Addiction and Aging Baby-Boomers
An addiction “boom” is happening to people in 50s and 60s – too young to be old, often caring for parents, or under-employed adult children often with their own families, and still working to try to make ends meet – is causing many baby-boomers to have more issues with addiction and substance abuse then perhaps earlier in their life.
Addicts You May Know
The popular “Nurse Jackie” series on Showtime gives us the chance to explore the fact that people with addiction issues may be your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family, and how this understanding is important to finding ways of addressing this large public health issue.
The business of addiction
Addiction, treatment and recovery are spawning more profitable businesses, from high-end treatment to a variety of media with tv series, and this week, a brand new website, by-for-and-of the addiction community. Also news on the cocaine vaccine, and how another state is readying a pseudoephedrine restriction to combat meth.
A Model of Treatment – Fr. Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Industries began in 1988, in one of the toughest neighborhoods of central Los Angeles. It has become one of the premier models for creating viable, successful alternatives to some of our most vexing social problems – in this case gangs and gang violence. Father Boyle and Dr Darryl Inaba chat about the history and philosophy.
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.
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.