Sober News

Helping a Victim of Domestic Abuse

2013-05-16T00:01:39Z

If you know someone who is a victim of domestic abuse, you may be reluctant to get involved, or you may hesitate to reach out because you don't know what to say. Here are some tips for trying to help someone who is a victim of domestic violence. Read more... Related Information : Domestic Abuse Screening Quiz Domestic Abuse - Getting Help What Triggers a Domestic Violence Attack? Photo: © Clipart.com Helping a Victim of Domestic Abuse originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Thursday, May...(read more)

The Dangers of 'Bath Salts'

2013-05-15T00:01:09Z

Called a "serious and growing public health and safety issue" by the NIDA, synthetic cathinones, commonly known as bath salts or fake cocaine, have produced adverse reactions in users across the nation. What are bath salts and what do they do to the body? Read more... More About Bath Salts : What Is Fake Cocaine? What Drug Is in Fake Cocaine? Emerging Drugs of Abuse Photo: © PhotoXpress.com The Dangers of 'Bath Salts' originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Wednesday, May...(read more)

Vermont Decriminalizes Pot Possession

2013-05-14T02:32:48Z

Vermont has become the 17th state to pass legislation reducing or eliminating the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. The state legislature voted make possession of less than an ounce of weed a civil penalty similar to a traffic fine. Small quantities of hashish were also decriminalized under the bill passed Monday. ... Vermont Decriminalizes Pot Possession originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 02:32:48. Permalink | Comment | Email this...(read more)

Nalmefene Can Help Drinkers Cut Back

2013-05-09T02:30:00Z

The current medications approved to treat alcoholism are aimed at a goal of achieving abstinence and preventing relapse. But for those alcoholics who cannot or will not consider total, lifetime abstinence a new medication could help them cut back on their consumption. Nalmefene has been found effective and safe for reducing alcohol consumption in a new study. ... Nalmefene Can Help Drinkers Cut Back originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Thursday, May 9th, 2013 at 02:30:00. Permalink | Comment...(read more)

JAMA: Hospitals Should Drug Test All Doctors

2013-05-08T01:14:10Z

Like other industries trying to protect their customers, hospitals should conduct random drug and alcohol tests on all their doctors, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Doctors should also be tested immediately following an unexpected patient death, the journal said. The healthcare profession should take a cue from other high-risk industries, the JAMA recommendation said. ... JAMA: Hospitals Should Drug Test All Doctors originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Wednesday...(read more)

A Breath Test for Drugged Drivers?

2013-05-07T00:19:34Z

Law enforcement and public health officials, struggling with a way to crack down on the growing problem of drugged driving, may be encouraged by a new Swedish study of breath testing which could mean the development of a roadside breathalyzer test for illicit drugs. One problem in dealing with drugged drivers has been finding a way to prove current intoxication, as breath tests can with drunk drivers. ... A Breath Test for Drugged Drivers? originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Tuesday, May...(read more)

Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Jumps 33%

2013-05-02T00:01:56Z

The prescription drug abuse epidemic in the United States has begun to affect our children as a new national survey shows a 33% increase in prescription drug use by teens since 2008. Unfortunately, the experts say, parents may be playing a role in their teens' attitude about the non-medical use of prescription medication. Parents can take a more proactive role in preventing teen drug abuse, health officials said. ... Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Jumps 33% originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism...(read more)

Coordination Needed for Prevention Efforts

2013-05-01T00:01:22Z

The government's goal of reducing teen drug abuse by 15% before the year 2015 is not being achieved and a lack of coordination between agencies could be partially to blame. Teen use of some drugs has decrease, but those decreases have been offset by the increase in marijuana and prescription drug misuse. The government agency responsible for federal program accountability says there is too much overlap in prevention efforts. ... Coordination Needed for Prevention Efforts originally appeared on...(read more)

Narconon of Georgia Under Investigation

2013-04-30T00:29:38Z

Narconon of Georgia, a alcohol and drug treatment facility associated with the Church of Scientology, is under investigation for massive insurance fraud. Officials from the Georgia Insurance Commissioner's office and law enforcement served a search warrant at the facility's Norcross offices last week. Investigators hauled off boxes full of documents and more than a dozen computers, according to reports. ... Narconon of Georgia Under Investigation originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism...(read more)

Marijuana: Sending Youth the Wrong Message

2013-04-25T05:28:15Z

Even advocates for the legalization of marijuana agree that smoking weed is not safe for children whose brains are still developing. But the messages kids are getting from today's culture is, "marijuana is medicine, therefore it's safe" and "it's legal, so it must be okay." Neither is true for children. Read more... More About Marijuana : Basic Facts About Marijuana Smokers Underestimate Marijuana's Harm Marijuana: The Myths Are Killing Us Photo: PhotoXpress.com...(read more)

Medical Marijuana an Easy Target for Abuse

2013-04-24T02:03:55Z

Medical marijuana is intended to help people who have serious, debilitating medical conditions that standard medical treatments cannot help. The problem is that it is actually being prescribed for many other diseases and conditions that aren't on the approved lists and those that can be easily faked. Read more... Related Information : Can Marijuana Be Used as Medicine? Marijuana: The Myths Are Killing Us How is Marijuana Harmful? Photo: © Clipart.com Medical Marijuana an Easy Target for Abuse...(read more)

FDA Blocks Generic OxyContin

2013-04-18T01:05:09Z

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected the manufacture of generic versions of OxyContin in it's original form. The agency said that the risk of original OxyContin outweighs the benefits of the drug, because of its potential to be abused. The decision was announced on the day the drug's patent expired, the point at which other manufacturers would have been able to produce generic versions. ... FDA Blocks Generic OxyContin originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Thursday...(read more)

'Benzo Fury' Party Drug Poses Risks

2013-04-10T01:37:17Z

A new designer party drug being sold legally in the United States and the United Kingdom may pose more risks than its younger users realize. "Benzo Fury" may be dangerous to users because it produces both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects, researchers say. Because the drug is legal, young people erroneously think it is safe to use, the experts said. ... 'Benzo Fury' Party Drug Poses Risks originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Wednesday, April 10th, 2013 at 01:37:17....(read more)

Court Muddies Drugged Driving Issue

2013-04-08T23:21:31Z

The state of Idaho is the latest to discover that dealing with the growing phenomenon of drugged driving will require new laws designed specifically to attack the problem. An appeals court ruling that overturned a driving under the influence of marijuana conviction made it clear that existing laws are not adequate to keep drugged drivers off the road. The court ruled that existing blood tests are not enough to prove driving while impaired. ... Court Muddies Drugged Driving Issue originally appeared...(read more)

Alcohol Awareness: Types of Alcohol Problems

2013-04-04T04:46:05Z

You don't have to be a full-blown alcoholic to experience problems with alcohol consumption. You don't have to be a daily drinker to have a problem with alcohol. And you do not have to drink a large amount of alcohol to be drinking at potentially harmful levels. There are many different levels drinkers and almost as many types of alcohol abuse problems. ... Alcohol Awareness: Types of Alcohol Problems originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Thursday, April 4th, 2013 at 04:46:05. Permalink...(read more)