A new study out of the University of Chicago Medicine suggests that young adults who experience the highest sensitivity to alcohol’s pleasurable effects are the most likely to develop an alcohol use disorder over time.
College Students Who Returned Home Due to Pandemic Drinking Less
Addiction treatment specialists and researchers are concerned that the global COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns will lead to a surge in alcoholism and drug addiction. Early indications suggest that such concerns may not be unfounded, but at least one population cohort appears to be reducing the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The Importance of Drug Treatment Escalates with Pandemic-Related Drug Deaths
As the pandemic continues to make headlines, less attention is given to the rise in addiction-related deaths. The American Medical Association Advocacy Resource Center recently reported, “The AMA is greatly concerned by an increasing number of reports from national, state and local media suggesting increases in opioid- and other drug-related mortality
The Best Drug Rehabs Are Non-12 Step Treatment Programs
Historically seen as the standard of care for alcohol treatment and substance abuse disorders in general, 12-step programs are extremely limited. Only in recent years have those limitations been examined.
COVID-19 Pandemic is Driving Increase of Alcohol Consumption by Women
Evidence suggesting that Americans would turn to alcohol for stress relief relating to the global COVID-19 pandemic emerged early in the crisis, with Nielsen reporting a 54 percent increase in national alcohol sales during the third week of March, when governments started initiating stay-at-home and related measures.
Substance Use Disorders Related to Higher Risk of COVID-19
On September 14, 2020, the National Institutes of Health released a disturbing report showing that individuals with substance use disorders are more likely to get COVID-19 and suffer more serious complications from it.
Dangers of Substance Use During Pregnancy
Any substance use while pregnant can harm the fetus, but of course the longer the substance use continues, the higher the risk becomes. Substance abuse treatment should start immediately if pregnancy occurs while addicted.
Drinking and Violence Spike During COVID-19 Quarantines
Alcohol and drug use spiked, but not only among those who already faced problems. For many Americans, they suddenly found themselves developing a problem they didn’t have before.
Five Obstacles to Substance Abuse Treatment
Five Obstacles to Substance Abuse Treatment–Shame is often at the top of the list of reasons people don’t seek help for an addiction problem. Another reason people sometimes don’t go into treatment is that they have feelings of guilt over things they may have done while addicted, as well as guilt over the people they may have hurt.
The Importance of Addressing the Role of Personal Trauma in Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Numerous studies over the past 30 years have established that there is a definite link between trauma and alcoholism and/or drug addiction. In fact, many substance abuse treatment facilities treat trauma and addiction as co-occurring disorders.