Creating Narcissism: How Your Parenting Could Lead Your Child to Addiction

Creating Narcissism: How Your Parenting Could Lead Your Child to Addiction It’s a complaint that many people make about the younger generation(s) – that they are self-obsessed and entitled to the point of being narcissistic. Certainly it is not true of every young person, but it is a troubling trend. However, recent research has suggested […]

Why AA is Bad Science…and What It Means for Your Addiction Treatment Options

Why AA is Bad Science…and What It Means for Your Addiction Treatment Options In an excellent piece in The Atlantic, writer Gabrielle Glaser gives an exposé on the lack of scientific evidence on the efficacy of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the preponderance of evidence that shows that not only does the lauded program fail to […]

Repairing Broken Women and Men

Cost of Opioid Treatment

Repairing Broken Women and Men Frederick Douglass is reported to have said, “It is easier to build strong children than to fix broken men.” It is something I think about often in my work as a person with substance use disorderion researcher. When I hear the life stories of those who seek treatment for their […]

Alcohol Abuse may be Related to Personal Activity Levels

Man sitting at a table thinking about his aftercare plan after leaving Cliffside Malibu, an addiction treatment center in Malibu, California.

Alcohol Abuse may be Related to Personal Activity Levels There is some evidence that physical activity may benefit individuals who are attempting to reduce their alcohol consumption. A study published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism found an association between physical activity and a lower risk of alcohol problems. Sedentary people had a higher risk […]

Alcohol Benefits to Health Not Accurate, Especially for the Elderly

Alcohol Benefits to Health Not Accurate, Especially for the Elderly

Alcohol Benefits to Health Not Accurate, Especially for the Elderly For years, many people have argued about the benefits of drinking small amounts of alcohol for health, arguing that moderate consumption may protect against cardiovascular disease. The association has been a contentious one, since study results may have been exaggerated or possibly skewed due to […]

Could Drug Abuse be Influencing the War(s) in the Middle East?

Could Drug Abuse be Influencing the War(s) in the Middle East? The Middle East is dealing with an epidemic of methamphetamine use. Could this be a factor in the growing tension in the region and offer at least a partial explanation for the lack of willingness to attempt negotiated resolutions? Consider a few facts: Meth […]

Alcohol, Marijuana, and Motor Vehicle Accidents: A Lethal Combination for Young People

what you need to know about vaping

Alcohol, Marijuana, and Motor Vehicle Accidents: A Lethal Combination for Young People Alcohol and marijuana are among the drugs most commonly used by adolescents and young adults. Use is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality for young people, especially motor vehicle crash fatality, which is a leading cause of death among those 18 to 25 […]

What’s the Difference Between Addiction and Obsession?

Woman looking out to sea, standing on the edge of a boat.

What’s the Difference Between Addiction and Obsession? When the average person thinks about addiction, they may think about someone who is dependent on drugs, alcohol, tobacco, shopping or gambling. People who suffer from addiction many times also have other co-occurring disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Addiction vs. Obsession There is a strong correlation between addiction […]

The Danger of Alcohol-Interactive Prescription Medications

The Danger of Alcohol-Interactive Prescription Medications Alcohol interacts negatively with numerous commonly prescribed medications. Yet, most drinkers do not understood about use of alcohol-interactive (AI) prescription medications. This is concerning since the majority of Americans consume alcoholic beverages, never knowing the potential danger they are in. A new study has found that almost 42 percent […]

Recovery and Resilience Connection

Recovery and Resilience Connection Resilience is defined as the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and keep going in the face of adversity. Learning to become more resilient can offer individuals the opportunity to improve their life, maximizing potential and success. As Diane Coutu so eloquently explains in How Resilience Works: “Resilient […]