Feature Channels: Alcohol and Alcoholism

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Released: 16-Dec-2014 12:05 AM EST
E-Cigarettes Surpass Tobacco Cigarettes Among Teens
University of Michigan

In 2014, more teens use e-cigarettes than traditional, tobacco cigarettes or any other tobacco product—the first time a U.S. national study shows that teen use of e-cigarettes surpasses use of tobacco cigarettes.

Released: 16-Dec-2014 12:05 AM EST
Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes, Number of Illicit Drugs Declines Among U.S. Teens
University of Michigan

A national survey of students in U.S. middle schools and high schools shows some important improvements in levels of substance use.

Released: 15-Dec-2014 3:00 PM EST
Study Links ADHD and Conduct Disorder With Increased Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Young Teens
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

A new study links ADHD and conduct disorder in young adolescents with increased alcohol and tobacco use. The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center study is among the first to assess such an association in this age group.

Released: 10-Dec-2014 5:05 PM EST
MU Researchers Find Alcohol Interferes with the Body's Ability to Regulate Sleep
University of Missouri Health

Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that drinking alcohol to fall asleep interferes with sleep homeostasis, the body’s sleep-regulating mechanism.

4-Dec-2014 4:00 PM EST
Primary Care Doctors Report Prescribing Fewer Opioids for Pain
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Nine in 10 primary care physicians say that prescription drug abuse is a moderate or big problem in their communities and nearly half say they are less likely to prescribe opioids to treat pain compared to a year ago, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

Released: 8-Dec-2014 1:00 PM EST
Does Smoking Hamper Treatment for Alcohol Abuse?
University at Buffalo

A new study has shown that smoking can inhibit the success of treatment for alcohol abuse, putting people who are addicted to both tobacco and alcohol in a double bind.

Released: 1-Dec-2014 5:05 PM EST
MU Researchers Identify Epigenetic Changes Caused by Binge Drinking
University of Missouri Health

Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have identified epigenetic protein changes caused by binge drinking, a discovery that could lead to treatments for alcohol-related liver diseases.

Released: 1-Dec-2014 3:00 PM EST
Natural “High” Could Avoid Chronic Marijuana Use
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Replenishing the supply of a molecule that normally activates cannabinoid receptors in the brain could relieve mood and anxiety disorders and enable some people to quit using marijuana, a Vanderbilt University study suggest

Released: 1-Dec-2014 8:15 AM EST
Unhappy Hour: Non-Drinkers Devise Strategies to Navigate Booze-Centered Work Events
North Carolina State University

From holiday parties to happy hours, social events with co-workers often revolve around alcohol, which can put non-drinkers in an awkward position. A new study shows that tensions in these environments lead non-drinkers to develop techniques to fit in socially without taking a drink.

Released: 24-Nov-2014 10:00 AM EST
Sorting Through Recycling Bins to Learn about Alcohol Use
Ohio State University

When researchers wanted to verify alcohol-use survey results at a senior housing center, they came up with a novel way to measure residents’ drinking: Count the empty bottles in recycling bins.

Released: 24-Nov-2014 10:00 AM EST
Does Dip Decrease or Deepen Addiction to Nicotine?
West Virginia University - Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Smokeless tobacco products are marketed as a way for smokers to cut back on the negative effects of tobacco, while still being able to use it. Is that really the case? A professor in the Department of Psychology at West Virginia University is investigating whether smokers are using smokeless tobacco products as a replacement, or supplement to cigarettes.

21-Nov-2014 3:00 PM EST
Quitting Cigarettes Tougher for Heavy-Drinking Smokers, but Phone Counseling Can Help
Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital

Smokers who drink heavily have a tougher time quitting cigarettes than smokers who drink moderately or not at all. However, a multi-center study led by researchers in Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine found that modifying tobacco-oriented telephone counseling to help hazardous drinkers can help them quit smoking.

Released: 18-Nov-2014 12:00 PM EST
Pre-Thanksgiving Drinking Ritual is a Real Buzz Kill
Loyola Medicine

The day before Thanksgiving, nicknamed Blackout Wednesday, is a time when college students are home and reunite with friends over beers or alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants. But what often starts out as a joyous celebration all too often ends up as a senseless tragedy.

13-Nov-2014 5:00 PM EST
Reported Opioid Abuse in Pregnant Women More Than Doubles in 14 Years
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

The number of pregnant women who abuse or are dependent on opioids (narcotics) jumped 127 percent in 14 years, leading to an increased risk of maternal death and stillbirth among other serious problems, according to a review of more than 57 million American women admitted for delivery. The results were published in the December issue of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists® (ASA®).

11-Nov-2014 12:00 PM EST
Alcohol Taxes Can Improve Health, Lead to More Jobs
American Public Health Association (APHA)

Embargoed research from APHA's 142nd Annual Meeting and Exposition, Nov. 15-19.

12-Nov-2014 11:00 AM EST
Young Bar Patrons More Likely to Smoke and Use Multiple Tobacco Products
American Public Health Association (APHA)

Embargoed research from APHA's 142nd Annual Meeting and Exposition, Nov. 15-19

Released: 4-Nov-2014 12:00 PM EST
Mayo Clinic Researchers Discover Genetic Markers for Alcoholism Recovery
Mayo Clinic

In an international study, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have identified genetic markers that may help in identifying individuals who could benefit from the alcoholism treatment drug acamprosate. The findings, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, show that patients carrying these genetic variants have longer periods of abstinence during the first three months of acamprosate treatment.

Released: 3-Nov-2014 8:00 PM EST
TSRI Study Shows How Exercise Could Reduce Relapse During Meth Withdrawal
Scripps Research Institute

Scripps Research Institute scientists have found that even brief workouts can reduce the risk of relapse in rats withdrawing from methamphetamine. Team found exercise affected neurons in a brain region never before associated with meth withdrawal, suggesting a new direction for drug development.

   
Released: 3-Nov-2014 3:40 PM EST
Youth Pastors Feel Ill-Equipped to Help Young People Cope with Mental Health Issues, Baylor Study Finds
Baylor University

Many mental health disorders first surface during adolescence, and college and youth pastors are in a good position to offer help or steer youths elsewhere to find it. But many of those pastors feel ill-prepared to recognize and treat mental illness, according to a Baylor University study.

Released: 30-Oct-2014 2:00 PM EDT
Sanford Study Reveals Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevalence in U.S.
Sanford Health

Nearly 5 percent of U.S. children may be affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, according to a new study co-authored by Sanford Research’s Gene Hoyme, M.D., and Amy Elliott, Ph.D., and published by Pediatrics.

Released: 29-Oct-2014 3:00 PM EDT
Bar Attendance Supports Heavy Drinking by Young Adults Along US-Mexico Border
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

New research from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, released Tuesday in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, shows that higher levels of drinking among United States-Mexico border young adults are closely linked to their patterns of bar attendance, but not to how they think about drinking.

Released: 28-Oct-2014 6:00 PM EDT
National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities Endorses Federation of State Medical Boards Model Policy on Opioid Prescribing
Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)

The National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities (NASCSA) formally endorsed the Federation of State Medical Boards’ (FSMB) Model Policy on the Use of Opioid Analgesics in the Treatment of Chronic Pain by unanimous vote during its annual meeting in Savannah last week. NASCSA provides an educational forum through which state and federal agencies and others work to increase the effectiveness of efforts to prevent and control drug diversion and abuse.

Released: 28-Oct-2014 11:35 AM EDT
Teen Anti-Substance Abuse Program Proves Successful
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Middle school children learn about illegal substances and may avoid alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs through a Florida 4-H program, administered by UF/IFAS.

Released: 22-Oct-2014 2:00 PM EDT
Baby Cries Show Evidence of Cocaine Exposure During Pregnancy
University of North Carolina Health Care System

A new study conducted by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers provides the first known evidence of how a similar acoustic characteristic in the cry sounds of human infants and rat pups may be used to detect the harmful effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on nervous system development.

14-Oct-2014 9:00 AM EDT
Binge Drinking in Young Men Linked with Increased Risk of Hypertension
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

Binge drinking in early adulthood is associated with an increased likelihood of high blood pressure in males.

17-Oct-2014 12:00 PM EDT
Researchers Identify Key Factor in Transition from Moderate to Problem Drinking
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

A team of UC San Francisco researchers has found that a tiny segment of genetic material known as a microRNA plays a central role in the transition from moderate drinking to binge drinking and other alcohol use disorders.

Released: 14-Oct-2014 10:00 AM EDT
Three Studies Shed New Light on the Effectiveness of Cannabis in Epilepsy
American Epilepsy Society (AES)

In advance of the American Epilepsy Society’s (AES) Annual Meeting in December, the organization has offered highlights of groundbreaking research being studied at a number of institutions regarding the effectiveness of cannibidiol (CBD) and its derivatives as a viable treatment for people with epilepsy.

Released: 3-Oct-2014 4:00 PM EDT
High Alcohol Consumption Associated with an Increased Risk of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Men
Moffitt Cancer Center

Men who consume more alcohol have a greater risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, according to a recent study by Moffitt Cancer Center researchers.

Released: 1-Oct-2014 9:35 AM EDT
NYU Study Finds Relationship Between Neighborhood Drug Sales and Drug Use
New York University

The study looks at neighborhood factors as a cause to explain illicit drug use, exploring the associations between the perceived frequency of drug sales, drug use, and peer attitudes towards drug use.

Released: 25-Sep-2014 1:00 PM EDT
The Dangers of Teens Using Weed
Loyola Medicine

Whether states should legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use is a hot topic across the country. As the debates continue a potentially dangerous environment is being created where more preteens, teens and young adults are beginning to use the substance with the feeling that it is safe.

Released: 23-Sep-2014 1:00 PM EDT
Teens World-Wide Self-Medicate with Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs
Health Behavior News Service

Adolescents around the world are frequently using over-the-counter and prescription medications without a doctor’s order, a risky practice that can lead to overuse and abuse and is often continued into adulthood, reveals a new review in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Released: 17-Sep-2014 1:25 PM EDT
The Medical Minute: Identifying Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Penn State Health

The number of teens who abuse tobacco, alcohol, drugs and other substances hasn’t changed much in the past couple of decades – but for those who are prone to addiction for one reason or another, the menu of substances to choose from is larger than ever.

Released: 15-Sep-2014 9:15 AM EDT
Concept of Time May Predict Impulsive Behavior, Research Finds
Kansas State University

New study finds that individuals with impulsive behaviors have poor timing abilities. Researchers hope this finding will lead to behavioral interventions for clinical disorders like substance abuse and obesity that are linked to impulsive behavior.

Released: 12-Sep-2014 1:00 PM EDT
Can I Drink While Pregnant? Brain Imaging Expert Weighs In
Children's Hospital Los Angeles Saban Research Institute

During the month of August, two publications delved into the decades-old debate questioning exactly how drastically a mother’s alcohol consumption while pregnant affects her child in the future. We asked Elizabeth Sowell, PhD, director of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory to share her thoughts:

Released: 8-Sep-2014 4:00 PM EDT
Religious Youths Are Less Likely to Experiment with Drugs and Alcohol, Baylor Study Finds
Baylor University

Young people who regularly attend religious services and describe themselves as religious are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol, according to a new study.

Released: 4-Sep-2014 8:25 AM EDT
Cocaine Rewires the Brain: New Study to Unlock Keys That Could Disrupt Addiction
University at Buffalo

Why do cocaine addicts relapse after months or years of abstinence? The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded a University at Buffalo scientist a $2 million grant to conduct research that will provide some answers.

Released: 4-Sep-2014 2:00 AM EDT
Cannabis Prevents the Negative Behavioral and Physiological Effects of a Traumatic Event and of Its Reminders
University of Haifa

Administering synthetic marijuana (cannabinoids) soon after a traumatic event can prevent PTSD-like (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms in rats, caused by the trauma and by trauma reminders

Released: 3-Sep-2014 10:00 AM EDT
‘Drink Responsibly’ Messages in Alcohol Ads Promote Products, Not Public Health
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Alcohol industry magazine ads reminding consumers to “drink responsibly” or “enjoy in moderation” fail to convey basic public health information, according to a new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Released: 2-Sep-2014 10:00 AM EDT
NYC Teens/Young Adults who Abuse Prescription at High Risk for Overdose
New York University

A study in the International Journal of Drug Policy explores for the first time overdose-related knowledge and experiences of young adult nonmedical PO users to better understand how PO use relates to the likelihood and experience of overdose.

28-Aug-2014 11:00 AM EDT
Study Compares Consequences of Teen Alcohol and Marijuana Use
New York University

The researchers also found that alcohol use was more commonly reported to compromise relationships with friends and significant others (e.g., boyfriends); it was also reported to lead to more regret, particularly among females. Marijuana use on the other hand was more commonly reported to compromise relationships with teachers or supervisors, result in less energy or interest, and result in lower school or job performance.

25-Aug-2014 11:00 AM EDT
Real Tremors, or Drug-Seeking Patient? New App Can Tell
University of Toronto

New iPod smart phone app developed by University of Toronto measures frequency of tremors in alcoholics.

Released: 27-Aug-2014 1:00 PM EDT
Scripps Research Institute Scientists Link Alcohol-Dependence Gene to Neurotransmitter
Scripps Research Institute

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute solved the mystery of why a specific signaling pathway can be associated with alcohol dependence. The new research shows the gene, Nf1, regulates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that lowers anxiety and increases relaxation feelings.

Released: 26-Aug-2014 11:00 AM EDT
Study Finds Less Domestic Violence Among Married Couples Who Smoke Pot
University at Buffalo

New research findings from a study of 634 couples found that the more often they smoked marijuana, the less likely they were to engage in domestic violence.

   
22-Aug-2014 12:00 PM EDT
Methadone Treatment Suppresses Testosterone in Opioid Addicts
McMaster University

Treatment for opioid addiction tampers with the testosterone levels of male but not female opioid users.

21-Aug-2014 4:00 PM EDT
State Medical Marijuana Laws Linked to Lower Prescription Overdose Deaths
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

In states where it is legal to use medical marijuana to manage chronic pain and other conditions, the annual number of deaths from prescription drug overdose is 25 percent lower than in states where medical marijuana remains illegal, new research suggests.

22-Aug-2014 4:00 PM EDT
Penn Study Shows 25 Percent Fewer Opioid-Related Deaths in States Allowing Medical Marijuana
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

On average, states allowing the medical use of marijuana have lower rates of deaths resulting from opioid analgesic overdoses than states without such laws. Opioid analgesics, such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin, are prescribed for moderate to severe pain, and work by suppressing a person’s perception of pain. A new multi-institutional study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine and led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, examined the rate of deaths caused by opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2010. Results reveal that on average, the 13 states allowing the use of medical marijuana had a 24.8 percent lower annual opioid overdose mortality rate after the laws were enacted than states without the laws, indicating that the alternative treatment may be safer for patients suffering from chronic pain related to cancer and other conditions.

Released: 22-Aug-2014 10:00 AM EDT
Use a Rule of Thumb to Control How Much You Drink
Iowa State University

Sticking to a general rule of pouring just a half glass of wine limits the likelihood of overconsumption. That’s the finding of a new Iowa State and Cornell University study to be published in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Drug Policy.

   
Released: 18-Aug-2014 1:00 PM EDT
Interplay of Gender, Genes and Environment Produced Different Substance Abuse Outcomes
Indiana University

An Indiana U. study on substance abuse found that the interplay of gender, genetics and social integration produced different outcomes for men and women.

12-Aug-2014 2:15 PM EDT
Study Suggests Federal Law to Combat Use of ‘Club Drugs’ Has Done More Harm Than Good
American Sociological Association (ASA)

A federal law enacted to combat the use of “club drugs” such as Ecstasy — and today’s variation known as Molly — has failed to reduce the drugs’ popularity and, instead, has further endangered users by hampering the use of measures to protect them.

12-Aug-2014 3:20 PM EDT
Peers, but Not Peer Pressure, Key to Prescription Drug Misuse Among Young Adults
American Sociological Association (ASA)

Current efforts to prevent prescription drug misuse among young adults need to consider peers — but not peer pressure — according to a Purdue University study.



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