Learning how the brain responds to pleasure has blasted the doors of addiction research wide open. Though there’s still a vast amount of unknowns where the neuroscience of substance abuse is concerned, researchers understand how the brain’s reward and pleasure centers are hijacked by drugs […]
Since the launch of drunk driving campaigns in the late 1970’s, public awareness surrounding the deadly consequences of operating a vehicle while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol has been high. Other measures, such as open-container laws, the more modern DUI checkpoints and greater access […]
In the same way that public awareness has changed society’s behavior regarding cigarette smoking, America’s consumption of alcohol is also evolving. The AMC Network show “Mad Men,” which revolved around the life of Don Draper, an executive at a Madison Avenue advertising agency in the […]
Lesley Stahl recently interviewed Patrick Kennedy, the son of Ted Kennedy, on a 60 Minutes episode in which he opened up about his own alcoholism and how addiction affected his family. In an era when there is still a stigma and shame that surrounds people […]
Driving while intoxicated (DUI) has produced an epidemic of alcohol-related vehicle fatalities that spawned organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and raised public awareness in hopes of preventing and reducing the number of deaths each year. Since campaigns such as “friends don’t let friends […]
Right or wrong, good or bad, a new reality has arrived at society’s front door, and it’s a nurse with a hangover treatment package complete with a vitamin-enriched IV drip. According to a Gallup Poll, in the United States, 66 percent of adults admit to […]
“Ghost bikes” are somber memorials for bicyclists who have died in a crash. Painted all white and chained up near the crash site, they’re often accompanied by a photograph and bio of the victim, as well as flowers and other small remembrances. Sadly, these memorial […]
Aging gracefully is sometimes easier said than done. Senior citizens, anyone aged 65 or older, face a number of challenges, from ailing health to the loss of a spouse and close friends. Many seniors suffer from depression that can stem from a lack of mobility […]
Addiction is a painful disease, and also a confusing one. Family and friends of an addict wonder why their loved one continues to abuse drugs and alcohol when it’s clear they’re destroying their life. “Why don’t they just stop?” is a question constantly asked. In […]
In Southern California, as in other states across the country, there’s a teenage house party underway, complete with drinking games, empty bottles of booze and loud music. The big difference with this party, though, is that it’s simulated. “Reality Parties” are a new trend that […]
