A new CDC report finds that naloxone, a drug that reverses overdose, could save thousands of lives if public health agencies distributed it more broadly
heroin
Siblings Brain Study Sheds Light on the Roots of Addiction
Why do some people get addicted while others remain immune to the lure of drugs?
Updated Guidelines for Treating Babies Exposed to Drugs in the Womb
The question of how best to help babies who have been exposed to drugs in the womb — including prescription pain medications, antidepressants and illicit drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine — can be an emotionally charged issue.
Fueled by Growing Painkiller Use, Overdose Deaths and Child Poisonings Are on the Rise
Drug overdose has now overtaken automobile crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., according to an analysis of government data. This is the first time that drugs have killed more people than car wrecks since …
It’s No Joke: Why Laughter Kills Pain
What do joke-lovers and junkies have in common? According to new research, they’re both responding to the same kind of “high.” The study suggests that genuine laughter releases endorphins in the brain, chemicals that activate the …
Amy Winehouse and the Pain of Addiction
Another addiction death comes at age 27, with Amy Winehouse joining Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and most aptly, Janis Joplin among the rock icons who died from their disorder at the same point in their young lives. …
Does Acting Like a Weiner Mean You’re An Addict?
As revelations about Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Twitter sexting continue to emerge — including private messages he sent to a 17-year-old girl — the announcement Saturday that he was entering “treatment” was almost inevitable. …
Perspective: The Debate Over Anonymity in Addiction Recovery
Should addicts and alcoholics remain anonymous about their recovery? Eighteen years ago this month, I wrote my first op-ed for the Washington Post‘s Sunday Outlook section, arguing against that idea. It was headlined “Addicted to …
Hooked on Addiction: From Food to Drugs to Internet Porn
America is having an addiction moment. Media headlines scream daily about new neuroscience findings on porn addiction, Internet addiction, food addiction and plain, old-fashioned drug addiction.
Cure for the Munchies? Exercise Cuts Marijuana Cravings
Want to get stoned without breaking federal law? Try exercise. Past research suggests it may trigger the release of natural marijuana-like substances in the brain, and now a small but intriguing new study finds that exercise …
Drug Legalization Is a ‘Legitimate Topic for Debate,’ Obama Says
It’s been 40 years since President Nixon’s “War on Drugs.” Is it possible that peace talks are now at hand? On Thursday, President Obama said the question of drug legalization and regulation is an “entirely legitimate topic for …
Perspective: Kicking Drugs After Columbia Bust
When I read about the five Columbia students busted for selling drugs this week on Fraternity Row, my mood sank. About two decades ago, I was in a similar situation.
