the likelihood of sustained abstinence increased with increases in the number of treatment episodes in the first six months

The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) is widely used to assess adolescent drinking-related problems. The predictive power of RAPI scores, however, has not been examined on a longitudinal basis. A new study of RAPI has confirmed that not only is it an effective screening assessment, but...

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that high levels of a stress hormone in recovering alcoholics could increase the risk of relapse. The study showed that cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stress, is found in high levels in chronic alcoholics,...

Focused programs and public health policies can help reduce the burden of alcohol in Canada, which contributes significantly to acute and chronic diseases, social problems and trauma, states an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). The analysis, by researchers at the...

Rural underage binge drinkers put their health at risk Binge drinking is often considered to be a problem of towns and cities but new research published in BioMed Central’s open access journal BMC Public Health shows that binge drinking in rural areas is more of a problem than previously...

Previous Month's Illegal Drug Use By County Demographic in 2009

When horror stories about bath salts and synthetic marijuana began circulating, lawmakers in Pennsylvania acted swiftly to ban the so-called fake drugs. But manufacturers are even quicker. Today is the first day that brands of bath salts, synthetic pot and salvia are illegal in this...

For years, researchers have published papers that associate chronic stress with chromosomal damage. . “We believe this paper is the first to propose a specific mechanism through which a hallmark of chronic stress, elevated adrenaline, could eventually cause DNA damage that is detectable,”...

As we prepare to send kids back to classrooms for another school year, it’s important to equip parents and caregivers with the tools for talking with their children about alcohol. This issue is especially personal for me because my beautiful 15-year-old daughter, Alisa Joy, was killed by an...

When it comes to mental illness, the sexes are different: Women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression, while men tend toward substance abuse or antisocial disorders, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.   Published online in...