What Does Addiction Do to the Brain?
What Does Addiction Do to the Brain? It is well-known that addiction and substance abuse is bad for your body. Health can quickly deteriorate, behaviors change and your brain goes through a lot of abuse and chemical changes. But, what exactly are these damages and what does addiction do to the brain? When learning the […]
Is There a Cure for Addiction?
Is There a Cure for Addiction? Addiction is a chronic condition that leads to overdose and death. Addiction ruins lives, families and devastates communities. If you are suffering from addiction, it can be normal to ask yourself hard questions such as, “will I suffer from addiction forever? Is there a cure for addiction?” While there […]
The Truth about HIV Transmission among Addicts and Alcoholics: Charlie Sheen’s HIV Announcement on the Today Show
The Truth about HIV Transmission among Addicts and Alcoholics: Charlie Sheen’s HIV Announcement on the Today Show After watching the Today Show[i] interview with Charlie Sheen, I felt a profound sense of sadness. I should be desensitized to this by now, witnessing firsthand the wreckage that comes with drug addiction and alcoholism, but I’m not. […]
Child Abuse Prepares the Brain for a Lifetime of Mental Health Issues
Child Abuse Prepares the Brain for a Lifetime of Mental Health Issues We can see the aftermath of childhood trauma on brain scans. Children who are abused, physically, emotionally, sexually or neglected, have different adult brains than their counterparts who were not abused. Current research suggests that those who were abused are left vulnerable to […]
Alcohol Risks Rise with Long Work Hours
Alcohol Risks Rise with Long Work Hours Individuals whose working hours exceed standard recommendations are more likely to increase their alcohol use to levels that pose a health risk. This is the conclusion from a newly published report of the systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished data. Risky alcohol consumption is more […]
Treating Depression with Ketamine
Treating Depression with Ketamine Small studies at prestigious medical centers like Yale, Mount Sinai and the National Institute of Mental Health suggest that a drug called ketamine can relieve depression in many people not helped by widely used conventional antidepressants like Prozac or Lexapro. At this time, there is little support for this treatment model, […]
“Magic Mushrooms” Might Be More Magic than We First Thought
“Magic Mushrooms” Might Be More Magic than We First Thought In 1960, two promising young psychologists at Harvard, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, began to explore the effects of psychotropic substances on the human mind. They believed that psilocybin, the active chemical in “magic” mushrooms, had the power to change people’s brains for the better. They […]
Alzheimer’s May Be Linked to Benzodiazepine Use
Alzheimer’s May Be Linked to Benzodiazepine Use A study by French and Canadian scientists has found evidence that people who take benzodiazepines have a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease currently affects about 36 million people worldwide and this number is expected to double every 20 years, reaching 115 million by 2015. The […]
Try Meditation for Help with Addiction or Depression
Try Meditation for Help with Addiction or Depression Many people who suffer with depression become addicted to drugs; drug abusers and addicts often become depressed. It can be a vicious cycle leaving individuals, friends and family frustrated and suffering from feelings of hopelessness. It can be incredibly difficult for addicts to remain sober if they […]
Sleeping Pill Nightmare
Sleeping Pill Nightmare There are tens of millions of Americans who regularly take sleeping pills. Ambien, or a generic form of it, is one of the most popular and commonly prescribed sleeps aids in America. It was approved by the FDA in 1992 and was originally thought to be much safer than experience has proven […]