From needle exchanges to the latest “wet houses” for alcoholics, studies show “harm reduction” can help kick a habit
Addiction
What Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Sponsor Could Have Done for Him
As part of Twelve-Step programs, they act as support, friend, mentor, and advisor—but they’re also former addicts and shouldn’t be treated as experts
5 Reasons Why TV’s Top Shows Are So Addictive
There’s science behind what makes your favorite shows so hard to miss.
Team-Based Addiction Care Not as Effective as Experts Hoped
Addicted to the Internet? There’s a Hospital-based Treatment for That
Does internet addiction warrant full-fledged in-patient rehab— or are there better ways to manage your Angry Birds and email-checking obsessions?
When Meditation Helps Mental Illness — And When It Hinders
It can help smokers as they quit, but meditation may not have the same benefits for some mental illnesses as it does for addictions.
Viewpoint: How the Drug Treatment System Failed Cory Monteith
The Vancouver coroner’s office revealed that “Glee” star Cory Monteith died of a toxic mixture of alcohol and heroin, weeks after leaving rehab for substance misuse. His death highlights the dangers of the post-rehab period, and …
What Milk Shakes Teach Us About Food Addiction
Have you ever craved a piece of chocolate? Or felt the lure of a hot slice of pizza? And been convinced that the force responsible wasn’t your stomach hoping to quell hunger but your brain, desperately seeking to satisfy …
‘Crack Babies’ Don’t Necessarily Turn Into Troubled Teens
Exposure to crack cocaine in the womb does not increase the risk of later criminal behavior or school dropout — although the drug may have some lasting effects on behavior and development, according to a new review of the research.
Beer’s Taste Alone Can Trigger Desire for Drink
The latest research shows that even the taste of beer is sufficient to activate the brain‘s pleasure circuits.
U.N. Report Suggests Some Autism & Addiction Treatments Are Akin to Torture
So-called treatments for drug users and the disabled in some places of the world—including the U.S.— are far from helpful, says a new United Nations (U.N.) report.
More Sex Partners Linked to Higher Risk of Drug Addiction, Alcoholism
And the risk is especially great for women, according to new research.
Study: Internet Addicts Suffer Withdrawal Symptoms Like Drug Users
Obsessive internet users can undergo ‘comedowns’ similar to those experienced by people using ecstasy, researchers say.