MJ Issues and Increases, Adderall, Doctors and Big Pharma, E-Cigs
The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana is bringing up many issues: DUIs, how to reliably test for it, increased use by adolescents, and various health issues. Adderall stories continue with a new study saying early use DOES lead to a greater likelihood of cocaine addiction, not the opposite. Doctors on the payrolls of big pharma companies, with some saying they will no longer pay doctors to promote their drugs, but will still engage them to do research. And new reports noting e-cigarettes and their connection to heart disease. PODCAST
Social Environmental Factors in Addiction and new Synthetic Psychoactive Substances
Dr Carl Hart, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Columbia University, has been the focus lately on his controversial research into the social, environmental factors of addiction. Also, a new study from SAMSHA and the UN highlights the increasingly obvious risks of new highly powerful designer drugs including so-called bath salts and K2 or spice. PODCAST
Affordable Care Act and Treatment, Internet Addiction program, Opioid Control Switch
The Affordable Care Act is projected to make addiction treatment to millions more – but do we have the people and facilities to provide it? A new in-patient treatment program for internet addiction opened recently in Pennsylvania, and a new study in the The Journal of Neuroscience on the functioning of the opioid control switch, providing new insights on the molecular process by which opiate addiction develops in the brain and is controlled by the formation of reward memories that link the pleasurable effects of opiates to environmental triggers that induce craving. PODCAST.
National Drug Use Survey show Pot and Heroin Increases
This year’s National Survey on Drug Use shows most illicit drug has declined – except marijuana and heroin. We discuss those trends and likely reasons, which includes medical marijuana initiatives and reactions to the crackdown on prescription opioid (Oxycontin, Vicodin) abuse.
Marijuana addiction, legalization, effect on intelligence
Oregon, Washington and Colorado have legalized and taxed marijuana on their ballot; other states are watching closely to see if this can be a viable revenue source… as well as reducing the costs of policing, prosecuting and incarcerating pot users … The new DSM will list marijuana as a fully addictive substance, and a recent study shows that adolescents who start heavy use of pot before the age of 18 having significantly reduced IQs by the time they are in their 30s.
Endorphins, alcohol research & Chinese herbs
A new study finds that liquor releases pleasure-inducing endorphins into the brain. This has long been suspected, but the new study, for the first time, uses humans and sophisticated brain imaging techniques. Somewhat surprisingly, heavy drinkers are especially influenced. This article contains more details. Also we discuss a Chinese herb that has been used for […]