Articles Index
Drugs and Alcohol in the News
The latest headlines on drug- and- alcohol-related news, updated by your About.com alcoholism guide.
Preventing Drugged Driving
While the rates of drunk driving and highway fatalities related to alcohol have been declining in recent years, the rates of drugged driving have been increasing.
The Dangers of Drugged Driving
Drugged driving has become so pervasive in the United States that it has become a public health threat that puts everyone at risk for injury or death.
Do You Have an Alcohol or Drug Problem?
Alcohol and drug use can progress into abuse and even addition so insidiously that sometimes people do not realize that their drinking or drugging has become a real problem for them and those around them.
Marijuana: The Myths Are Killing Us
Karen Tandy, the administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, examined the harm done to the youth of America by myths surrounding marijuana use in an article for the March 2005 issues of Police Chief Magazine.
How Long Does Marijuana Stay in the Body?
The effects of smoking marijuana fade very quickly, but the drug can be detected in the body for weeks and sometimes longer.
SAMe and Liver Disease
The supplement SAMe, which has been promoted as a treatment for arthritis and depression, may now offer some hope for those who suffer from chronic liver disease.
Commonly Abused Medications
When prescription or over-the-counter medications are abused, they can produce serious adverse health effects including addiction or dependence.
Addiction Is a Chronic Brain Disease
Addiction is a chronic brain disease that is more about the neurology of the brain rather than the outward manifestations of behavioral problems and poor choices.
Are You a Functional Alcoholic?
Many people think of alcoholics as disheveled, homeless winos who have lost everything, but there are people who meet the criteria for a medical diagnosis for alcohol dependence who are highly functional in society and still have their jobs, homes and families.
Is Marijuana Addictive?
The vast majority of pot smokers do not develop a marijuana addiction, but some smokers do develop all of the symptoms of an actual addiction after chronic marijuana use.
Prescription Drug Problem Overwhelming State Resources
With the sales of pain medication increasing to unprecendented levels in the United States and precription drug addiction rising to an epidemic level, the growing drug abuse problem is taxing state and local resources.
Basic Facts About PCP
Phencyclidine (PCP) was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic, but its use was discontinued after patients who were given the drug experienced psychotic reactions.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the questions The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities most often receives about FAS along with their answers.
Common Traits of Adult Children of Alcoholics
As a result of growing up in an alcoholic home, many children of alcoholics develop similar characteristics and personality traits.
What Is Alcohol Abuse?
Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control, or physical dependence.
Alcohol Reaction Drug List
There are very few drugs than can be safely taken while drinking alcohol. Check this list before taking medications.
Can Alcoholics Learn to Drink Moderately?
One of the most common questions people who try to quit drinking ask is if they really have to stop forever. Can they learn how to drink in moderation? Can they become social drinkers? Is it true that they can never have another drink?
New Hampshire A.A. Meetings
Find a meeting near you in New Hampshire
Drug Overdose Deaths Double in Five Years
Unintentional fatal drug overdoses almost doubled from 1999 to 2004 and became the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States in 2004, behind only automobile crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Al-Anon Topics for Beginners
These are topics which frequently are of interest to newcomers to Al-Anon Family Groups.
Binge Drinking Affects Brain, Memory
Young people who binge drink could be risking serious damage to their brains now and increasing memory loss later in adulthood.
Drug Abuse FAQ
The following are the most frequently asked questions about drug abuse, compiled by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
How to Prevent Getting a Hangover
The only certain way to prevent hangover symptoms is to not drink any alcohol are all, but if you do plan to drink there are steps that you can take to reduce your chances of getting a hangover.
Problem Drinker
Many people who have a problem with alcohol are not alcoholics, and in order to quit drinking they do not necessarily need medical treatment, peer group support, or a spiritual awakening.