Just like alcohol, heroin and cocaine, nicotine is a drug that leads to addiction. In the brain, it increases levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward that often develop into cravings. Research has shown that 95 percent of adult cigarette […]
Of all the ongoing medicinal and recreational marijuana debates in the country, whether or not pot is addictive ranks near the top of the list. Proponents of marijuana use continue to claim that it’s safe despite higher potency products and more efficient delivery systems, which […]
Since the beginning of the modern era, teenagers have been exposed to things that didn’t exist when their parents were younger. Whether it be certain types of music, technology or any number of pop culture trends, teens are more likely to experiment than their elders. […]
The good news is that teenage drug and alcohol use, overall, is down. This is according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) 2015 Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF), which released the report in December. The troublesome aspect of the survey, however, is the […]
Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of addiction is being a witness to a family member or friend’s painful struggle with drug and alcohol dependency. Very often the shame and guilt that those trapped in a cycle of addiction feel about letting down their […]
Monday, March 22 to Sunday, March 28, 2021 Among teenagers in the United States, the use of alcohol, prescription painkillers and cigarettes actually declined in 2014. This, however, is no time to get lazy as research suggests there’s a lack of perceived harm from youth […]
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 […]
Teenagers are in a difficult “in-between” time of life. They’re no longer children, and they’re not yet adults. Not only are they experiencing a physiological and hormonal awakening, but psychologically they’re beginning to think for themselves. Balancing a teen’s need for privacy while protecting them […]
Maybe you’ve seen an exotic-looking hookah in the window of a smoke shop, or been to a party where people were using one or, perhaps, you’re one of a growing number of people visiting hookah bars, cafes and lounges. If you don’t know what we’re […]
There’s no denying that America’s attitude toward drug abuse and addiction is changing. The U.S. spends more than $51 billion annually on in its war on drugs, and not only has the problem not gone away, many experts believe that this “war” is doing more […]
