In a field in which the meetings and prayers of 12-step treatment are among the most accepted ways to help people with drug addiction, consumers have little way of knowing which rehabs are genuinely evidence-based and which …
Addiction
Appreciation: G. Alan Marlatt Brought Compassion to Addiction Treatment
Many people claim to be pioneers in addiction treatment, but few have left a more important legacy than G. Alan Marlatt, professor of psychology at University of Washington, who died of melanoma on March 14, at age 69.
Perspective: What the Supreme Court Doesn’t Know About Crack
It’s always possible to crack a good cocaine joke — I’m as guilty as the next person — and there were more than a few of them in a recent syndicated column from the Washington Post about the Supreme Court’s somewhat bumbling …
Is Dr. Drew More Like Charlie Sheen than He Thinks?
Could Dr. Drew Pinsky be following Charlie Sheen off the rails? Recently the “Celebrity Rehab” host claimed that Sheen was “in an acute manic state” — a public statement which teeters on the bounds of psychiatric ethics (more …
Addict or Bipolar? Examining the ‘Passion’ of Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen’s public meltdown–media blitz continues, with riveting interviews aired on morning shows on NBC and ABC; a volatile, rambling conversation streamed on TMZ.com; and a more restrained appearance on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight.
Outlawing ‘Legal Highs:’ Can Emergency Bans Hinder Drug Development?
As states race to outlaw synthetic drugs sold as “bath salts” or “fake marijuana,” there would seem to be little downside to banning these untested and possibly dangerous chemicals. But prohibiting “legal” intoxicants — many of …
How to Find the Best Drug Treatment for Teens: A Guide for Parents
Getting your child treatment for, say, cancer presents numerous challenges — but most of them don’t involve determining whether the therapies offered by major medical organizations are backed by data. Unfortunately, that’s …
Can You Use Crack ‘Socially?’ Addiction Myth Watch: Charlie Sheen Edition
The subject of addiction swirls with myths and misinformation. It doesn’t help that so many people seem to believe that their own struggle with addiction — or a few drop-ins to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings — make them …
The Key to Health, Wealth and Success: Self-Control
Self-control may be the secret to success, according to a persuasive new study that followed 1,000 children from birth to age 32: children who showed early signs of self-mastery were not only less likely to have developed …
Perspective: To Prevent AIDS in Russia, Drug Addicts Need Care
Russia has one of the fastest spreading HIV epidemics in the world, driven largely by the government’s refusal to institute measures to treat the country’s drug addicts — measures that have dramatically reduced HIV infections …
Young Adults Choose Self-Esteem Boost Over Sex and Money
It’s hard to imagine anything young people might value more than food, getting an extra paycheck or even having sex, but according to the results of a recent study in the Journal of Personality there is one thing prized most …
5 Tips for Kicking Bad Habits
So you’ve made the decision to quit. Congratulations! Now you’ll need a few tried-and-true ways to change your bad habit — whether it’s problem drinking, eating or smoking — and stick with it.
Bonus: 4 Tips for Staying on the Wagon
Quitting isn’t easy, but buck up: staying on the wagon gets a lot more manageable over time. Here are some proven pieces of advice to help you stay the course.