Articles By: modell

Medical Marijuana Abuse

By Leslie Thompson In recent years, the medicinal value of marijuana has largely been scrutinized and contested. Proponents of the drug argue that cannabis provides help for individuals with life-threatening illnesses; opponents contend that there isn’t enough medical evidence to prove that marijuana...
June 18th, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More

Your Brain on Drugs

By Colin Gilbert The human brain is wired for survival; it is programmed to promote the longevity of both the individual and the species. One of the main ways it helps us survive is by initiating specific cravings. Hunger and thirst, for example, remind us (sometimes quite urgently) that we need to eat...
June 18th, 2009 | Types of Addiction | Read More

Amy Winehouse “In Denial” Over Addiction

Amy Winehouse, the 25-year-old British singer who consistently makes headlines due to alcohol and drug abuse, is “in denial” over her drug addiction and continues to drink heavily, according to her parents. Janis Winehouse, her mother, said that “the need to rescue her is enormous. Amy is in denial...
June 17th, 2009 | Addiction in the Media | Read More

Colleges Team up with Communities to Reduce Binge Drinking

Researchers found that an alcohol control program at Western Washington University that also involved the community—including police efforts—led to a decline in binge drinking by college students. The findings highlight the importance of college-community cooperation in combating problem drinking,...
June 16th, 2009 | Alcohol Addiction | Read More

The Dangers of Datura

Perhaps you’ve heard the term “Hell’s Bells” in reference to a pretty plant with trumpet-shaped white, yellow, pink, or purple flowers. What you might not know is that most parts of the plant contain toxic hallucinogens, and that it has a long history of causing delirious states and death.
June 15th, 2009 | Dissociative Drugs | Read More

The Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol

By Colin Gilbert From an early age, Michael struggled with anxiety and depression. As a child, he always felt awkward in social gatherings, and, as a result, he did his best to avoid social interaction during adolescence and into his early teenage years. Solitude made him feel more comfortable, yet he...
June 12th, 2009 | Types of Addiction | Read More

Danny Gans’ Death Linked to Painkiller Dilaudid

Las Vegas performer and comedian Danny Gans was known as “The Man of Many Voices,” and made his name through song, dance, and impressions ranging from Sammy Davis Jr. to Kermit the Frog. He was a permanent performer throughout Las Vegas, but his life ended abruptly at the age of 52 on May 1, 2009. A...
June 10th, 2009 | Prescription Drug Addiction | Read More

Stanford Addiction Doctor Had Drug Cocktail in System

The Stanford neurosurgeon who died in a solo plane crash near Lake Tahoe in August 2008 had a cocktail of drugs in his system, including opiates, cocaine, Prozac, mood stabilizers, and anti-psychotic drugs. The accomplished doctor was known for his work on the neuropharmacology of addiction and had a...
June 8th, 2009 | Addiction in the Media | Read More

Meth Project Uses Disturbing Ads to Send Message about Meth Addiction

Perhaps you’ve seen the ads—one shows a hunched-over, bloodied woman with the caption, “My mother knew I’d never hurt her, then she got in the way.” Another image shows a jail cell complete with bunk beds and a urinal that reads, “No one thinks they’ll spend a romantic evening here. Meth...
June 5th, 2009 | Stimulants, Types of Addiction | Read More

One in Ten Youth are Addicted to Video Games

Many people casually joke that their children are “addicted” to television or video games, but a recent study from Iowa State University shows that nearly one in ten American youths (aged 8 to 18) are pathological video game players. This means their video game habits cause family, social, school,...
June 3rd, 2009 | Addiction in the Media | Read More