Feature Channels: Alcohol and Alcoholism

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15-Sep-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Harmful Alcohol Use Increases Health Risks in All Countries
McMaster University

Data support the call to increase global awareness of the harmful use of alcohol and the need to further identify and target the modifiable determinants of harmful alcohol use. The authors also identified differences between countries of different levels of prosperity.

Released: 15-Sep-2015 10:05 AM EDT
Teen Marijuana Use Down Despite Greater Availability
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Marijuana use among American high school students is significantly lower today than it was 15 years ago, despite the legalization in many states of marijuana for medical purposes, a move toward decriminalization of the drug and the approval of its recreational use in a handful of places, new research suggests.

Released: 15-Sep-2015 8:05 AM EDT
NYU Researchers Document Self-Reported Use of New and Uncommon Synthetic Drugs by Teens and Young Adults
New York University

This is the first study reporting on use of a variety of new drugs in a nationally representative U.S. sample. Researchers are confident that use was severely underreported, as the subjects were not asked about most of these new drugs specifically. The researchers advocate for health surveys to ask about use of new drugs, in addition to traditional drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, in order to quickly pick up on potential drug epidemics.

9-Sep-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Chronic Drinking Disrupts Liver’s Circadian Clock, Contributes to Alcoholic Liver Disease
American Physiological Society (APS)

Staying on an internal schedule is important for health, and disease can occur if the body’s internal clock is disrupted. A new study reinforces the importance of circadian rhythm, reporting that chronic drinking contributes to alcoholic liver disease because it impairs the liver’s production schedule of molecules that power it to run.

Released: 2-Sep-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Alcoholism: A Step Toward a Treatment
Texas A&M University

Scientists have pinpointed a population of neurons in the brain that influences whether one drink leads to two, which could ultimately lead to a cure for alcoholism and other addictions. A study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience by researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, finds that alcohol consumption alters the structure and function of neurons in the dorsomedial striatum, a part of the brain known to be important in goal-driven behaviors.

Released: 1-Sep-2015 12:05 AM EDT
Daily Marijuana Use Among U.S. College Students Highest Since 1980
University of Michigan

Daily marijuana use among the nation's college students is on the rise, surpassing daily cigarette smoking for the first time in 2014.

18-Aug-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Polygamy and Alcohol Linked to Physical Abuse in African Marriages
American Sociological Association (ASA)

African women in polygamous marriages or with alcoholic husbands have a significantly higher risk of being physically abused by their husbands than women in monogamous marriages or women whose husbands don’t abuse alcohol, new research shows.

Released: 20-Aug-2015 3:40 PM EDT
Study Documents Extent of Unexpected Sexual Consequences for Young Women Who Drink Alcohol
Johns Hopkins Medicine

In-depth interviews conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine of 20 young women attending an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic have documented a variety of unexpected, unintended sexual encounters linked to their alcohol use before sex occurs.

Released: 18-Aug-2015 11:05 AM EDT
Surge in Heroin Use Tied to Prescription Opioid Abuse, According to CDC
Texas A&M University

Heroin use has increased 63 percent over the last 10 years according to (CDC). That increase, according to the agency, is closely tied to the growing abuse of prescription opioids such as oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin) and codeine. An alarming 45 percent of Americans addicted to heroin are also addicted to prescription opioids.

13-Aug-2015 1:00 PM EDT
In First Year, Two Florida Laws Reduce Amount of Opioids Prescribed, Study Suggests
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Two Florida laws, enacted to combat prescription drug abuse and misuse in that state, led to a small but significant decrease in the amount of opioids prescribed the first year the laws were in place, a new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers suggests.

   
Released: 13-Aug-2015 9:00 AM EDT
Study Finds Lack of Ultimate Meaning in Life Associated with Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction and Other Mental Health Problems
Florida Atlantic University

One of the most commonly used treatment models in addiction is the 12-step model developed in the 1930s and rooted in spirituality. Yet, surprisingly, there is no clear understanding about how to nurture spirituality among people struggling with addictions.

13-Aug-2015 8:00 AM EDT
New Compounds Could Reduce Alcoholics’ Impulse to Drink
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Alcoholism inflicts a heavy physical, emotional and financial toll on individuals and society. Now new discoveries and promising animal studies are offering a glimmer of hope that a new class of drugs could treat the disease without many of the unwanted side effects caused by current therapies. The scientists are presenting their work today at the 250th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.

Released: 11-Aug-2015 9:05 AM EDT
NYU Study Examines Top High School Students’ Stress and Coping Mechanisms
New York University

The study shows that there is growing awareness many subgroups of youth experience high levels of chronic stress, to the extent it impedes their abilities to succeed academically, compromises their mental health functioning, and fosters risk behavior. Furthermore, this chronic stress appears to persist into the college years, and researchers warns it may contribute to academic disengagement and mental health problems among emerging adults.

Released: 10-Aug-2015 9:05 AM EDT
Study Examines How and Why States Adopt Drunk Driving Laws
New York University

A study by researchers at NYU Steinhardt finds that the severity of drunk driving within the state is not the most important predictor of whether states adopt new laws to restrict drunk driving – nor is the political makeup of the state government. Instead, the two strongest predictors of states adopting their first drunk driving laws were having a large population of young people and a neighboring state with similar driving laws.

Released: 7-Aug-2015 3:05 PM EDT
New Book Co-Edited By SU Professor Emeritus Examines Twelve Step Program From Philosophical Standpoint
Salisbury University

Though many academic disciplines have studied the Twelve Step program of recovery, philosophers haven’t yet paid much attention. That may be changing. A recent collection of essays, Sobering Wisdom, co-edited by Salisbury University's Dr. Jerome Miller, offers a unique exploration of the program’s spirituality from a philosophical standpoint.

Released: 7-Aug-2015 10:05 AM EDT
Emergency Department Counseling Program Fails to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence or Heavy Drinking Among At-Risk Women
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

A large randomized clinical trial of an emergency department (ED)-based program aimed at reducing incidents of excessive drinking and partner violence in women did not result in significant improvements in either risk factor, according to a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

29-Jul-2015 1:05 PM EDT
Falling Off the Wagon with Facebook
American Psychological Association (APA)

Despite the growing use of online support groups such as those on Facebook to help curb substance abuse, attending traditional face-to-face meetings may continue to be more effective for people trying to maintain sobriety, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association’s 123rd Annual Convention.

   
5-Aug-2015 12:05 AM EDT
Gastric Bypass Surgery Lowers Women’s Alcohol Tolerance
Washington University in St. Louis

Women who have gastric bypass surgery to lose weight should keep a close eye on their alcohol consumption, according to a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The researchers found that changes in how alcohol is metabolized after surgery can speed its delivery into the bloodstream, resulting in earlier and higher peaks in blood-alcohol levels.

Released: 5-Aug-2015 9:05 AM EDT
Marriage Can Lead to Dramatic Reduction in Heavy Drinking in Young Adults
University of Missouri Health

Research on alcohol-use disorders consistently shows problem drinking decreases as we age. Now, researchers collaborating between the University of Missouri and Arizona State University have found evidence that marriage can cause dramatic drinking reductions even among people with severe drinking problems. Scientists believe findings could help improve clinical efforts to help these people, inform public health policy changes and lead to more targeted interventions for young adult problem drinkers.

Released: 4-Aug-2015 11:05 AM EDT
Opioid Use and Sexual Violence Among Drug-Using Young Adults in NYC
New York University

The research seeks to identify the potential role of drug use in increasing risk of sexual violence among young adult opioid users in NYC, and to identify the specific social and contextual factors surrounding this group’s experiences of sexual violence.

4-Aug-2015 12:00 AM EDT
Teen Marijuana Use Not Linked to Later Depression, Lung Cancer, Other Health Problems, Research Finds
American Psychological Association (APA)

Chronic marijuana use by teenage boys does not appear to be linked to later physical or mental health issues such as depression, psychotic symptoms or asthma, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.

Released: 3-Aug-2015 6:05 AM EDT
If You’re Using Drugs, Scientists Want to Help You Avoid Addiction
Universite de Montreal

Abstinence is the best way to avoid drug addiction. But in many societies, drug use is the norm, not the exception, especially by youth. What keeps the majority of users from becoming addicted? How drugs are taken has something to do with it, according to pharmacology researchers at the University of Montreal.

Released: 31-Jul-2015 8:05 AM EDT
MSMR Analysis of Post Deployment Health Assessment Forms Indicates Risks of Alcohol Abuse Among Service Members Returning from Deployment
Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC)

An analysis of responses to questionnaires administered to U.S. active component service members who had returned from deployment during a 7-year surveillance period found that 3.4 percent and 4.8 percent of them, respectively, indicated a severe risk for alcohol abuse.

Released: 23-Jul-2015 4:05 PM EDT
Biomarker Higher in Binge Drinkers
University of Illinois Chicago

A biomarker found in the blood of alcohol users is significantly higher in binge drinkers than in those who consume alcohol moderately, according to a study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The biomarker, called phosphatidylethanol (PEth), could be used to screen young adults for harmful or heavy drinking such as binge drinking.

Released: 23-Jul-2015 11:05 AM EDT
Are Fish Getting High on Cocaine?
McGill University

Both prescription and illegal drugs such as morphine, cocaine and oxycodone have been found in surface waters in Canadian rivers. New research from McGill shows that wastewater discharged from wastewater treatment plants in the Grand River watershed of southern Ontario has the potential to contaminate sources of drinking water with these drugs.

Released: 15-Jul-2015 9:05 AM EDT
NYU Study Examines Psychoactive “Bath Salt” Use Among U.S. High School Seniors
New York University

33% of students who used bath salts reported using only once or twice; however, frequent use was also common among users with an alarming 18% of users reporting using 40 or more times in the last year.

   
Released: 13-Jul-2015 9:45 AM EDT
Stopping or Reducing Cocaine Use Associated with Lower Cardiovascular Risk Marker Levels
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

For people who use cocaine, stopping or reducing cocaine use is associated with decreased levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1)—a protein that plays a key role in the development of coronary artery disease, reports a study in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

Released: 10-Jul-2015 11:05 AM EDT
Study Identifies Factors Affecting Prescription Pain Reliever Misuse
University of Georgia

In a nationwide study, researchers from the University of Georgia School of Social Work found that individuals of any age who used illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine or heroin within the past year had a higher likelihood of misusing prescription pain relievers as well.

Released: 2-Jul-2015 8:55 AM EDT
Alcoholism, Marijuna, Placebo Effect, and More Top Stories 2 July 2015
Newswise Trends

Other topics include neurology, obesity, statins, and the risks of wearing high heels.

       
29-Jun-2015 2:05 PM EDT
Support for Overdose-Reversing Drug Low, but Can Be Bolstered with Right Messages
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

While most Americans do not support policies designed to increase distribution of naloxone – a medication that reverses the effects of a drug overdose – certain types of educational messages about its lifesaving benefits may bolster support for its use, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

30-Jun-2015 11:00 AM EDT
Trends in Antipsychotic Medication Use in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Despite concerns that use of antipsychotic medications in treating young people has increased, use actually declined between 2006 and 2010 for children ages 12 and under, and increased for adolescents and young adults.

Released: 1-Jul-2015 10:05 AM EDT
One in 4 People Prescribed Opioids Progressed to Longer-Term Prescriptions
Mayo Clinic

Opioid painkiller addiction and accidental overdoses have become far too common across the United States. To try to identify who is most at risk, Mayo Clinic researchers studied how many patients prescribed an opioid painkiller for the first time progressed to long-term prescriptions. The answer: 1 in 4. People with histories of tobacco use and substance abuse were likeliest to use opioid painkillers long-term.

Released: 30-Jun-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Study Suggests Link between Eye Color and Alcohol Dependence
University of Vermont

People with blue eyes might have a greater chance of becoming alcoholics, according to a unique new study by genetic researchers at the University of Vermont.

   
Released: 30-Jun-2015 11:00 AM EDT
Alcohol Sensitizes Brain Response to Food Aromas and Increases Food Intake in Women, Research Shows
Obesity Society

The first study of its kind measuring the brain’s role in mediating caloric intake following alcohol consumption among women shows that alcohol exposure sensitizes the brain’s response to food aromas and increases caloric intake.

Released: 29-Jun-2015 8:05 AM EDT
Getting High in Senior Year: NYU Researchers Examine Whether Reasons for Smoking Pot are Associated
New York University

A new study, published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse by researchers affiliated with New York University's Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR), examines how reasons for illicit marijuana use relates to the use of other drugs individually, rather than grouping them into a single “illicit drug” group.

Released: 24-Jun-2015 9:05 AM EDT
Medical Marijuana, Autoimmune Disorders, Diabetes, SCOTUS experts - Top Stories 24 June 2015
Newswise Trends

Other topics include dietary guidelines, smart traffic lights, breast cancer, and biomarker tests for cancer treatment.

       
Released: 23-Jun-2015 4:05 PM EDT
University of Iowa Studies Impact of Marijuana on Driving
University of Iowa

A new study conducted at the University of Iowa’s National Advanced Driving Simulator has found drivers who use alcohol and marijuana together weave more on a virtual roadway than drivers who use either substance independently. However, the cocktail of alcohol and marijuana does not double the effect of the impairment.

Released: 22-Jun-2015 11:05 AM EDT
Trending Stories Report for 22 June 2015
Newswise Trends

Topics include: women's health, cancer care, research at the Large Hadron Collider, dementia drug treatment, dermatology, skin cancer, breast cancer, smoking risks, and genetics.

       
Released: 19-Jun-2015 9:30 AM EDT
Trending Stories Report for 19 June 2015
Newswise Trends

Topics include: treating advanced skin cancer, big data and bioenergy, cancer research, 10 reasons to eat quinoa, sleep issues in the nursing field, advances in cancer surgery, genes for sleep, brain receptor for cocaine addiction, and nano imaging on insect adaptations.

       
Released: 18-Jun-2015 7:05 PM EDT
UCLA Research Offers More Evidence for Possible Link Between Cocaine Use and HIV Infection
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

New research offers further evidence that cocaine use disrupts the immune system, making people who use it more likely to become infected with HIV.

Released: 18-Jun-2015 6:05 AM EDT
Brain Receptor Found to Significantly Affect Cocaine Addiction
University at Buffalo

By manipulating the activity of Activin receptors in the brain, researchers were able to increase or decrease cocaine-taking and relapse behavior in animal models. The study focused on receptors in regions of the brain involved in pleasure and reward.

12-Jun-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Majority of Adults Favor Ban on Powdered Alcohol, Concerned It Would Increase Underage Drinking
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Adults across the country share the same top concern about the new alcohol-on-the-go product: potential misuse among underage youth.

Released: 10-Jun-2015 11:00 AM EDT
Texas Tech Researcher Publishes Study of Reasons Behind Alcohol Abuse in Non-Heterosexual Women
Texas Tech University

Non-heterosexual women who feel a disconnect between who they are attracted to and how they identify themselves may have a higher risk of alcohol abuse, according to a new study led by Amelia E. Talley, an assistant professor in Texas Tech University’s Department of Psychological Sciences.

Released: 2-Jun-2015 9:05 AM EDT
Teens Start Misusing ADHD Drugs & Other Stimulants Earlier Than You Might Think, U-M Study Finds
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Despite stereotypes about college students resorting to black-market Ritalin to help them cram for exams, young people are actually most likely to start misusing prescription stimulant drugs in their high school years, according to new University of Michigan Medical School research.

Released: 1-Jun-2015 9:05 AM EDT
Study Explores Reasons Behind Alcohol Abuse in Non-Heterosexual Women
American Sociological Association (ASA)

Non-heterosexual women who feel a disconnect between who they are attracted to and how they identify themselves may have a higher risk of alcohol abuse, according to a new study.

Released: 27-May-2015 10:05 AM EDT
Research Shows That Any Dose of Alcohol Combined With Cannabis Significantly Increases Levels of THC in the Blood
Association for Diagnostic and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM (formerly AACC))

Cannabis plus alcohol is one of the most frequently detected drug combinations in car accidents, yet the interaction of these two compounds is still poorly understood. A study appearing online today in Clinical Chemistry, the journal of AACC, shows for the first time that the simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis produces significantly higher blood concentrations of cannabis’s main psychoactive constituent, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as THC’s primary active metabolite, 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), than cannabis use alone.

Released: 26-May-2015 8:45 AM EDT
Expert: State of Opioid Abuse Spurs Search for New Options
BioDelivery Sciences International Inc.

Expert can speak on the need for treatment of pain with less potential for abuse than existing painkillers; for better options for those already dealing with opioid dependence; and for the need to address patients’ lifestyles as well as bodies to ensure optimal treatment. Dr. Mark Sirgo is president and CEO of BioDelivery Sciences, whose FDA-approved drug BUNAVAIL and investigational drug BELBUCA allow for the efficient delivery of buprenorphine while potentially overcoming some of the administration challenges presented by sublingual dosage forms, and whose Inreach Assist website and app offers a comprehensive array of information and resources to support patients dealing with addiction and their families.

22-May-2015 2:35 PM EDT
E-Cigarette Vapor—Even When Nicotine-Free—Found to Damage Lung Cells
American Physiological Society (APS)

With the use of e-cigarettes on the rise, especially among young people, research to uncover the health effects of e-cigs is becoming increasingly important. In a new study published ahead of print in AJP-Lung, researchers find that e-cig solution and vapors—even those that are nicotine-free—damage lung health.

22-May-2015 12:05 PM EDT
Cannabis Use Can Be Prevented, Reduced or Delayed
Universite de Montreal

Contrary to some popular beliefs, marijuana is harmful to adolescent brains. Researchers have found that targeting at-risk youth through school programmes can limit their use of this drug.



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