Publications - Substance Abuse and Addictions

Study finds 1 in 3 bipolar teens become substance abusers, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Oct 3 2013.

“As published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, researchers found that approximately one in three teens with bipolar disorder developed substance abuse. The new study also identified several risk factors that predicted who among these teens was most likely to develop substance abuse. ”

An Effort to Expand Access to a Drug That Could Save Victims of Overdoses, by Julie Turkewitz, New York Times , Aug 21 2013.

“Some public health experts and antidrug advocates, however, are offering another way to prevent overdose deaths: naloxone, an easy-to-administer, inexpensive drug that is sprayed into the nose or injected into the body. The more people who carry it, they say, the better. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug to treat overdoses in 1971, and since then it has been widely used in hospitals. Now, it is slowly getting into the hands of nonmedical personnel across New York State. ”

Smoking Alcohol: The Dangerous Way People Are Getting Drunk, by Alexandra Sifferlin, Time , Jun 5 2013.

“To get drunk, people are getting creative. But a new form of drinking, known as "smoking" alcohol, has doctors concerned. An individual can pour alcohol over dry ice and inhale it directly or with a straw, or make a DIY vaporizing kit using bike pumps. The alcohol of choice is poured into a bottle, the bottle is corked, and the bicycle pump needle is poked through the top of the cork. Air is pumped into the bottle to vaporize the alcohol, and the user inhales. ”

Body Betrayed, by Kathryn Zerbe, 2013.

Stoney the Pony's Most Inspiring Year: Teaching Children About Addiction Through Metaphor, by Linda Myers, Oct 3 2012.

How PTSD and Addiction Can Be Safely Treated Together, by Maia Szalavitz, Time , Aug 15 2012.

“The vast majority of people with addiction have suffered significant previous trauma, and many people who struggle with addiction suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) simultaneously. But the treatment of these patients has posed a conundrum: experts have believed that PTSD treatment should not begin until the addicted person achieves lasting abstinence, because of the risk that PTSD treatment may trigger relapse, yet addicted people with untreated PTSD are rarely able to abstain for long. ”

Symptoms of Teen Substance Abuse, by Donna White, Psych Central , Jul 20 2012.

“Research has shown that individuals who begin to experiment at a young age have a higher chance of addiction later in life. This is why it is important to notice early the signs of substance abuse in teens and young adults. ”

Innate Neurological Risk for Drug Abuse?, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Apr 30 2012.

“A new study suggests the way in which the brain is wired in some people may make them more impulsive and more likely to experiment with drugs. ”

Teen Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use and Abuse Starts Earlier Than You Might Think, by ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily , Apr 2 2012.

“A survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. teenagers suggests that most cases of alcohol and drug abuse have their initial onset at this important period of development, according to a report published in the April issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication. ”

Synthetic Marijuana Sending Some Teens to ER, by Traci Pedersen, Psych Central , Mar 20 2012.

“Frequently sold in gas stations and convenience stores, synthetic versions of marijuana are placing some teens in the emergency room. ”

Teen Health Linked to Teen Happiness, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Mar 5 2012.

“A new UK study suggests teenagers are not as invincible as they might think when it comes to health, and that an unhealthy lifestyle is linked to unhappiness. ”

Siblings Brain Study Sheds Light on the Roots of Addiction, by Maia Szalavitz, Time Magazine , Feb 3 2012.

“Why do some people get addicted while others remain immune to the lure of drugs? Neuroscientists have been studying this question for years, asking whether the difference arises from particular variations in brain structure. But until now the research has not been clear on whether the brain changes seen in addiction are a cause or the result of excessive drug use. ”

Ecstasy May Cause Chronic Serotonin Loss, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Dec 7 2011.

“Emerging research suggests recreational use of Ecstasy, the illegal drug that produces feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth, is associated with chronic changes in the human brain. ”

New Approach for Substance Abuse among African-Americans, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Oct 18 2011.

“A new study examined the effectiveness of a motivational counseling approach to treat substance abuse among African-Americans. ”

Study IDs Key Components of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Sep 13 2011.

“Researchers believe they have discovered key factors responsible for the success of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) programs. ”