Brain Immune System and Addiction, VA Prescription Cocktails, Food Addiction
New research is finding that the brain’s immune system may be involved in the addiction process. The VA and the Army are contributing to the pill addiction problem prescribing a variety of drugs The VA often gives “drug cocktails,” a combination of sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication, an anti-depressant, and an anti-psychotic. And more on food addiction with news that many boys have bulimia. PODCAST.
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 …
Children & drugs: psych meds for the very young?
In our hurry-up modern world, we are prescribing more psych meds to young children, as an alternative to slower, more traditional approachs to kids who seem a little different … also a look at parent attitudes about their kids compared with their friends … and a brief discussion of “smart-drugs.”
Trends in Drug Use, Harm Reductions & Psychiatry
NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study shows increases in use of marijuana, heroin and pharmaceuticals by adolescents; a study in Europe shows that programs like DARE are not effective; government regulators grapple to keep up with street chemists creating new designer drugs, and a discussion of psychiatry’s increasing dependence on drug therapy to the exclusion of talk therapy.
Mental Health, Stress & College
A look at mental health on college campuses – still stressful, recently increasingly violence. Some of the factors: psychiatric medication, self-medication using alcohol and street drugs; and the availability of treatment and its increased acceptance.
More on prescription drug abuse & dopamine sensitivity of progeny
Our reward/reinforcement control center can be changed and passed to our progeny by just one or two episodes of drug use, heightening their chances of having addiction issues, according to new research. Also more on the increasing number of deaths and ER visits resulting from misuse of prescription drugs.