-aged people were arrested in 2004 - one million committed violent crimes and 500,000 involved drug arrests. There has been a 600% increase in the number of middle-aged people in American prisons since 1975.

Learn about the value of boarding school for middle school aged children at Boarding Schools for Girls.

Labels: addiction, adults, binge_drinking

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Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson has announced the formation of a Parent Panel Advisory Council. The council's focus will be to improve the availability of substance abuse and addiction treatment services for Pennsylvania families.

"The council will examine the availability of information on substance abuse and addiction services, identify barriers to and gaps in services and treatment, and make recommendations to improve the substance abuse and addiction treatment system. Based on the assessments, the council will make recommendations to the Department of Health to share with the state House Health and Human Services Committee."

The panel is comprised of 18 parents who were selected via an application process. Each will serve from one to three year terms. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, treatment, support

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His upcoming book, The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, is a brutally honest account of Nikki Sixx's battle with drug addiction and his road to recovery. He will be the first rock star to speak at the National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month luncheon September 6th on Capitol Hill.

"NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals invited Sixx to share his story at this national forum alongside Terry Cline, Ph.D, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and H. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH, Director, SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment."

Twenty-five percent of Sixx's book's profits go to benefit a shelter in California that helps runaway teenagers. Read more at KCRG.com.

Learn about teenage drug addiction, rehab, and recovery at Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: addiction, recovery, influences

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Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc announced today that it has begun a clinical trial for a drug called CPP-109, intended for use in the treatment of cocaine addiction. CPP-109 is an oral treatment that inhibits dopamine release that's typically caused by drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.

"The Phase II clinical trial is expected to enroll 180 cocaine dependent patients at 10 leading addiction treatment clinical centers in the United States. Patients will be treated for a period of 12 weeks, with an additional 12 week follow-up."

Catalyst will begin enrolling patients in the trial once it gets approval from the Institutional Review Board. It expects to release first results of the trial in the summer of 2008. Read more at News-Medical.net.

Labels: addiction, cocaine, treatment

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For years, methadone clinics have been an accepted method of "weaning" someone off of an opiate addiction. But a new method - and new drug, Suboxone - is beginning to get noticed. Suboxone masks the symptoms of withdrawal while blocking the effects of opiate-based drugs like heroin.

"'When the Suboxone molecule enters the neuron, it attaches to the receptor and protects it from any other opiate,' said Dr. David Faulk, a Brunswick psychiatrist who writes prescriptions for Suboxone. 'The big benefit is that it's extremely difficult to abuse and become addicted to.'"

Opponents of Suboxone say that patients who use it to overcome addictions may have to take it for the rest of their lives. Read more at TheBrunswicknews.com.

Need more information about teen drug addiction? Visit 4TroubledTeens.com to learn about the Behavioral and Physical Signs of Teen Drug and Alcohol Use.

Labels: addiction, treatment, recovery

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Selena Bartlett, Ph.D., recently led a study on the effects of medication in treating the cravings associated with alcohol addiction. The study produced positive results, but Dr. Barbara Krantz was quick to point out that medication is just one component of effective treatment.

"'We know that addiction to alcohol or drugs is a disease with medical and psychosocial components,' said Dr. Krantz. 'Addiction is a brain disorder for which counseling and other behavioral therapies are necessary components of addiction treatment.'"

Addiction treatment is different for everyone. Dual diagnosis may have to be addressed (i.e.  addiction and depression being treatment simultaneously), and type and the length of treatment needs to be customized. Read more at Home.Busineswire.com.

The Aspen Institute conducts all of the assessments necessary to create a comprehensive treatment plan for teens struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. Learn more about this special residential treatment center at www.aspenassessment.com.

Labels: addiction, treatment, therapy

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Experts and substance abuse counselors say that people who grow and sell marijuana have begun making the drug stronger; thereby increasing the chance that users will become addicted.

"Pam Morrison sees firsthand what the increase in THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, does to users. Morrison, the Coastal Horizons program director said, We have youth as well as adults that are seeking substance abuse treatment because their lives are completely unmanageable as a result of an addiction to marijuana alone."

Many people who find themselves addicted to marijuana believed that only "hard" drugs like heroin or cocaine could be addictive. Read more at WSOCTV.com.

Are you or your teen still in denial over their drug use or addiction? Learn the reasons behind your denial at DrugRehabTreatment.com. You'll also find other useful information about teen drug abuse while you're there.

Labels: marijuana, addiction, treatment

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It's easy to find statistics about teenage drug use. It's also fairly easy to find tragic stories of teens that lost their lives, or ended up in prison, because of their addictions. The dangers of drug use are well-known, yet teens continue to get drunk, get high, and get addicted. Why?

"Life is often difficult for teenagers. When they're unhappy and uncomfortable with themselves and have neither a healthy outlet for their frustrations nor a trusted confidant, they may turn to chemicals for solace."

The media often makes drug use look much more prevalent than it actually is, making teens feel like it must not be "a big deal" if so many people are doing it. Teens who feel socially awkward, depressed, or ignored by their parents are also more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs. Read more at DrugFree.org.

Labels: addiction, media_influences, causes_of_teen_substance_abuse

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Readers of a Nevada newspaper, in response to an article about methamphetamine addiction, wrote to share their own stories of addiction and recovery. Though the story covered by the newspaper ended badly, many readers wanted others to know that recovery is possible.

"You stated that relapse is part of recovery. That is not true. Relapse is NOT a part of recovery, and it is a dangerous message that many people get. Many alcoholics and addicts go back out and die because of this erroneous belief. Also Mary and her boyfriend stated that rehab and meetings are bogus. When people don't get it, it is bogus. When they are ready, meetings and rehab will work."

Others encouraged people to pay special attention when they think a family member might be struggling with addiction. They encouraged readers to ask questions, and keep asking questions if something doesn't seem right. Read more at NevadaAppeal.com.

Do you have a child with a teen drug addiction? Are you looking for an adolescent drug treatment center? Visit Drug Rehab Treatment >>

Labels: addiction, support, recovery

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While use of illegal drugs has been declining across the nation, the illegal use of prescription drugs has been on the rise. The state of Michigan is among the states that rank highest for illegal prescription drug use among teens, with recent studies claiming that 12% of Michigan teens use prescription drugs to get high.

"Although millions of Americans benefit from the proper use of prescription drugs, they can be dangerous when taken without medical supervision or mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Teens who abuse prescription drugs to get high can suffer serious consequences including addiction, strokes, seizures, comas, and even death."

Many teens are migrating to prescription drugs because they're easier to get, and teens make the incorrect assumption that prescription drugs are safer than their illegal counterparts. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, prescription drugs, teenagers

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David Nevins, son of HBO executive Sheila Nevins, has struggled with substance abuse for years. He's been sober for about a year now, but only after suffering through a decade of rehab, psychiatric treatment, and relapses. Nevins' experiences with her son made her realize how little she knew or understood about addiction and substance abuse, which inspired her to launch an HBO documentary serried called "Addiction".

"The short films that are a part of 'Addictions' include [Jon] Alpert's look at a busy Saturday night in a Dallas emergency room; [Rory] Kennedy and Liz Garbus' examination of brain imaging; and [D.A.] Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus' piece on opiate addiction."

The film airs on HBO on Thursday night, and all of the short films will be available for download from HBO's website. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, recovery, media

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A recent study at Washington University School of Medicine has found a link between teenage smoking and alcoholism. The study included three groups ranging in age from 12 to 20, and found that smokers had more than a 50 percent increased risk for alcoholism.

"Younger smokers in the 12- to 14-year-old age group were 28.4 percent more susceptible to developing an alcohol problem later, compared with 4.2 percent for nonsmokers, although both reported having one to eight drinks in the past month."

The study polled over 74,000 households with adolescents and young adults, as part of the U.S. National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.

Read more online.

Labels: smoking, addiction, cigarettes

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Dr. Jeff Dalley and his colleagues at the University of Cambridge Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute has discovered that certain brain chemistry changes pre-date drug use in addicts and actually cause some people to be pre-disposed to addiction.

"Understanding the neurological changes that help trigger and sustain addiction is key to developing effective prevention and treatment. Numerous studies have noted a myriad of differences in the brain of drug addicts verses healthy individuals, but "it's been basically impossible to know which ones were there before they started to take the drug and which were a consequence of the exposure to the drug," said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse."

Understanding the conditions which lead to drug addiction will change the way drug use and addiction are treated. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, treatment, research

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USA Today recently published a report on the long term affects of marijuana use. Because of its ease to get and a general belief that it is the mildest of all drugs, many teens and adults admit to smoking pot at least once. But new data shows that smoking pot affects neuropsychological functioning, such as hand-eye coordination, reaction time and memory. Heavy marijuana users also have lower IQ scores and are typically less satisfied with their quality of life.

Then there is the ongoing debate about whether or not pot is a "gateway drug".

"...Studies have shown that when regular pot smokers quit, they do experience withdrawal symptoms, a characteristic used to predict addictiveness. Most users of more addictive drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, started with marijuana, scientists say, and the earlier they started, the greater their risk of becoming addicted. Many studies have documented a link between smoking marijuana and the later use of "harder" drugs such as heroin and cocaine, but that doesn't necessarily mean marijuana causes addiction to harder drugs."

Read more from USA Today.

Labels: marijuana, pot, addiction, gateway drugs

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Once it becomes available, genetic testing will be a useful tool in helping people get the right treatment for drug and alcohol addictions. But until then, scientists are seeking other ways to help the medical community identify and treat addiction.

"Scientists know that people whose brains don't function properly - they have trouble reasoning and remembering - are more prone to addiction... Because brain functioning can be improved through rehabilitation, [Glen] Hanson advocates reforming the educational system from one that encourages 'memory and regurgitation' to one that 'trains people to think'."

Cognitive testing is another suggestion, as is testing for illiteracy, since both have a direct affect on a person's ability to reason and problem solve. Read more online.

SunHawk Academy has a teen residential treatment center for adolescents struggling with substance abuse addictions. SunHawk Academy is licensed and approved as an Adolescent Residential Treatment Center and provides 24 hour supervision and care in a Boarding High School setting. SunHawk combines a therapy, accredited academics, and family development workshops to help troubled teens and their families.

Labels: prevention, addiction, research

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On March 5th, researchers and clinicians will come together for a two-day meeting to discuss the complicated issues surrounding pain management and addiction.

"'The goal of this two-day meeting is to inform researchers and practitioners about the state of the science of the intersection of addiction and pain management.'"

The meeting will take place in Rockville, Maryland and includes speakers who specialize is substance abuse, psychiatry, pharmaceuticals, internal medicine and more. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, treatment, research

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A four-year study of 1246 middle school children found that even one cigarette a month can lead to addiction.

Dr. Joseph DiFranza of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center found that two-thirds of the children in the study who had tried cigarettes smoked at least once a month. Half of them experienced symptoms of cravings and dependence when they tried to quit.

• Dr. DiFranza said his study found that after two years, one-third of the students who had tried cigarettes had little control over their habit.
• As time went by, they were likely to smoke cigarettes more often, and became irritable and experienced difficulty concentrating when they were deprived of nicotine.
• After three years, one in four students who tried to stop smoking experienced withdrawal symptoms.

This study appeared in the journal Pediatrics.
 

Labels: tobacco use, addiction, middle_school, cigarettes

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