Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/30/2009)

Dear RecoveryHelper.org Readers,

Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/30/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org.

Addiction Recovery News

Insight Into The Way Nicotine Works In The Brain
A tiny genetic mutation is the key to understanding why nicotine — which binds to brain receptors with such addictive potency — is virtually powerless in muscle cells that are studded with the same type of receptor. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines) MedWorm Supporter Message: Learn more about drug and alcohol addiction treatment options at The Addiction Recovery Guide. Join discussions on an active addiction message board with forums organized by drug-type at The Addiction Recovery Guide. (More)

Alcohol-Related Flushing Among Asians Could Signal Cancer Risk
East Asians who have an enzyme deficiency that makes them flush when consuming alcohol appear to be at high risk of developing esophageal cancer if they drink heavily, according to a study from the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and Japan’s Kurihama Alcohol Center. (More)

New Jersey Senator Calls for FDA to Ban E-Cigarettes
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) is calling for a ban on ‘e-cigarettes’ — electronic nicotine delivery-devices that resemble normal cigarettes but don’t burn tobacco — until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certifies that they are safe. (More)

Mass. Towns Seek Ban on Public Marijuana Use
Massachusetts towns are enacting bylaws that impose fines for public smoking of marijuana – a tactic that advocates consider an effort to subvert the will of voters who overwhelmingly approved marijuana decriminalization in the Commonwealth last fall. (More)

Is It Really About Alcohol? The Truth About Alcohol Abuse In Women
Six million women in the U.S. abuse or are dependent on alcohol, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Frequent binge drinking in women’s colleges increased by 124 percent between 1993 and 2001. Nearly 21. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) (More)

Naltrexone Can Help Heavy Social Drinkers Quit Smoking
Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist approved in 1994 by the US Food and Drug Administration for alcohol-dependence treatment, can reduce relapse rates among AD patients. Research on naltrexone’s effectiveness on nicotine dependence is less clear, although researchers believe it may be helpful for specific smoker subgroups. A new study has found that naltrexone can help non-AD smokers who drink heavily on a social basis. (More)

New Video Explores the Neurochemistry of Relapse and Recovery
The reasons that people give up their compulsive use of drugs vary, but they almost always include survival. The video explains the role of memory bumps, the brain’s stop and go switches using an allergy as an analogy to explain substance abuse. (More)

Addiction Recovery Articles

The Danger of Life on Crystal Meth
The abuse of and addiction to methamphetamines and crystal meth is a serious and growing global problem at present. A prohibited and addictive schedule II drug, it is known on the streets as speed, ice, crystal meth, crank, and cristy. It is available through a valid prescription and, if used incorrectly, will lead to a dangerous dependency. (More)

Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Alcoholism is not very uncommon nowadays. It is usually defined as the uncontrollable urge and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Some describe it as a disease while others see it as an addiction. Tr… (More)

The Problem With Dual-Diagnosis in Addiction Treatment
Dual-diagnosis – diagnosing someone with both a substance abuse problem and a mental or emotional condition at the same time – is a growing trend in the field of addiction treatment. Alcoholics or drug addicts are treated for both their addiction and their other problems concurrently. However, many of those treated for dual-diagnosis may never get the help they need for either problem. (More)

Simple Yet Effective Tips About Marijuana Rehab
Prolonged addiction to Marijuana causes innumerable psychological, behavioral and physical health complications. Most common side effect associated with this drug is it decreases the reaction time. It is for this reason that most of the people who drive after taking this drug die in fatal accidents. (More)

This newsletter is provided by RecoveryHelper.org.

Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/22/2009)

Dear RecoveryHelper.org Readers,

Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/22/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org.

Addiction Recovery News

Confessional book tells story of addiction (Asbury Park Press)
The members of Korn are about to get a big apology from one of their own — and you can read it along with them. (More)

College confab focuses on addiction (Casper Star-Tribune)
The Casper College Wellness Conference has featured discussions on a variety of physical and mental health issues. (More)

Safety Concerns Raised Over Wakefulness Drug Modafinil
A drug used to treat narcolopsy, modafinil, appears to have the potential for addiction (Source: TIME: Top Science and Health Stories) MedWorm Supporter Message: Learn more about drug and alcohol addiction treatment options at The Addiction Recovery Guide. Join discussions on an active addiction message board with forums organized by drug-type at The Addiction Recovery Guide. (More)

Cognitive enhancement drug may also cause addiction
Modafinil’s effect on the brain suggests it could be addictive for some. (Source: news@nature.com) (More)

Study: ‘Smart drug’ Provigil may be habit-forming
CHICAGO (AP) — A so-called “smart drug” popular with young people may carry more of an addiction risk than thought, a small government study suggests. Scans of 10 healthy men showed that the prescription drug Provigil caused changes in the brain’s pleasure center, very much like potentially habit-forming classic stimulants. Modafinil, the drug’s generic name, is sometimes used as an illegal study aid by college students…. (Source: AP Top Health News) (More)

Addiction recovery program sues city (The Daily Advance)
A nonprofit addiction recovery program has sued the City of Elizabeth City, claiming land-use decisions discriminated against the program on grounds of religion and disability. (More)

Addiction Recovery Articles

The Disease of Addiction
In 1956 the American Medical Association (AMA) declared Addiction to alcohol and other drugs, to be a disease. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) followed the AMA, in 1960. Addiction to AOD … (More)

Our Responsibilities May Be Hazardous to Our Health
An old joke that has floated around recovery circles for years tells the story of a relatively young man who passes away. Among his acquaintances, it was a well-known but not acknowledged fact that he couldn’t stop drinking. At the wake, one of the deceased’s old friends who had not seen his widow in quite some time approached her solemnly and after offering condolences, asked, “How did this happen?” (More)

America’s Drug Dependency is Frightening!
It’s a real shame that the medical society and the drug industry has so much influence convincing people that their drugs heal diseases and illnesses. When you watch TV you can bet you will be exposed to at least a half-dozen drug commercials every hour. America is the only country except New Zealand that allows drug advertising on TV. We need to eliminate it here. (More)

Addiction Intervention
There are strong emotions attached to any addiction intervention. The losses from the addiction seem more real at the start of an intervention, more serious when the family is ready to actually do an addiction intervention and starts to take action. (More)

This newsletter is provided by RecoveryHelper.org.

Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/12/2009)

Dear RecoveryHelper.org Readers,

Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/12/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org.

Addiction Recovery News

Drug Addicts Recover with Help from the 12 Step Program (KNDO – KNDU Tri-Cities)
YAKIMA, Wash.- What’s working in Yakima to help fight drug and alcohol addiction? People say the local 12 step programs are helping them recover. (More)

Unsung Hero Award goes to head of group that helps people with recovery (Victoria Times Colonist)
Recipient Gordon Harper is the executive director of the Umbrella Society for Addictions and Mental Health. (More)

Long-Term Recovery Options Increase Long Term Abstinence From Drugs (Medical News Today)
Addicted women’s abstinence from drugs and alcohol is directly proportional to the length of time they stay in a structured, long-term recovery program, according to new research. In a 2009 New Jersey CASA study, long-term recovery doubled rates of abstinence (47% vs. 24%) and full-time employment (22% vs. 9%) for women patients by their 24th month of treatment. (More)

Maternal Methadone Use And The Consequences On Baby
450 drug-dependent women prescribed substitute methadone delivered babies of singleton pregnancies at the Princess Royal Maternity in Glasgow over three years from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006. The hospital has a comprehensive care pathway to deal with such women from the pre- to the postnatal periods. Researchers found a strong association between social deprivation and drug misuse in pregnancy, with 77. (Source: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs News From Medical News Today) (More)

Addiction Recovery Articles

Emotional Sobriety in Recovery
Simply staying sober from alcohol and achieving emotional sobriety are two different things. Now obviously, in order to have emotional sobriety in your recovery, you have to have established a firm baseline of physical abstinence from alcohol. This is really a given and should come as no surprise to anyone. (More)

Considering a Private Residential Treatment Program? Part 1 of 4
Private residential treatment programs offer a range of services, including drug and alcohol treatment, confidence building, military-style discipline, and psychological counseling for a variety of addiction, behavioral, and emotional problems. So which residential treatment program should you choose? There are a wide variety of programs, privately funded, free, state funded and subsidized. The problem is finding them and making the decision. This article is going to try to help you ask some questions about the program to help clarify if this program will work for you. (More)

Protecting Children Exposed to Drugs
No matter how you look at it, even if you are a parent who ensures good education and an environment of productivity for your child, still the dispute over drugs is everywhere and is already uncontrol… (More)

This newsletter is provided by RecoveryHelper.org.

Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/4/2009)

Dear RecoveryHelper.org Readers,

Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Newsletter (3/4/2009). In this edition we have included news, articles and videos. You can find more resources on our website: RecoveryHelper.org.

Addiction Recovery News

Homes for recovering addicts in B.C. overcrowded, unsafe: ex-residents (CBC)
Dozens of B.C. homes have been turned into rooming houses for addicts who want to kick their habit – but former residents and neighbours complain some of the privately run ‘recovery homes’ are overcrowded, unsupervised, dirty and unsafe to live in. (More)

The Onset and Use of Non-medical Drugs
Research lead by the University of Otago, Christchurch provides useful new information on the extent of drug use in New Zealand, and when people first begin using drugs for non-medical purposes. (Source: Huliq Health News) MedWorm Supporter Message: Learn more about drug and alcohol addiction treatment options at The Addiction Recovery Guide. Join discussions on an active addiction message board with forums organized by drug-type at The Addiction Recovery Guide. (More)

Drugs Facilitate More Than 20% Of Sexual Assaults
A new research published in CMAJ (http://www.cmaj.ca/press/pg513.pdf) establishes that of the 882 sexually assaulted sampled victims, more than 20% percent were drug-facilitated. The victims were most likely employed and living in big cities, and had consumed over-the-counter medicine, illegal drugs, or alcohol before the attack. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) (More)

In the Shadow of Alcoholism
A woman admits her addiction and takes the first step in rebuilding her life. (Source: ABC News: Health) (More)

Addiction Recovery Articles

Tips to Stop Drug Cravings – Take Action Now to Control Alcohol and Other Drug Cravings
Most people experience cravings in the early days of recovery from alcoholism or drug addiction. Cravings do not necessarily lead to relapse. Cravings can be prevented or managed so that relapse does not occur. A list of tools and techniques are given to help manage cravings and avoid relapse. (More)

Alcoholism Intervention
Denial a Huge Problem – If you are a friend or a family member of someone who is either abusing alcohol or already addicted, you’re probably wondering what you can do to help. The biggest problem you face is that the abuser or addict thinks this is YOUR problem, or you’re making a fuss over nothing. “I can handle it.” The last one in the room to know there is a problem is the one who has it. (More)

How Spirituality Can Help One Overcome Addiction
Many people have found that by including spirituality into their addiction treatment they can overcome addiction more easily and successfully. Many popular addiction programs, such as Alcoholics Anony… (More)

What You Must Know About Alcohol Detox and Alcohol Rehab Centers
It’s important to understand and know from the outset that trained medical experts should be used to supervise any type of alcohol detox that takes place amongst sufferers who are hoping to eliminate the effects of alcohol and subsequent addiction side effects from their body. It’s naive to believe that an alcohol detox is all that’s required in turning a sufferer’s life around. An alcohol detox is one of the many steps that sufferers have to take in order to be free of the deadly disease of alcoholism. (More)

This newsletter is provided by RecoveryHelper.org.