DRUNK DRIVING PREVENTION
In the United States, 29 people die every day in motor vehicle accidents that involve a driver who is impaired by alcohol. That’s one death every 50 minutes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the annual cost of alcohol-related crashes is more than $44 billion. Drugs other than alcohol, whether legal or illegal, are […]
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALCOHOL WARNING LABELS
Have you ever actually read the warning label on a bottle of alcohol or a can of beer? It’s sort of like the three pages of possible side effects that come with a new prescription medication – you know they exist but you’re pretty sure none of it’s going to happen to you, so why […]
HOW TO CUT BACK ON DRINKING
If you think you might have an alcohol dependence problem, the idea of quitting can be daunting. If you aren’t ready to go to a treatment facility, going cold turkey is a dangerous idea and could lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Your best bet is to slowly wean yourself off of alcohol. Even if you […]
SOCIAL HOST LIABILITY
Most young adults – particularly in college settings – have drunk alcohol before they were of age, usually by convincing someone older than them to purchase it. As far as some people are concerned, it’s practically a rite of passage. Others might have had the alcohol given to them by older friends or family. We […]
SELF-HELP BOOKS
If you take a stroll through a bookstore or browse Amazon you’ll see countless self-help books for every subject. How to make friends, how to get rich, how to get over a bad relationship, and how to recover from a drug or alcohol addiction – the list is endless. Americans spent about $1.24 billion on […]
PREDATORY BEHAVIOR IN AA
Opinions on the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous are mixed. Although many people swear that AA helped saved their lives, others say that the nature of the meetings themselves – the abstinence-only philosophy, the fact that the moderators usually aren’t trained in counseling or psychology – means that it can help people who are already dedicated […]
BOOKS ON ADDICTION AND RECOVERY
Addiction is a complicated disease, so it stands to reason that its treatment is complex as well. There are many factors that go into a complete, effective treatment program, including inpatient and/or outpatient therapy, behavioral therapies, medication-assisted treatment, and support groups. One thing that many people overlook, however, is self-help or self-guided improvement. One way […]
DRUG SEARCHES IN SCHOOLS
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” The amendment is meant to protect privacy and freedom from government intrusion, and generally, a search without a warrant is unconstitutional. A certain […]
WHY DRUG USERS MAKE POOR DECISIONS
One of the biggest questions people who have never struggled with addiction ask is why people don’t recognize how bad their drug use has gotten. Why not seek help when you first realize you might have a problem? Surely addicts must see the damage they’re causing to themselves and others. Why would you even use […]
THE EFFECTS OF NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME
We’ve all heard about the dangers of secondhand smoke, but did you know that other people can suffer the physical effects of your drug or alcohol addiction? Specifically, babies who are born to mothers with substance abuse disorders are at risk for a variety of developmental problems, both mental and physical. One such condition is […]