The Addiction Reporter

Substance Abuse Counselors Change View on Abstinence

Post author:Michael
Post published:11/21/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

According to a study recently published by the American Psychological Association, about 50 percent of substance abuse counselors believe that it’s acceptable for some alcohol abusers* to have an occasional drink as an intermediate or final treatment goal. When it comes to drug abusers, about half of counselors accept moderate drug use as an intermediate treatment goal, while only one-third of counselors accept it as a final goal.

*It should be noted that this survey question referred to “alcohol abusers” not “alcohol dependent individuals (fully addicted).

…

Chris Herrin’s Journey from Basketball Star to Junkie to Mentor

Post author:Michael
Post published:11/21/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

For a young man from Massachusetts who grew up dreaming about playing professional basketball, signing with the Boston Celtics would seem to be a dream come true. Instead, basketball legend Chris Herren saw his dream vanish due to a 14-year addiction to prescription pain pills, cocaine and heroin.

In the early 1990s, Herren was one of the most talented high school basketball players in the nation. His decision to attend Boston College University was covered by Sports Illustrated and other national magazines. Even before the college basketball season officially started, Herren failed a drug due to marijuana and cocaine use. In the first game of the season he suffered a broken wrist that benched him for the rest of the season. After failing two more drug tests, he was kicked off the team and expelled from the university.…

Study Says Sex Addiction is Real

Post author:Michael
Post published:11/02/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

Hypersexual disorder first grabbed media attention after celebrities like Jesse James, David Duchovny and Tiger Woods engaged in numerous affairs and were treated for “sex addiction.”

In the mental health field, sex addiction is known as hypersexual disorder. Although the idea that someone can be addicted to sex has been controversial, a new study supports treatment of hypersexual disorder as a legitimate mental health condition.

The American Psychiatric Association will consider hypersexual disorder a diagnosable mental health condition if scientists can identify criteria that accurately describe the behavior. It also must be shown that individuals who fit the criteria can benefit from diagnosis and treatment. A group of scientists have proposed a set of hypersexual disorder criteria and recently completed a study to test the criteria’s accuracy.…

2012 Opiate Babies

Post author:Michael
Post published:11/02/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:2 mins read

Similar to the cocaine-exposed babies of the 1980s, many children in today’s world are born dependent on prescription opiates.

Very little is known about the effects opiates have on their development, but obviously it does not affect them for the better.

A very small percentage of licensed professionals are even willing to care for and treat pregnant women that are addicted to opiates.…

Some States Pass Involuntary Commitment Laws for Addiction Treatment, but Face Challenges

Post author:Michael
Post published:10/29/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:4 mins read

What do you do if someone you love is abusing drugs or alcohol and refuses to seek treatment? This was the situation Sharon Blair (pictured, far left) found herself in when she spent 13 years trying to get her daughter, Jennifer Reynolds (pictured, far right), treatment for prescription medication abuse. Unfortunately, Blair was not able to get her daughter the help she needed, and Reynolds died from a drug overdose in 2009.

Blair lives in Florida, where a person who is abusing drugs or alcohol may be involuntarily committed to a detox program. Florida’s involuntary commitment law for addiction treatment requires that a relative or loved file a petition, pay a fee, and demonstrate the addict’s need for treatment. After meeting all of these requirements, the court may only order involuntary commitment for a maximum period of 72 hours.…

2C-I or “Smiles” Linked to Recent Deaths

Post author:Michael
Post published:10/26/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

Authorities are investigating whether a new designer drug played a role in a gruesome Los Angeles homicide that involved a young actor.

Johnny Lewis, who appeared in the series “Sons of Anarchy,” is suspected of being under the influence of 2C -I (also known as “Smiles”) when he allegedly beat his 81-year-old landlady to death and then attacked a neighbor. The neighbor managed to escape and Lewis was later found dead by police after he apparently fell from a wall at the neighbor’s house.…

For Teens – Marijuana Can Have Lasting Effects on the Brain

Post author:Michael
Post published:10/24/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

The majority of marijuana users believe the myth that it’s a harmless, non-addictive drug. They may even extol the medicinal value of the drug, despite the fact that the FDA has never approved its use for the treatment of any medical conditions. They may not be aware that recent research indicates that marijuana use can have a lasting effect on the brain.

Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, recently highlighted current marijuana research on the NIDA website. One of the most important research projects is a major new study that indicates that heavy marijuana use by teenagers can lead to a drop in IQ in adulthood.…

Rural vs. Urban Substance Abuse Differences

Post author:Michael
Post published:10/24/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

There are many differences between city dwellers and their country counterparts, from type of employment to entertainment choices. According to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), people who live in rural settings are more likely to seek treatment for different patterns of substance abuse when compared to city dwellers. In rural areas, those seeking treatment are most likely to have problems with alcohol and non-heroin opiates like OxyContin, while urban populations are more likely to seek treatment for addiction to heroin and cocaine.…

Using Science to Fight Addiction

Post author:Michael
Post published:10/22/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 21 million Americans currently need treatment for a substance abuse disorder. Ninety percent of them will not receive treatment; many will end up incarcerated because of crimes related to their addiction.

Since that report was released, an increasing number of doctors and scientists are calling for more recognition of addiction as a brain disorder. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of Drug Control Policy and the leading drug authority in the government, spoke out against current perceptions of addiction in a speech delivered at the Betty Ford Center. Kerlikowske characterized addiction as a “chronic disease of the brain” rather than a moral failing on the part of the individual.…

Doctor Charged with Manslaughter in Eight Overdose Death – Including Slipknot Bassist Paul Gray

Post author:Michael
Post published:09/25/2012
Post category:Uncategorized
Reading time:3 mins read

An Iowa doctor who supplied Slipknot bassist Paul Gray with prescription painkillers has been charged with eight count of manslaughter.

Gray, who struggled for years with addiction, was found dead in a hotel room in Des Moines in May 2010. The 38-year-old musician was the victim of an overdose of morphine and fentanyl (a morphine substitute). Paul Gray founded Slipknot in 1995; the heavy metal band was known for wearing masks while performing.

Daniel Baldi, a 50-year-old doctor who helped run a pain clinic in Des Moines, could face up to 16 years in prison if found guilty. He began writing high dosage prescriptions for narcotic painkillers for Gray in 2005, despite knowing that the musician was struggling with drug addiction. The doctor pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charges related to the overdose death of Gray and seven other patients.…