E-cig Restrictions, Nek-nominate, Winter Olympics, Legalize-Tax-Discourage, Smoking and Mental Illness
Putting e-cigarettes behind the counter and not sold to minors in Cook County, while Chicago has banned e-cig “vaping” wherever cigarette smoking is forbidden. Nek-nominate, popular in UK and Australia, now here, involves drinking large amounts of alcohol often mixed with other bizarre things, then nominating one or two friends to follow suit, or do even more. Of course its recorded on YouTube. New performance-enhancing drugs coming out of Sochi. Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank advocating for legalizing drugs, and some success with smoking cessation among those with mental illness using the stop-smoking drug varenicline
Strange Addictions, Meth for a Tip, Obama’s MJ Alcohol Comment, Sizzurp
Strange addictions point up the fact that addictions are not just to drugs, and not just for pleasure. An Oregon couple found out its not a good idea to leave a bag of meth for a tip, especially if you have a meth lab nearby. We also look at the implications of President Obama’s recent comment that pot is no worse than alcohol. And sizzurp aka purple drank in the news again, thanks for Justin Bieber.
25i-N-BOMe, Relieving Emotion Pain – Not Getting High, GABA and Craving
A new designer psychedelic hitting the street, and other designer drugs and their impacts. A new study suggests addicts might be seeking relief from emotional pain, rather than euphoric highs … reduced drug craving with drugs that impact the GABA system, the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter. Flavored cigs, and the troubles of Toronto’s mayor. PODCAST
Which is more toxic – MJ or Alcohol, Food and Sex Addictions, Pharmacies in the News
An Oregon pharmacist, with a glowing work record, is suing Wal-Mart Oregon for wrongful termination because he has had addiction issues … CVS Pharmacy chain is refusing to fill prescriptions for doctors which IT believes are over-prescribing … the continuing debate on whether marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and more on whether food and sex addictions are really addictions. PODCAST.
Celebrity death highlights combining alcohol with downers
The death of celebrites drives home facts about addiction – like the dangers of combining downer drugs with alcohol. The recent death of Corey Monteith is an example. Corey was recently in treatment recently – highlighting the importance of treatment followup and aftercare. When someone relapses and returns to his drug of choice at the same dosage level as before, they are at a high risk for OD. We chat about the 12-Step program, in the context of treatment, and new research in brain functions and addiction. PODCAST.
Treatment Ethics, Anxiety mixes with Reward parts of mid-brain, Freshman college drinking
A recent article in Addiction Professional magazine shared some thoughts and observations on ethical practices and considerations in addiction treatment… including paying bounty for new patients, using call centers, claiming insurance will pay most of the costs, promising a cure, selling proprietary supplements, and using brain scans, among others. Also new research on the relationship between the anxiety and stress centers in the older mid-brain, and the VTA, also in the same region, which is where most of our dopamine is produced. Another new study highlights the profound changes and effects of alcohol drinking in first year of college students. PODCAST.