March Madness and Gambling, Oxytocin and Addiction, An Aggressive, Addictive Gene
March Madness basketball excites a lot of people … into gambling – so we talk a bit about sports and gambling. Also the fact that no strata of our society is immune from addiction. The hormone oxytocin is the subject of a new study, correlating its under-development at an early age with addiction. We also discuss other hormones and neurotransmitters that are involved in addiction proclivities. And another gene, which leads people to extremely aggressive behavior, is also correlated to addiction.
Addiction Treatment under the Affordable Care Act, On-line Gambling, Zebrafish and the Stop Switch
More treatment under the Affordable Care Act is being envisioned, but it not may not be as easy as we might hope … also followup on online gambling, and research on the zebrafish is giving scientists a better understanding of the “stop- switch” and the “go-switch.” And more on e-cigarettes. PODCAST
Are State Lotteries Encouraging Gambling Addiction?
A recent series in the Oregonian looks at state sponsored gambling and aggressive marketing, and asks whether the lottery is actually encouraging problem gambling. Bill Cohen guests. PODCAST
Gambling, More on Cocaine Research, More on Mollies
A look at gambling … some further comments on Dr Carl Harts research on cocaine addicts and … and more on mollies … whether it refers to MDMA aka as Ecstasy, or some other new psychoactive substances – designer drugs. … proving to have serious health effects and be potentially life-threatening.
Gambling Awareness, Culturally-tuned Treatment, Assessment and Signs of Addiction
We are in National Gambling Awareness Week – which hopes to remind people of the strongly addictive properties of compulsive or problem gambling. About 85% of people in the US gamble at some point (200 million+). Of those about 3-5% are estimated to have a problem … and of that number only a small percentage ever even believe they have a problem… Also Darryl discusses his experiences creating culture-specific treatment in the 70s and 80s and its value. And what are the signs of addiction, and how do we know if we, or people we are close to, are afflicted? PODCAST
Gambling – in news, in new DSM, dopamine, treatment
Gambling … will have a category as a full-spectrum disorder in the new DSM-V. Though 80% of the US population engages in gambling, only about %2 have serious issues — and while its not physically dangerous like many drugs (although there is increased suicide risk), it can still be profoundly troublesome to the people affected. The increase in internet gambling promises to exacerbate the issue. Naltrexone, which is being used successfully to treat opioid and alcohol addiction, is also being used, with reported successes in reducing the craving to gamble.