Addictions News
Headlines: Winter/Spring 2012
1 in 5 White Women Have Smoked While Pregnant
One in five white woman have smoked cigarettes while pregnant, according to a new government study released today. more>
US Drug Use in Decline
The nation’s drug policy chief told an international commission meeting in Washington he’s optimistic illegal drug use in the United States can be reduced. more>
Amped, New Synthetic Drug Used to Get High
Amped, a new type of synthetic drug that falls into the street category of “bath salts,” is being used by people in Virginia to get high, and likely in other parts of the country as well. more>
Some Teens May Be Pre-Wired for Addiction
Babies instinctively clutch on fingers and seek out their mother’s voice. For many, it takes little effort to understand the difference between laughter and anger. But how instinctive is a teen’s desire to snort a line of coke? more>
Study Shows Widespread Misuse of Prescription Drugs
Nearly two out of three Americans don’t follow their doctor’s orders properly when taking prescription drugs, neglecting to take their medications or seeking out pills that weren’t intended for them, according to new research. more>
Child Injury Deaths Fell 30% in Decade, But Deaths Rose
Agency officials fear it may be difficult to lower the rate further, however, because of sharp increases in two areas: a 91% increase in poisoning deaths among teenagers during the period — primarily from prescription drug abuse — and a 54% increase in suffocation deaths among infants. more>
‘Tweaking Memories’ Could Help Addicts Avoid Relapsing
Manipulating memories of drug use may help reformed addicts avoid a return to a life of drug abuse, according to scientists in China. They said memories linking “cues” – such as needles or cigarettes – and the pleasurable effects of drugs caused cravings and relapsing. more>
FDA: Tobacco Companies Must Report Chemicals
Tobacco companies will be required to report the levels of dangerous chemicals found in cigarettes, chew, and other products under the latest rules designed to tighten regulation of the industry. more >
Company Develops Meth-Proof Pseudoephedrine
There’s new hope for fighting the scourge of methamphetamine and it comes from a Maryland Heights-based pharmaceutical company. more >
Dangerous Teen Craze Whip-Its Making a Comeback?
There is growing concern among health professionals that Whip-Its — small canisters filled with nitrous oxide that can be used as a recreational drug and were reportedly used by actress Demi Moore shortly before she was rushed to the hospital in January — are making a comeback among teenagers and young adults across the country. more >
ER Docs Don’t Recognize Signs of Fake Marijuana in Teens
As use of synthetic versions of marijuana such as “K2,” “Spice,” and “Blaze” becomes more common, a growing number of teens are showing up in hospital emergency rooms where physicians are unfamiliar with symptoms caused by the dangerous substances, says a new report. more>
Abuse in childhood Common Among Alcohol Addicts, Study Finds
Abuse in childhood appears to be a particularly strong risk factor for developing alcohol addiction later in life, researchers reported Thursday. Alcohol dependence is linked to many risk factors — including genetics, drinking in adolescence and having other mental health disorders. A history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse in childhood is known to be another risk factor. The new study, however, shows how strong this link could be. more>
US Backs Antismoking Ad Campaign
For the first time, the federal government will directly attack the nation’s tobacco addiction with a series of advertisements highlighting the grisly toll of smoking, a campaign that federal health officials hope will renew the stalled decline in the share of Americans who smoke. more>
Internet Addiction Linked to Drug Abuse
Parents already panicky about the amount of time their teenage children spend online may now have something new to worry about: All those hours spent Web surfing, chatting, gaming, texting and posting to Facebook could be a warning sign of substance abuse, according to a new study in the March issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine. more>
E-Cigarettes Draw Fire From Legislatures
There’s no smoke, but there’s plenty of fire. A growing number of states are taking aim at electronic cigarettes in the absence of federal regulations, intensifying a public-health debate over the fast-growing alternative to traditional cigarettes. more>
Ten Percent of American Adults Consider Themselves in Recovery From Drug or Alcohol Abuse
Ten percent of American adults consider themselves to be in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse problems, according to a new survey released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The findings indicate there are 23.5 million American adults who are overcoming an involvement with drugs or alcohol that they once considered to be problematic. more>
Teen Drivers & Marijuana: A ‘Dangerous Trend’
A growing percentage of teens do not see marijuana use as a distraction while driving, and nearly one in five (19%) say they have gotten behind the wheel after smoking pot, a study reported Wednesday. Thirteen percent of teens report driving under the influence of alcohol. more>
Emerging Threat of Synthetic Drugs
Readout of White House Drug Policy Director Kerlikowske’s Meeting with Public Health and Safety Officials on the Emerging Threat of Synthetic Drugs. more>
More than 7 Million Children Live With a Parent With Alcohol Problems
Full report. more >
Hall of Fame Begins Education Program on Banned Drugs
Those with the power to vote players into the Baseball Hall of Fame have been wary of potentially tarnishing the institution with inductees linked to performance-enhancing drugs. But the museum itself, which has no hand in the selection process, has continued to deal with the use of banned drugs. more >
Nearly Half of College Student Treatment Admissions Were for Primary Alcohol Abuse
Full report. more >
