Addiction
Addiction to Prescription Pain Killers Among Patients and Physicians
Chemical dependency and recovery in patients and physicians are closely examined in a series of articles and editorials in the July 2009 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The subject is especially timely. As the immense challenges, including potential tragedies, of prescription chemical addiction and abuse are being discussed, these articles offer crucial overview, direction... »
Drinking While Pregnant Still a Problem
Exposure to alcohol is a known cause of birth defects, yet the number of women who drink alcohol while pregnant is not decreasing, according to a 15 year-study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 1 in 8 women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant, the study says. »
Women More Vulnerable to Alcohol’s Long-term Effects Than Men
Women are more vulnerable to alcohol's longterm effects than men, according to the Harvard Heart Letter. The difference is in women's ability to break down alcohol, which is slower than men's. The result is that a woman drinking the same amount as a man will have a higher blood level of alcohol, and for... »
Medicare Patches and Hotline Help Seniors Quit Smoking
Seniors trying to quit smoking can be helped by Medicare-supplied nicotine patches and a Medicare hotline, according to new research conducted to estimate the cost of such a Medicare program. The study revealed that close to 20% of seniors who tried the program quit smoking for a year. »
Alcohol May Cause Lower Brain Volume
According to a recent report, the more you drink the smaller your brain becomes. It is estimated that 1.9 percent decrease in brain volume per decade accompanies an increase in white matter lesions. »
Counseling Plus Medication May Help Teens Quit Smoking
A clinical trial of 312 teenagers aged 14 to 17 who smoked six or more cigarettes a day and had tried quitting at least twice, found that counseling and medication may help teens quit smoking, though in some cases (26-week time period), the placebo group had higher quit-rates than those taking the drug tested... »
Three Alcohol Drinks Per Day May Significantly Increase Breast Cancer Risk
It isn't the type of alcohol but the quantity which increases a woman's risk of contracting breast cancer. In fact, the increased breast cancer risk from drinking three or more alcoholic drinks a day is similar to the increased breast cancer risk from smoking a pack of cigarettes or more a day, according to Kaiser... »
Epilepsy Drug Topamax Helps Alcoholism Treatment
A drug called Topamax (topiramate) has been found to help alcoholics quit drinking excessively, according to a University of Virginia study. The drug is not FDA approved for treatment of alcoholism, but has been prescribed off-label by doctors to treat the condition. Topiramate (brand name Topamax) is an anticonvulsant drug produced by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, a... »
Smoking Hooks Kids Almost Immediately, New Study Shows
According to a study published in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 10% of 217 studied children who inhaled cigarettes "lost autonomy over their tobacco" use within two days of their first cigarette. Another quarter became addicted within thirty days, and a full half were addicted after smoking only... »
Trading Prescription Medications Among Teens
With an increase in the number of psychotropic prescriptions for adolescents there are increased chances of these prescriptions ending up in the wrong hands. Results of a survey of school students show that 1% of all prescriptions that caregivers write for teenagers are used for non-medical purposes. 6 out 10 students with legitimate... »