HEAVY DRINKING AND YOUR HEALTH
Drinking too much too frequently can have many harmful effects on a person’s health. Moderate drinking is generally considered safe and refers to three to four standard drinks per drinking event, or no more than 9 drinks per week for women and 12 to 14 for men. For men under the age of 65, heavy drinking means […]
MOMMY AND WINE MEMES
If you use Facebook or some other social media, odds are that you’ve seen the “mommy and wine” memes. There might be a picture of a single woman collapsed in an armchair with a glass of wine, or a group of young, attractive women gathered at a bar drinking. Then there’s a witty comment that’s […]
FUNCTIONAL ALCOHOLICS
Some people can abuse alcohol while still being successful in their personal and professional lives. These people are typically referred to as high-functioning alcoholics or HFAs, but in truth, no one can ignore the effects of alcohol abuse forever. An HFA can (at least for a while) have a good job, a close family, and plenty […]
DRINKING ALCOHOL WHILE BREASTFEEDING
In early August 2018, Jessie James Decker, a singer-songwriter and reality television personality, posted a photo of herself holding a glass of wine while breastfeeding, and the Internet exploded. All manner of opinionated people came out of the woodwork, either to support her and say they’d done the same, or to call her selfish and […]
THE DEBATE ON LEGAL DRINKING AGE
Have you ever wondered how the legal drinking age in the U.S. came to be 21? You might imagine a group of legislators debating at what age a person reaches mental maturity, with the highest capacity for logical thinking. Interestingly, you’d be wrong. The concept that a person reaches adulthood at age 21 comes from […]
STOP-SMOKING AIDS
There are more stop-smoking aids out there than you could possibly keep track of. Gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, inhalers, patches – how are you supposed to know what’s right for you, or if any of them even work? Some are more effective than others, some are more expensive than others, and some might have side […]
CAN MUSIC REALLY CAUSE SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
All parents worry about their children. The desire to protect them from the world is born along with them, and it never really goes away. At some point, however, we might also have to protect them from themselves. As kids turn into teenagers, we start worrying about them driving, getting into sexual relationships, hanging out […]
ALCOHOL USE AND AN INCREASED RISK OF DEMENTIA
For years, researchers have suggested that there is a relationship between alcohol and dementia. Some argue that it can increase the chances of a person developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Others claim that drinking a certain amount of alcohol can actually protect against dementia. So which is true? First, a brief primer on dementia […]
CAN AN ANTIBIOTIC TREAT ALCOHOL USE DISORDER?
There are currently a few medications that are used to help treat alcohol dependence, although none of them are a guarantee. Disulfiram (Antabuse) was the first drug approved by the FDA for alcohol use disorder, back in 1951. It works by changing the way your body breaks down alcohol, so that if you drink while […]
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG ARTISTS
Among all the genetic predispositions and environmental factors that can lead to addiction, there’s one group of people who seem to be particularly at risk – the creative. There are hundreds of examples of musicians, writers, and artists who have struggled with addiction, and an unfortunately high number of them have lost. It might just […]