Monday, October 31, 2005
Health - Keep Your Kids Drug-Free
Keep Your Kids Drug-Free
Ten real-life parenting tactics.
by Katherine Stewart
Like many parents, you may tow a "not my kids" line when it comes to drugs, just like the stance Mia Farrow's character takes in the Lifetime Original Movie "The Secret Life of Zoey." But studies suggest that abuse of illicit substances is more widespread than you might think. A 2001 report by the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education found that 35.3% of children in grades nine through 12 use drugs each year. The probability increases with age. Among 12th graders, drug use hovers at approximately 41%. How can you buck the odds and keep your kids drug-free? We asked experts and parents to share their tips:
1. Search for Signs
For many kids, drug use won't go further than experimentation, says Terry Horton, M.D., vice president of Phoenix House, the nation's largest drug treatment facility. "But even experimentation can have negative consequences or lead to dependency. A smart parent is aware of all the red flags indicating drug use," says Dr. Horton. Some common warning signs include depression, slipping grades, withdrawn behavior, poor grooming, as well as sleeping and concentration difficulties. For more information, check out the web site of the Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA).
2. Talk Amongst Yourselves
Talking is the best prevention, according to Doria Steedman, executive vice president of PDFA. "Kids really do care about what their parents have to say about drugs," she says. "Even when it seems as if your kids aren't listening to you, they really are paying attention." Don't worry about choosing exactly the right words; just get the discussion going. Research shows that staying silent puts your kids at higher risk of trying drugs, says Horton.
3. Stick to the Rules
Be a good disciplinarian, advises Cindy Rowe, research assistant professor with the Center for Treatment Research on Adolescent Drug Abuse at the University of Miami. "Set clear boundaries, such as establishing fixed curfews and enforcing them consistently," she says. "Kids need to know the rules of the house and what will happen if they break them." Kids who have a sense of structure in their lives are less likely to fall prey to drugs than are kids who don't have to follow rules and try to take shortcuts, says Horton.
4. Embrace Pop Culture
Movies such as "Traffic" and books such as "Go Ask Alice" are great springboards for discussions between you and your kids about drugs. Watch and read them together, and then share your thoughts openly, advises Rowe.
5. Call for Reinforcements
Look to guidance counselors, other parents or professionals for guidance on helping your kids stay the course. Rowe recommends the book "You and Your Adolescent," by Temple University psychologist Larry Steinberg. This book about the normal developmental processes of adolescence will help parents understand what the teen years are about. It may also help them to feel less overwhelmed with worry and to better comprehend the importance of their continuing involvement in their children's lives.
6. Tell Real-Life Stories
Terri Scribner, the mother of two, from Eupora, Mississippi, says, "I've explained to my son, who is 18, and my daughter, who is 15, how drugs can ruin any hope of a decent life. I tell them about the examples in our own family. My husband and I both have brothers and sisters who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, and two of my first cousins were killed due to driving while intoxicated." This kind of approach "is real and honest, and it explains a parent's basis for concern about why their kids shouldn't do drugs," says Horton.
7. Deliver the Facts
Your teen may be surrounded by peers who are experimenting with drugs and seem to be suffering no ill effects. Horton emphasizes that "if kids believe a drug is harmless, the likelihood of use goes up." Vague warnings about how drugs kill will ring false. Instead, offer specific details, such as how the popular drug Ecstasy can damage sensitive parts of the brain that are involved with learning and memory. Use news reports, advises Rowe. If you see an article or television segment about a drug-related health problem or accident, mention it to your child to start a conversation.
8. Encourage Healthy Alternatives
Suggest to your kids that they get involved with sports, art courses or community projects, advises Rowe, and do what you can to support their extracurricular activities. Besides building self-esteem, these activities reinforce pro-social values such as integrity, teamwork and responsibility. "These qualities will make children less susceptible to trying drugs," says Horton. Plus, if a coach or a teacher serves as a mentor, that's even better. "A child with a mentor is definitely at [decreased] risk," adds Horton.
9. Help Them Walk Away
"We knew our 14-year-old son would be offered drugs, so we helped him try different strategies for turning them down," says Sheila Mattel of Madison, Wisconsin. "We'd pretend to be some of his peers on the playground, offering him pot," she says. "One time he responded by saying, 'I don't feel like it.' We told him [that with such a response,] he might be approached again.... Then he responded in the next role-play with 'No thanks, that's not for me,' which we all agreed would work well."
10. Find Positive Role Models
Make sure your kids are not emulating celebrities that are sending pro-drug messages. Listen to the lyrics of songs they like and pay attention to what they watch on television, advises Rowe. More importantly, parents should set an example. Parents who use drugs greatly increase their children's chances of becoming drug-dependent. Above all, says Scribner, "Spend valuable time together as a family, and you'll see a child with high hopes for the future!"
Ten real-life parenting tactics.
by Katherine Stewart
Like many parents, you may tow a "not my kids" line when it comes to drugs, just like the stance Mia Farrow's character takes in the Lifetime Original Movie "The Secret Life of Zoey." But studies suggest that abuse of illicit substances is more widespread than you might think. A 2001 report by the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education found that 35.3% of children in grades nine through 12 use drugs each year. The probability increases with age. Among 12th graders, drug use hovers at approximately 41%. How can you buck the odds and keep your kids drug-free? We asked experts and parents to share their tips:
1. Search for Signs
For many kids, drug use won't go further than experimentation, says Terry Horton, M.D., vice president of Phoenix House, the nation's largest drug treatment facility. "But even experimentation can have negative consequences or lead to dependency. A smart parent is aware of all the red flags indicating drug use," says Dr. Horton. Some common warning signs include depression, slipping grades, withdrawn behavior, poor grooming, as well as sleeping and concentration difficulties. For more information, check out the web site of the Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA).
2. Talk Amongst Yourselves
Talking is the best prevention, according to Doria Steedman, executive vice president of PDFA. "Kids really do care about what their parents have to say about drugs," she says. "Even when it seems as if your kids aren't listening to you, they really are paying attention." Don't worry about choosing exactly the right words; just get the discussion going. Research shows that staying silent puts your kids at higher risk of trying drugs, says Horton.
3. Stick to the Rules
Be a good disciplinarian, advises Cindy Rowe, research assistant professor with the Center for Treatment Research on Adolescent Drug Abuse at the University of Miami. "Set clear boundaries, such as establishing fixed curfews and enforcing them consistently," she says. "Kids need to know the rules of the house and what will happen if they break them." Kids who have a sense of structure in their lives are less likely to fall prey to drugs than are kids who don't have to follow rules and try to take shortcuts, says Horton.
4. Embrace Pop Culture
Movies such as "Traffic" and books such as "Go Ask Alice" are great springboards for discussions between you and your kids about drugs. Watch and read them together, and then share your thoughts openly, advises Rowe.
5. Call for Reinforcements
Look to guidance counselors, other parents or professionals for guidance on helping your kids stay the course. Rowe recommends the book "You and Your Adolescent," by Temple University psychologist Larry Steinberg. This book about the normal developmental processes of adolescence will help parents understand what the teen years are about. It may also help them to feel less overwhelmed with worry and to better comprehend the importance of their continuing involvement in their children's lives.
6. Tell Real-Life Stories
Terri Scribner, the mother of two, from Eupora, Mississippi, says, "I've explained to my son, who is 18, and my daughter, who is 15, how drugs can ruin any hope of a decent life. I tell them about the examples in our own family. My husband and I both have brothers and sisters who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, and two of my first cousins were killed due to driving while intoxicated." This kind of approach "is real and honest, and it explains a parent's basis for concern about why their kids shouldn't do drugs," says Horton.
7. Deliver the Facts
Your teen may be surrounded by peers who are experimenting with drugs and seem to be suffering no ill effects. Horton emphasizes that "if kids believe a drug is harmless, the likelihood of use goes up." Vague warnings about how drugs kill will ring false. Instead, offer specific details, such as how the popular drug Ecstasy can damage sensitive parts of the brain that are involved with learning and memory. Use news reports, advises Rowe. If you see an article or television segment about a drug-related health problem or accident, mention it to your child to start a conversation.
8. Encourage Healthy Alternatives
Suggest to your kids that they get involved with sports, art courses or community projects, advises Rowe, and do what you can to support their extracurricular activities. Besides building self-esteem, these activities reinforce pro-social values such as integrity, teamwork and responsibility. "These qualities will make children less susceptible to trying drugs," says Horton. Plus, if a coach or a teacher serves as a mentor, that's even better. "A child with a mentor is definitely at [decreased] risk," adds Horton.
9. Help Them Walk Away
"We knew our 14-year-old son would be offered drugs, so we helped him try different strategies for turning them down," says Sheila Mattel of Madison, Wisconsin. "We'd pretend to be some of his peers on the playground, offering him pot," she says. "One time he responded by saying, 'I don't feel like it.' We told him [that with such a response,] he might be approached again.... Then he responded in the next role-play with 'No thanks, that's not for me,' which we all agreed would work well."
10. Find Positive Role Models
Make sure your kids are not emulating celebrities that are sending pro-drug messages. Listen to the lyrics of songs they like and pay attention to what they watch on television, advises Rowe. More importantly, parents should set an example. Parents who use drugs greatly increase their children's chances of becoming drug-dependent. Above all, says Scribner, "Spend valuable time together as a family, and you'll see a child with high hopes for the future!"
Teen Poker Addiction Growing at Rapid Pace
Poker's popularity grows.
On a night when other teens are anywhere but home, Kenny Totten is spending his Saturday inside in his socks, pajama pants and a T-shirt.
But he isn't alone. The 17-year-old Old Bridge High School student and a crew of close friends are gathered in the basement of his parents' house for poker night. They sip soda and munch on nachos as the cards are dealt on top of a pool table. Several players sport sunglasses as they attempt to bluff their way to victory in an activity that, at one time, brought to mind cigar-smoking older men in the back of a bar.
Poker has joined the mainstream the last couple years, sparking interest from those as young as their early teens. Television shows feature poker-playing Hollywood types while radio ads hawk the latest online gambling service and stores everywhere stock a slew of poker-related goods.
It seems difficult to determine just how much interest in the card game has increased, but one local retailer called it an explosion, while estimates say there are currently anywhere from 50 million to 80 million players in the United States.
"It's the competitiveness of the game," said Totten, who began playing last summer after watching poker on the ESPN network. "It's something you can do anytime you want if you have three, four, five friends."
A volleyball and basketball player, Totten said he and his friends — mostly fellow athletes — get together once or twice a month. At $5 a game, they said, it's cheaper than going to the movies. And unlike other competitive activities, poker "doesn't judge anybody," said Totten's girlfriend and fellow Old Bridge High School student, Jaime Chaifetz, 17.
But does the betting bother parents?
"As long as it's not large amounts, I don't think it will harm anything," said Kenny's mother, Marie Totten. "I don't mind because I know where they are. I know they're here, safe. They're off the streets."
The extension of the poker craze into the underage set worries some gambling experts, however.
"The more people who play, the more problems there are," said Terry Elman, education coordinator for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. "It's gotten to epidemic proportions."
The nonprofit organization delivers free programs to about 70 schools annually to discuss gambling prevention and awareness. Elman said while the law does not prohibit teens from betting at home — provided the host does not take a financial cut or in some way charge someone to be there — it can be a gateway to an eventual gambling addiction.
Elman said teen interest in Texas Hold 'Em — the popular form of poker featured in the World Series of Poker televised on ESPN — started more than two years ago. It is probably the most common thing students bet on these days, he said. "Sports betting is always around, and cards had actually dropped out of the scene," he said. "Then, as ESPN kept pushing it, it has become popular again. Kids even look at the players and revere them like athletes."
Due to their still-developing emotional state and penchant for risky activities, teens are second only to senior citizens in terms of vulnerability to a gambling addiction, Elman said. He also said the fact that teens have little disposable income can lead to financial troubles even more quickly.
"It's all the things that are exciting about gambling," Elman said of the appeal of poker. "And they gamble right in their basements. Their parents say, "They're OK, they're downstairs.' They don't realize what's being done can lead to addiction."
But that doesn't mean every card player will become affected. "Eighty percent of people who play never have a problem, 15-20 percent have a problem and 5 percent become pathological," he said.
Gambling addicts, Elman said, will bet on any type of game or sport.
The teen who plays poker once or twice a month for a small dollar amount each game is not experiencing a problem, Elman said, provided the interest stops there. "Once you want to move higher than that, you're probably into it too much," he said.
Gambling addiction seems to be no problem for the Old Bridge youths. Poker is more about having a good time than earning money.
"We're kids," Kenny Totten said, adding betting big would just result in hurt feelings and angry parents. "We don't have money growing out of our ears. We just want to keep it fun and friendly.'
Elman said parents should be particularly concerned about online gambling. He said its danger is that it can be done 24 hours a day, while teens are often alone. And because it generally requires a credit card, teens likely are swiping their parents' plastic.
Regardless of where one sits on the issue, there's no denying the surge in interest over the card game. There's no evidence of it waning, either, said Eric Morris, publisher of the Atlanta-based poker magazine Bluff.
"It's not a Rubik's Cube or Beanie Baby. It's not like that. People are still dreaming they can be the next star. I truly believe it will not end up where it was 10 years ago — at the back of the bar," Morris said.
While celebrities and television have glamorized the game, the allure for many is that the average person can hit it big in poker tournaments.
"You can be old, young, tall, short, fat, bald," he said. "(Success) isn't dictated by youth or physical ability."
Morris said his publication's readership is largely adults ages 21 to 35, although he is aware teens are enamored with the activity.
"High school kids, instead of parties, are going to poker tournaments. They're not drinking and doing other activities," he said.
Morris said he does not advocate that teens play poker, but he said there are benefits to taking part in this "thinking-man's game."
"It's similar to backgammon or chess. It develops your mind, keeps you more alert," he said. "The people who do well are generally more intelligent. There are social skills involved, too."
At the Gameroom Store, a specialty shop in Woodbridge Center mall, assistant manager Jay Prusik said teens are responsible for only about 15 percent of sales for poker products. "We see a lot of people in the mid-20s to mid-30s," he said. "Part of the reason is these are the people who can legally go to casinos."
Prusik said the poker market is experiencing an "explosion" that began about two years ago. As a result, extravagant chip sets that sold for nearly $600 five years ago now cost customers $100.
"Because of the increase in popularity and the price change, it's flying out the door," he said.
And that's not likely to change for a while. "So long as the World Series of Poker gets ratings on ESPN . . . as long as that's popular, the poker craze isn't going anywhere," said Prusik.
Elman agreed that television and marketing is responsible for the recent boom. He said the activity, by its nature, is no more dangerous to teens than other forms of gambling.
"It's more of a problem only because it's promoted more," he said.
Some school officials share Elman's concerns about teens who bet.
"To me, it's like underage drinking," said Pat Andersen, student assistance counselor at Woodbridge High School. "The funny thing about gambling is it's only bad when you're losing — from a player's perspective. In my personal opinion, it's bad to gamble at all when you're an adolescent."
Andersen said she has received a few calls from parents concerned about their children playing poker at home. Woodbridge has a policy against students playing cards at school.
"I think it's seen as being exciting," Andersen said of gambling. "There's actually an adrenaline rush that goes along with it. (Teens) like things exciting and risky."
Parents who allow teens to gamble at home because they can "keep an eye on them" may be leading their children, or someone else's child, down a dangerous road, Andersen said.
"For some kids it's going to be a problem, and for some it's not," she said, adding that representatives of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey will visit her school later this year. "You can know where your kids are, but have better activities."
Back in Old Bridge, players said they don't hold poker nights often, and, when they do, they always keep the per-game cost low. Competition remains the main source of motivation, too.
"I don't play for the money," said Old Bridge High School senior Nicholas Li, 18, who plays for money about twice a month and more frequently online at nonbetting sites. "I play for the experience. I play for the bragging rights, too."
Li, who pipes nature sounds through his headphones during poker games, said he knows when to draw the line on gambling.
"I think it's only dangerous if it's not fun anymore," he said. "As long as it's not intruding on my studies and budget, it's all good."
Kenny's brother, Michael Totten, 15, said he also plays for the competition.
"It's fun to beat some of your friends," he said.
His mother said she is aware of what experts are saying about teens and poker, but believes the card game is no more dangerous than most other activities.
"Anything can lead to an addiction," Marie Totten said. "The stakes are not high by any means. It all depends on the individual, but these kids are doing it for fun."
On a night when other teens are anywhere but home, Kenny Totten is spending his Saturday inside in his socks, pajama pants and a T-shirt.
But he isn't alone. The 17-year-old Old Bridge High School student and a crew of close friends are gathered in the basement of his parents' house for poker night. They sip soda and munch on nachos as the cards are dealt on top of a pool table. Several players sport sunglasses as they attempt to bluff their way to victory in an activity that, at one time, brought to mind cigar-smoking older men in the back of a bar.
Poker has joined the mainstream the last couple years, sparking interest from those as young as their early teens. Television shows feature poker-playing Hollywood types while radio ads hawk the latest online gambling service and stores everywhere stock a slew of poker-related goods.
It seems difficult to determine just how much interest in the card game has increased, but one local retailer called it an explosion, while estimates say there are currently anywhere from 50 million to 80 million players in the United States.
"It's the competitiveness of the game," said Totten, who began playing last summer after watching poker on the ESPN network. "It's something you can do anytime you want if you have three, four, five friends."
A volleyball and basketball player, Totten said he and his friends — mostly fellow athletes — get together once or twice a month. At $5 a game, they said, it's cheaper than going to the movies. And unlike other competitive activities, poker "doesn't judge anybody," said Totten's girlfriend and fellow Old Bridge High School student, Jaime Chaifetz, 17.
But does the betting bother parents?
"As long as it's not large amounts, I don't think it will harm anything," said Kenny's mother, Marie Totten. "I don't mind because I know where they are. I know they're here, safe. They're off the streets."
The extension of the poker craze into the underage set worries some gambling experts, however.
"The more people who play, the more problems there are," said Terry Elman, education coordinator for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. "It's gotten to epidemic proportions."
The nonprofit organization delivers free programs to about 70 schools annually to discuss gambling prevention and awareness. Elman said while the law does not prohibit teens from betting at home — provided the host does not take a financial cut or in some way charge someone to be there — it can be a gateway to an eventual gambling addiction.
Elman said teen interest in Texas Hold 'Em — the popular form of poker featured in the World Series of Poker televised on ESPN — started more than two years ago. It is probably the most common thing students bet on these days, he said. "Sports betting is always around, and cards had actually dropped out of the scene," he said. "Then, as ESPN kept pushing it, it has become popular again. Kids even look at the players and revere them like athletes."
Due to their still-developing emotional state and penchant for risky activities, teens are second only to senior citizens in terms of vulnerability to a gambling addiction, Elman said. He also said the fact that teens have little disposable income can lead to financial troubles even more quickly.
"It's all the things that are exciting about gambling," Elman said of the appeal of poker. "And they gamble right in their basements. Their parents say, "They're OK, they're downstairs.' They don't realize what's being done can lead to addiction."
But that doesn't mean every card player will become affected. "Eighty percent of people who play never have a problem, 15-20 percent have a problem and 5 percent become pathological," he said.
Gambling addicts, Elman said, will bet on any type of game or sport.
The teen who plays poker once or twice a month for a small dollar amount each game is not experiencing a problem, Elman said, provided the interest stops there. "Once you want to move higher than that, you're probably into it too much," he said.
Gambling addiction seems to be no problem for the Old Bridge youths. Poker is more about having a good time than earning money.
"We're kids," Kenny Totten said, adding betting big would just result in hurt feelings and angry parents. "We don't have money growing out of our ears. We just want to keep it fun and friendly.'
Elman said parents should be particularly concerned about online gambling. He said its danger is that it can be done 24 hours a day, while teens are often alone. And because it generally requires a credit card, teens likely are swiping their parents' plastic.
Regardless of where one sits on the issue, there's no denying the surge in interest over the card game. There's no evidence of it waning, either, said Eric Morris, publisher of the Atlanta-based poker magazine Bluff.
"It's not a Rubik's Cube or Beanie Baby. It's not like that. People are still dreaming they can be the next star. I truly believe it will not end up where it was 10 years ago — at the back of the bar," Morris said.
While celebrities and television have glamorized the game, the allure for many is that the average person can hit it big in poker tournaments.
"You can be old, young, tall, short, fat, bald," he said. "(Success) isn't dictated by youth or physical ability."
Morris said his publication's readership is largely adults ages 21 to 35, although he is aware teens are enamored with the activity.
"High school kids, instead of parties, are going to poker tournaments. They're not drinking and doing other activities," he said.
Morris said he does not advocate that teens play poker, but he said there are benefits to taking part in this "thinking-man's game."
"It's similar to backgammon or chess. It develops your mind, keeps you more alert," he said. "The people who do well are generally more intelligent. There are social skills involved, too."
At the Gameroom Store, a specialty shop in Woodbridge Center mall, assistant manager Jay Prusik said teens are responsible for only about 15 percent of sales for poker products. "We see a lot of people in the mid-20s to mid-30s," he said. "Part of the reason is these are the people who can legally go to casinos."
Prusik said the poker market is experiencing an "explosion" that began about two years ago. As a result, extravagant chip sets that sold for nearly $600 five years ago now cost customers $100.
"Because of the increase in popularity and the price change, it's flying out the door," he said.
And that's not likely to change for a while. "So long as the World Series of Poker gets ratings on ESPN . . . as long as that's popular, the poker craze isn't going anywhere," said Prusik.
Elman agreed that television and marketing is responsible for the recent boom. He said the activity, by its nature, is no more dangerous to teens than other forms of gambling.
"It's more of a problem only because it's promoted more," he said.
Some school officials share Elman's concerns about teens who bet.
"To me, it's like underage drinking," said Pat Andersen, student assistance counselor at Woodbridge High School. "The funny thing about gambling is it's only bad when you're losing — from a player's perspective. In my personal opinion, it's bad to gamble at all when you're an adolescent."
Andersen said she has received a few calls from parents concerned about their children playing poker at home. Woodbridge has a policy against students playing cards at school.
"I think it's seen as being exciting," Andersen said of gambling. "There's actually an adrenaline rush that goes along with it. (Teens) like things exciting and risky."
Parents who allow teens to gamble at home because they can "keep an eye on them" may be leading their children, or someone else's child, down a dangerous road, Andersen said.
"For some kids it's going to be a problem, and for some it's not," she said, adding that representatives of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey will visit her school later this year. "You can know where your kids are, but have better activities."
Back in Old Bridge, players said they don't hold poker nights often, and, when they do, they always keep the per-game cost low. Competition remains the main source of motivation, too.
"I don't play for the money," said Old Bridge High School senior Nicholas Li, 18, who plays for money about twice a month and more frequently online at nonbetting sites. "I play for the experience. I play for the bragging rights, too."
Li, who pipes nature sounds through his headphones during poker games, said he knows when to draw the line on gambling.
"I think it's only dangerous if it's not fun anymore," he said. "As long as it's not intruding on my studies and budget, it's all good."
Kenny's brother, Michael Totten, 15, said he also plays for the competition.
"It's fun to beat some of your friends," he said.
His mother said she is aware of what experts are saying about teens and poker, but believes the card game is no more dangerous than most other activities.
"Anything can lead to an addiction," Marie Totten said. "The stakes are not high by any means. It all depends on the individual, but these kids are doing it for fun."
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Alcoholism World Healthcare Crisis
Alcoholism
Alcoholism World Healthcare Crisis
Alcohol abuse is the third highest cause of preventable death in the United States and the most common drug of abuse among people who receive addiction treatment. At Caron, alcohol is the primary drug of abuse identified by 48% of the adult patients upon admission.
Alcoholism World Healthcare Crisis
Alcohol abuse is the third highest cause of preventable death in the United States and the most common drug of abuse among people who receive addiction treatment. At Caron, alcohol is the primary drug of abuse identified by 48% of the adult patients upon admission.
Effective Drug-addiction Therapies
A novel chemical compound that blocks memory-related drug cravings has the potential to be the basis of new therapies to aid drug-addiction recovery efforts, UC Irvine neurobiologists have found.
Because exposure to people, places and objects previously associated with a drug habit can trigger overwhelming memory-based cravings, many former drug users often relapse into drug-taking behavior.
But a study led by John F. Marshall, a researcher in UCI's Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, shows that memory for places associated with cocaine use can be strikingly altered by inactivating a specific protein called ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) in the brains of animals. Especially significant is the finding that administering the inactivator compound immediately after recall of the cocaine-associated places also continued to blur memories of those places weeks later. This research provides novel insights into the brain mechanisms underlying relapse and suggests a new strategy for developing addiction treatments.
Because exposure to people, places and objects previously associated with a drug habit can trigger overwhelming memory-based cravings, many former drug users often relapse into drug-taking behavior.
But a study led by John F. Marshall, a researcher in UCI's Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, shows that memory for places associated with cocaine use can be strikingly altered by inactivating a specific protein called ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) in the brains of animals. Especially significant is the finding that administering the inactivator compound immediately after recall of the cocaine-associated places also continued to blur memories of those places weeks later. This research provides novel insights into the brain mechanisms underlying relapse and suggests a new strategy for developing addiction treatments.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
10 Thoughts About Gambling
10 Thoughts About Gambling Behavior:
You often gamble longer than you had planned.
You have gambled until your last dollar was gone.
Thoughts of gambling have caused you to lose sleep.
You have used income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid.
You have made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling.
You have broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling.
You have borrowed money to finance your gambling.
You have felt depressed or suicidal because of your
gambling losses.
You have been remorseful after gambling.
You have gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations.
If you or someone you know answers “Yes” to any of these questions, consider seeking assistance from a professional regarding this gambling behavior.
You often gamble longer than you had planned.
You have gambled until your last dollar was gone.
Thoughts of gambling have caused you to lose sleep.
You have used income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid.
You have made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling.
You have broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling.
You have borrowed money to finance your gambling.
You have felt depressed or suicidal because of your
gambling losses.
You have been remorseful after gambling.
You have gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations.
If you or someone you know answers “Yes” to any of these questions, consider seeking assistance from a professional regarding this gambling behavior.
Gambling Addiction Statistics
Gambling Addiction Facts:
An average of 3 million adults meet criteria for pathological gambling each year.
Over 70% of US adults report gambling at least once in the past year.
Most adults are able to gamble responsibly.
Approximately 1% of the U.S. adults (3 million) meet criteria for pathological gambling.
Another 2-3% have less significant, but still serious problems with gambling and are known as problem gamblers.
An average of 3 million adults meet criteria for pathological gambling each year.
Over 70% of US adults report gambling at least once in the past year.
Most adults are able to gamble responsibly.
Approximately 1% of the U.S. adults (3 million) meet criteria for pathological gambling.
Another 2-3% have less significant, but still serious problems with gambling and are known as problem gamblers.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Stories of Hope from Methadone Detox Patients
Stories of Hope from Methadone Detox Patients
“I guess you could say that methadone gave me my life back.”“I didn’t choose to get hooked on pain pills, I have had 14 major surgeries and had to take pain medication and couldn’t get off of them. I just got tired of addiction, I didn’t feel like a decent human being – I felt like trash. I knew that I was a kind, decent person. I couldn’t do this if I didn’t have a great counselor. My life is so much better. I’m able to look forward to a great future. I even look forward to waking up each day for just the simple things, like going to the grocery store, speaking to old friends…smiling. I guess you could say methadone gave me my life back.”
Virginia S., Methadone Clinic Patient
“This treatment really works.”
“I am 46 years old, I have been married for 22 years, and I have been using drugs since I was 13. My husband is also a drug addict. For the past 10 years my life has been a nightmare. Everyday as soon as I woke up, if I didn’t have any drugs I would spend all day until I found some. Drugs were bought first, before bills were paid. My husband and I decided we wanted our life to be like it was before we almost let drugs destroy it! I have been taking drugs for over 30 years, what it has done to me mentally and physically I can’t get back. I can only change my future. This treatment really works.”
Anonymous Methadone Clinic Patient
“I think that the counseling is as important as the methadone itself. My life is great…”“My life was awful before I sought methadone treatment; I stayed so sick all the time from withdrawal. I couldn’t think of anything but using drugs, no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t quit. I had to do something and I was waiting for a clinic to (open) close to me. Methadone is the only thing that works for me. I think that the counseling is as important as the methadone itself. My life is great, my social life is getting a lot better because I socialize with people who don’t use drugs, and I am working on my relationship with myself. I hope to have a future with a wife and kids, and a drug free future. It’s never too late to get help, no matter how bad the problem.”
Thomas C., Methadone Clinic Patient
“My life was going downhill fast... I just about lost my life on Dec. 10, 03…since I’ve been (in treatment) things are 100% better.” “I am 22 years old and I started using drugs when I was about 16 years old. When I was in high school I started hanging out with the wrong crew, only because I thought they were ‘cool’, but they were on drugs. Everyday someone would bring pills to school that they had stolen from their parents, and we would all share them. I started dating this guy that was hooked on OxyContin®, and then I was hooked. I am so glad that I finally realized it was time for help. My life was going down hill fast. I was losing everything I had. Every dime of money I got went on drugs. Instead of paying bills or buying things I needed, I was wasting it on drugs. I couldn’t even keep a job. I just about lost my life on Dec.10, 2003 from a drug overdose. I felt like I was the worst mother ever. When I was on drugs, some days when I didn’t have a pill, I couldn’t even get out of bed. My 4 year old daughter would ask me to get up and play with her, but I wouldn’t if I didn’t have a pill. But since I’ve been (in treatment) things are 100% better. My daughter and I play together, we go out and do things, my bills are paid. I’m so glad that I’ve started (treatment) and I don’t have to live the awful life of a drug addict anymore. I would recommend (treatment) to anyone who needs help.”
Regina, Methadone Clinic Patient
“I want the community to know that methadone maintenance treatment is good.”“I was tired of being on drugs and wanted a change in my life before I turned 30 years old. My relationship with my mom is better. I don’t associate with many people outside of my family because more people use drugs in my neighborhood than are sober. I want the community to know that methadone maintenance treatment is good. It helps people more than the community knows. I want (the community) to know that it changed my life for the better.”
Rhonda, Methadone Clinic Patient
“It has really changed my life.” “I would encourage anyone who really wants to straighten their life up to get (to a methadone clinic) and get started on a new life. If (they) only knew how much better they would feel, they would get started before its too late. It (methadone maintenance treatment) has really changed my life…my counselor really keeps me encouraged…it is a great thing for anyone who really wants to straighten up their lives.”
Bridgette, Methadone Clinic Patient
So what type of drug treatment is best? The one that works for YOU.
“I guess you could say that methadone gave me my life back.”“I didn’t choose to get hooked on pain pills, I have had 14 major surgeries and had to take pain medication and couldn’t get off of them. I just got tired of addiction, I didn’t feel like a decent human being – I felt like trash. I knew that I was a kind, decent person. I couldn’t do this if I didn’t have a great counselor. My life is so much better. I’m able to look forward to a great future. I even look forward to waking up each day for just the simple things, like going to the grocery store, speaking to old friends…smiling. I guess you could say methadone gave me my life back.”
Virginia S., Methadone Clinic Patient
“This treatment really works.”
“I am 46 years old, I have been married for 22 years, and I have been using drugs since I was 13. My husband is also a drug addict. For the past 10 years my life has been a nightmare. Everyday as soon as I woke up, if I didn’t have any drugs I would spend all day until I found some. Drugs were bought first, before bills were paid. My husband and I decided we wanted our life to be like it was before we almost let drugs destroy it! I have been taking drugs for over 30 years, what it has done to me mentally and physically I can’t get back. I can only change my future. This treatment really works.”
Anonymous Methadone Clinic Patient
“I think that the counseling is as important as the methadone itself. My life is great…”“My life was awful before I sought methadone treatment; I stayed so sick all the time from withdrawal. I couldn’t think of anything but using drugs, no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t quit. I had to do something and I was waiting for a clinic to (open) close to me. Methadone is the only thing that works for me. I think that the counseling is as important as the methadone itself. My life is great, my social life is getting a lot better because I socialize with people who don’t use drugs, and I am working on my relationship with myself. I hope to have a future with a wife and kids, and a drug free future. It’s never too late to get help, no matter how bad the problem.”
Thomas C., Methadone Clinic Patient
“My life was going downhill fast... I just about lost my life on Dec. 10, 03…since I’ve been (in treatment) things are 100% better.” “I am 22 years old and I started using drugs when I was about 16 years old. When I was in high school I started hanging out with the wrong crew, only because I thought they were ‘cool’, but they were on drugs. Everyday someone would bring pills to school that they had stolen from their parents, and we would all share them. I started dating this guy that was hooked on OxyContin®, and then I was hooked. I am so glad that I finally realized it was time for help. My life was going down hill fast. I was losing everything I had. Every dime of money I got went on drugs. Instead of paying bills or buying things I needed, I was wasting it on drugs. I couldn’t even keep a job. I just about lost my life on Dec.10, 2003 from a drug overdose. I felt like I was the worst mother ever. When I was on drugs, some days when I didn’t have a pill, I couldn’t even get out of bed. My 4 year old daughter would ask me to get up and play with her, but I wouldn’t if I didn’t have a pill. But since I’ve been (in treatment) things are 100% better. My daughter and I play together, we go out and do things, my bills are paid. I’m so glad that I’ve started (treatment) and I don’t have to live the awful life of a drug addict anymore. I would recommend (treatment) to anyone who needs help.”
Regina, Methadone Clinic Patient
“I want the community to know that methadone maintenance treatment is good.”“I was tired of being on drugs and wanted a change in my life before I turned 30 years old. My relationship with my mom is better. I don’t associate with many people outside of my family because more people use drugs in my neighborhood than are sober. I want the community to know that methadone maintenance treatment is good. It helps people more than the community knows. I want (the community) to know that it changed my life for the better.”
Rhonda, Methadone Clinic Patient
“It has really changed my life.” “I would encourage anyone who really wants to straighten their life up to get (to a methadone clinic) and get started on a new life. If (they) only knew how much better they would feel, they would get started before its too late. It (methadone maintenance treatment) has really changed my life…my counselor really keeps me encouraged…it is a great thing for anyone who really wants to straighten up their lives.”
Bridgette, Methadone Clinic Patient
So what type of drug treatment is best? The one that works for YOU.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
