drug addiction

Don't get high on your own supply

An article from Forensic Sciences International investigated evidence for addiction in anaesthetists by analysing hair samples. The paper reports on four court cases where anaesthetists were suspended for suspected addiction to the drugs they use to put people to sleep or kill pain during operations. Each case involved hair analysis to gather evidence, owing to the fact that many drugs will leave traces in the hair as it grows, leaving a timeline of drug use. Chemical dependency is a disease tha...

Obesity policy: fat lot of good

With both Alan Johnson and David Cameron recently devoting speeches to lashing out at lard arses, the size of the average Briton’s waistline is clearly expanding, both literally and as a political issue. Over half the UK population – 53%, according to recent stats – is now classified as either overweight or obese, putting them at increased risk of a range of health problems, from diabetes and cancer to heart attack and strokes. But does either the health secretary or the leader of the oppo...

New insight into how brains process antidepressants, and addictive drugs

Discoveries may lead to new therapies for mental illnesses, addiction In a first, scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University Medical Center have described the how brain cells process antidepressant drugs, cocaine and amphetamines. These novel findings may prove useful in the development of more targeted medications for a host of psychiatric diseases, most notably in the area of addiction. Their breakthrough research, reported in a recent issue of Molecular Cell, descri...

Harold and Kumar Still Smoking

Dude. Wanna make another movie? Our partners at Variety have alerted us to the fact that Harold & Kumar are coming back for thirds. The plot is "being kept under wraps," but we think it will have something to do with the overwhelming sense of despair that seems to afflict so many of us in this overmediated, post-millenial era. Either that or bong jokes. Still, aren't good-natured low-budget stoner comedies supposed to be a gateway drug for harder stuff? By our reckoning, the hydroponic duo shoul...

Horizon Village to expand mental health, addiction services for veterans

War veterans in Western New York who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction will soon have additional help with the construction of a 25-bed addition at Horizon Village in Sanborn.

Researchers Tell Docs to Treat Addiction Like Diabetes, Other Conditions

Addiction researchers tell doctors that drug dependence has much in common with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma, and should be insured, treated and evaluated in a like manner.

Lollapalooza On TV

Good news for those of you who can't make it to Chicago in August for the always-awesome Lollapalooza festival: Fuse, the cable television music network, is setting up shop at this year's three-day blowout, Aug. 1-3 at Grant Park, to broadcast performances, interviews, and breaking news. Headliners include Radiohead, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, and Gnarls Barkley. In other Fuse news, the network is stepping up its original programming, which could mean we're in for some cool music-related real...

Andy Dick Arrested Again

Andy Dick got arrested early this morning (bar closing time) for drug and sexual battery charges at Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Murrieta, California. He was grabbing a 17-year-old's breasts and then pulled her bra down exposing her. Plain and simple: Andy go to rehab! I remember seeing you at the VH1 party at the old LG house in Malibu last year having an intimate conversation with Dr. Drew (hopefully talking about your addiction problem)...why have you NOT gone to celeb. rehab yet or gott...

CASA 2002 Teen Survey: For First Time Majority of Teens Say their School is Drug Free

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University announces the release of The National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens, Parents and Siblings.

Hair's-breadth separates pleasurable reward from fearful dread

Dopamine's opposing effects separated by a few millimeters in the brain The neurotransmitter dopamine induces both desire and dread, according to new animal research published in the July 9 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Although dopamine is well known to motivate animals and people to seek positive rewards, the study indicates that it also can promote negative feelings like fear. The finding may help explain why dopamine dysfunction is implicated not only in drug addiction, which involve...