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.
Sports and Drugs, Gambling and Dopamine
The Olympics … ways athletes strive to enhance their performances … by using drugs – as well as other techniques – like blood-doping … also news about gambling — it seems Facebook users are more inclined to gamble and make compulsive choices than “normies,” and the related obsessions with FarmVille …
DSM-5 Stirs Controversy
The new DSM-5 could classify many more people as addicts … among the questions and criticisms being being raised in articles and blogs, including a recently in the Sunday New York Times story. The 5th edition DSM … adds addiction and related disorders as a new category, replacing substance abuse and dependence …. and behavioral addictions such as gambling.
Behavioral Addictions: Is everyone addicted ?
Inspired by a recent Huffington Post article, we look at whether there is a trend to “medicalize normality out of existence” — with the inclusion of behavioral addictions in the new psychiatry handbook (DSM-5.) Gambling is the first topic in our wide-ranging discussion of addiction.
Are We Closer to Ending the Drug War?
The recent “Ending the Drug War: Top Stories of 2011” article chronicles changing views by the public and also world leaders, of the “War on Drugs” that was started 40 years ago by President Nixon.
Treatment: how effective is the 12-Step
Our look at treatment continues with a review of a recent op-ed piece criticizing the 12-step program as being antiquated, ineffective, and not keeping up with advances in medication for addiction. Also gambling addiction and suicide.