Danger Not Only From The Alcohol, but, Also Poor Decision Making That Accompanies It

In the 21st century the dangers of alcohol are well understood, if consumed heavily. Those who drink alcohol excessively are in danger not only from the alcohol, but, also poor decision making that accompanies it. There are not many things that humans consume that wear on the body like alcohol; coupled with poor eating habits, no exercise, and unsafe decision making, the disease of alcoholism is complex and composed of many factors. These factors can determine the rate of deterioration on the human body.

Findings from a recent study were published in the journal Addiction Research and Theory which researched the decision making process of heavy drinkers. 7,884 hospital patients in Oregon and Washington were used for the study, they found that people who had an average of three or more alcoholic drinks daily, had a much greater chance of: having poor eating habits, were less likely to see their doctors regularly, and would hardly ever wear their seat belt. Interestingly, the study found that heavy drinkers were less likely to think that they could change their own health behaviors and that literally the state of their health was out of their hands. Whereas, those who drink less and are considered to be moderate drinkers, were more likely to report good health than light drinkers, heavy drinkers, and abstainers.

Last Thursday, we discussed the potential health benefits of moderate drinking. It would seem like this study lends it support to the theory that moderate drinking can reduce your chances of cardiovascular problems like heart disease.

The fact is, alcohol is a symptom of the problem, what actually deteriorates the alcoholic is the disease itself. Alcohol itself has killed very few people, the disease of alcoholism has taken and will continue to take the life of countless people. That is why substance abuse treatment facilities are putting more emphasis on nutrition and physical exercise, to help re-teach sound health practices to the alcoholics who over many years have forgotten what a balanced diet actually is. "Physicians should not only be concerned about patients' heavy drinking, but also these other health-related practices," said study author Carla Green of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease

There has been a debate within the world of health over the benefits, if any, of drinking alcohol moderately. There have been several studies over the years that claimed small amounts of alcohol could decrease your chances of cardiovascular problems. Eight published studies regarding the subject, which involved more than 16,000 heart patients, concluded that there are good signs that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of heart disease, by raising the level of "good" cholesterol. Kenneth J. Mukamal at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston led the research review.

The research group determined that people who drank alcohol moderately had a lower chance of dying from heart problems like stroke or disease; light drinkers risk was reduced by 31 percent, while moderate drinkers had any even lower risk at 38 percent. However, they are quick to point out that any drinking to the excess will cancel out the helping properties the alcohol may of had. Coupled with the review, there was another study done by Simona Costanzo of Catholic University in Campobasso, Italy. They determined, "Cardiovascular patients should be informed that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption (1 drink/day for women or up to 2 drinks/day for men) should not be harmful to their health". Costanzo's study echoed the American study regarding excessive drinking and it removing any chance of health benefits.

Alcohol is actually ethanol, which also powers things like automobiles; it is hard to see how ethanol, which is poisonous to the human body, could be good for you. What these studies fail to mention is the damage alcohol, even moderately consumed, is doing to other parts of your body. Maybe alcohol is good for your heart, but it is in no way good for your liver and even more importantly your brain. If doctors and scientist encourage people to drink in order to save their heart, we may have people start drinking who never should have been drinking in the first place, i.e. someone born with the disease of alcoholism, who cannot stop once they start. There is no question, at the end of the day it is probably safer to abstain from alcohol than it is trying to control it in order to save your heart.

Teens Huffed Inhalants Before Other Drugs

A study shows that twelve year-olds are more likely to have tried huffing than any other drug. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition published startling results, finding that more 12-year-olds have huffed dangerous inhalants than have used marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined. Teenagers have been known to huff, will breathe in the fumes of just about any chemical solvents or condensed gases to achieve the desired euphoria and disorientation. Getting one's hands on solvents like Dust Off are as easy for teenagers to acquire as it is for the chemicals to kill them. In many cases parents never expect that their children would be consuming these household chemicals that it often goes undetected, inevitably ending with the death of a child.

There is no way to drug test your kids to find out if they have been huffing. "Parents can't see the signs," said Rachelle Gardner, Fairbanks' director of adolescence. "It's not a long-lasting affect like with marijuana or alcohol. You can't see them drunk and you can't see them stoned". You have to be 18 to buy keyboard cleaners and other inhalants like them, which does have some effect and prevents some kids from getting their hands on the potentially dangerous chemicals. Kids still find a way and keyboard cleaner around the house should be locked up or at least out of sight.

Here are some signs that your child might be huffing:

• chronic sore throat
• runny nose
• moody
• exhausted

Huffing is extremely dangerous and every parent should be aware of the dangers. Teenagers are curious people, it would be a shame if their curiosity brought them harm. Legal household substances including: aerosol sprays, nail polish, gasoline and air conditioner refrigerant should be closely monitored according to 6News. Huffing is the most popular in the Mid West but it happens all over the country by countless teens who are not aware of the inherent dangers.

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Zookeepers Have Sent a Chimpanzee to Rehab in Russia

The word "addiction", is a word that once could only be applied to human beings. The thought of an animal becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol is something hard to believe and is almost comedic. Unfortunately, those animals that are not far down the evolutionary ladder from humans are just as susceptible to developing habits and addictions. Chimpanzees have commonly been used for drug experiments over the years. In one experiment, a chimpanzee was taught to hit a lever in his cage, when hit, a dose of cocaine would be administered. The scientists would gradually change the amount of times the chimp would have to hit the lever to get a single dose. The study was finally canceled when the chimpanzee was witnessed hitting the lever 12,000 times to get one dose of cocaine. Other experiments have been done that allowed the animal a choice between a lever for water and a lever for a morphine solution, as you might guess, the lever for water saw little activity. It's pretty clear that brain chemistry in animals is not too dissimilar from human beings. The main difference between a chimpanzee becoming an addict and human beings, is a matter of perception; no one would ever say that an animal that has become addicted to a substance is : attempting to be different, a rebel, a criminal, from a bad family or the product of socioeconomic disasters. Therein lays the key point about addiction that it doesn't matter where you are from or what you have been through; addiction makes no exceptions for the person you are, it is a disease that countless people are born with.

The Moscow Times recently reported that zookeepers have sent a chimpanzee to rehab in Russia after the chimp named Zhora began begging visitors for booze and cigarettes. Zhora, picked up smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol while performing in the circus. Zhora has been at the whim of visitors to the zoo who find it funny to see her smoke cigarettes and stumble around drunk inside the cage. I fail to see the humor in all this, when an animal is an addict it's "funny", yet, when a human is an addict it is pathetic. Nevertheless, wild animals in captivity are subject to whatever we put them through, if you give a substance to an animal like alcohol repeatedly, dependency is bound to develop.

Now, Zhora is in treatment fighting off the demons that the audience gave her with a smile on their faces - hilarious, right? Animals have little business in captivity to begin with, they have enough environmental stress day to day inside of their cages; to think that humans would work to shorten a life already shortened by giving them drugs. Sad!

Parents Have Started To Crack Down On Universities

Drinking on college campuses takes place every day, in the dorms or at house parties alcohol can be a regular part of collegiate life. Millions of young adults are unleashed upon the world and most parents are aware that their children will probably par take in some illicit activities at some point during their college years. The reality is that some students while partying will get caught, resulting in the campus administrators having to punish the students by making them attend a class or two about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Punishment is not very harsh and there is probably no need for it to be. In the past, parents were rarely informed about their children's extracurricular activities.

Due to privacy laws, when speaking with parents, universities are really only allowed to talk about tuition unless the student is underage and received an infraction. Interestingly enough, schools have had this authority for more than a decade and rarely exercised it unless there were multiple offenses or drugs were involved. It seems pretty clear that campus authorities worry a lot less about alcohol than they do drugs. College drinking is on the rise according to researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism most recent figures. Between 1998 and 2005, the report showed increased binge drinking, drunk driving, and alcohol-related deaths.

Parents have started to crack down on universities, demanding to know when their child has been drinking so that signs can be spotted before things get out of hand. "This semester, Virginia Tech joined a growing list of colleges that notify parents every time a student younger than 21 is caught drinking, drunk or in possession of alcohol. George Washington University also tightened its notification policy last year after a student died of alcohol poisoning", according to the Washington Post. A college campus can be the perfect environment for unknown addictions to spread their wings if they go unchecked, the need for universities to communicate with parents is crucial. Campuses work hard to curb drinking but their programs are relatively ineffective.

The vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech, Edward Spencer made a valid point: "Students are more concerned about their parents being notified than they are of the legal consequences". Parents are concerned and they have a right to be, students may be adults, but, it's usually parents paying the tuition. Parents can help colleges with their anti-drinking campaigns; parents can have a huge effect on the habits of their children.

U.S. Army Soldiers With Alcohol Problems

High stress jobs have always been a contributing factor to the amount of alcohol consumed by employees. The military has always struggled with how to handle alcoholism both at home and in war zones. In 2009, over 9,000 soldiers got treatment for alcohol abuse, this treatment consisted of regular trips to a counselor; the number of soldiers needing assistance with their alcohol problems is up from 6,000 in 2003. Multiple tours in Iraqi combat zones have had a direct effect on the number of U.S. Army soldiers with alcohol problems; combat stress has caused the number of diagnosed alcohol problems to double since 2003.

The military offers soldiers the opportunity to seek help for their addictions, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Soldiers who seek help will not have that information put into their permanent records which will keep their career intact. This is a pretty amazing thing, no longer will alcoholism be a cause for promotion denial; having notes of alcoholism in one's record use to keep soldiers from ever advancing career wise. Lots of soldiers discover they have an alcohol problem in the worst of environments; swift action to help these individuals is extremely necessary.

In the 1990's the Army banned the use of alcohol in combat zones; which resulted in fewer alcohol related disciplinary problems with soldiers overall. Unfortunately, those military units that were charged with going back into combat a second or third time found the stress too much to handle, alcohol was an easy solution. Drugs, for the most part, are easy to detect making them an unlikely choice amongst soldiers for stress relief. When soldiers get back from combat, they end up hitting the booze twice as hard as they did before being deployed.

It is great that the military offers some support for those struggling with alcohol. However, it does appear that they would rather sweep alcoholics under the rug than have their records and the military's record smeared. Just seeing a counselor once a week will hardly have any long term effect towards recovery.

Rip Torn Heading To Rehab After Arrest

There is nothing humorous about the disease of addiction, as funny as circumstances may sound - at the bottom of every drunk-a-log is an alcoholic suffering. Long before Rip Torn decided to break into a Connecticut bank his life had begun spiraling out of control, an alcoholic history had been established. He has had DUI arrests in the state of New York and just last year he was given probation in Connecticut for another drunk driving case. The icing on the cake when it comes to Torn's rap sheet came when the "Men in Black" actor broke into a Litchfield Bancorp branch in Salisbury; court records stated he was carrying a loaded gun when he committed the crime, Torn was so intoxicated he thought he was home, which is why he took off his hat and boots placing them by the door upon entering the bank. Torn smelled like alcohol when he was asking the State Troopers arresting him why they were taking him out of his home. What seems almost comical is just another example of the loss of control that comes with alcoholism. Rip Torn may be heading to rehab after this arrest!

"Officers found a loaded .22-caliber revolver in Torn's pocket, according to court records, and a breath test showed his blood-alcohol content as 0.203 percent - more than twice the 0.08 legal limit for driving in Connecticut", the AP reported.

Rip Torn's list of charges:

• criminal trespass
• carrying a gun without a permit (His permit to carry a firearm in Connecticut had expired in October 2007)
• carrying a gun while intoxicated
• burglary
• criminal mischief

A. Thomas Waterfall, Torn's attorney said, "The history here is clear that there's an alcohol issue that needs to be addressed", to Bantam Superior Court Judge John W. Pickard on Monday. Waterfall couldn't be more on point, Rip Torn is in desperate need of treatment. It seems like that will be part of his sentence along with heavy fines, community service, and even some possible jail time. It seems pretty clear from the reports that Torn had no malicious intent when committing the crimes that he probably doesn't remember anything about. Torn is scheduled to return to Litchfield Superior Court on Feb. 17; the 78 year-old actor needs help and maybe this event will encourage him to surrender - finally.

Buckfast Tonic Wine Symbol of Scotland's Entrenched Drinking Problems

Alcohol has been a part of society in the United Kingdom since ancient times. The drinking age in the UK is 5 years of age in private, 16 in public with a meal and accompanied by an adult, and 18 years old otherwise. One's ability to procure alcohol with such ease plays a part in the number of alcohol related incidents and high rates of alcoholism. What particular alcohol is taking the brunt of the blame for the drinking problems in the entire country of Scotland? The New York Times reports that, "Buckfast Tonic Wine has emerged as a symbol of Scotland's entrenched drinking problems at a time when it is urgently debating how to address them". Buckfast Tonic Wine had a role in 5638 police reports in Strathclyde, Scotland between 2006 and 2009, according to the BBC. Buckfast is a sweet wine infused with caffeine, allowing consumers to be drunk and not pass out that being the typical route for an inebriated person; it has been given nicknames "Wreck the Hoose (House) Juice", "loopy juice", Coatbridge Table Wine, and my personal favorite "Who're you lookin' at?".

Buckfast is not some new 21st century drink, it's made by Benedictine monks at an abbey in England and it gained popularity early on in the 20th century; the tonic was commonly prescribed by doctors for down-in-the-dumps miners and sold at local drugstores. The drink is 15 percent alcohol by volume, the recipe calls for as much caffeine as eight cans of Coke. Unfortunately, Buckfast is not the cause of alcoholism, removing the drink from the shelves will just steer the consumer towards a bottle of something else. Five years ago Scotland's Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson, called on liquor stores to limit or ban sales of Buckfast; Jamieson claimed that Buckfast was directly “related to antisocial behavior". Her plan backfired when protesters surrounded her during a speech chanting "Don't Ban Buckie" - Buckfast sales only increased.

The Scottish government said in a recent report, "for a large section of the Scottish population, their relationship with alcohol is damaging and harmful - to individuals, families, communities and to Scotland as a nation". The key word in the above statement is "Alcohol", not one kind in particular; pointing out one brand of booze and creating a scapegoat will not fix the problem. Education and treatment are the surest way to promote healthy living in any society. Singling out "Buckie" will only create spike in sales. Alcohol is Alcohol!

Campus Drinking Is A Growing Concern

Every year campus drinking is a growing concern, universities and colleges across the nation battle alcohol and underage drinking. Incidents that occur on campus are likely to have involved alcohol. A study released last year by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that there were 1,825 alcohol-related deaths among 18- to 24-year-old students in 2005; the statistic consists of not just the rare but widely reported alcohol-poisoning deaths tied to parties and hazing, the majority of deaths are a result of drunk driving and falls where the head is injured. Stanford feels like the system they have in place to combat underage drinking works, despite new laws in Santa Clara County. The new ordinance allows the police more ease when citing people hosting parties where underage drinking takes place. Fines will be imposed up to $1,000 and anytime the police are called in will add to the cost. Jean McCown, Stanford's Director of Community Relations said to the SF Chronicle, "We already have a significant commitment to curbing underage drinking and require that on-campus parties be registered, we were concerned that the county rules would send those parties underground and out of sight".

The majority of Stanford's students, around 95 percent of the 6,600 undergraduates, are younger than 21. Naturally, many of those students live on campus in university-owned housing. Stanford is the landlord and they would be considered liable if the police show up to houses with underage drinking. Stanford is not a well known drinking campus and has never had incidence of alcohol poisoning that resulted in death, but, drinking is still an active past time and students are still cited every weekend on campus.

Stanford was given a stay on the ordinance which was passed last year, after presenting their program to the Board of Supervisors. The 12 month stay gave Stanford a chance to prove that a permanent exemption was warranted. "We already had a program on board that our students understand and believe in", said Ralph Castro, director of the university's Substance Abuse Prevention Project. Despite their "successful" program, Stanford had no choice but to tighten its alcohol policies on campus for 2010.

A South Dakota Woman Who had a Blood-Alcohol Level Almost Nine Times the Legal Limit - BAC .708

There are many reasons for people to seek out drug and alcohol addiction treatment. The hope is that every addict that enters recovery never forgets how bad it was out there - that they remember where they came from and the despair they lived in. It would be great if every person joining the recovery community ended up there on their own accord but that is simply not the case; there is a larger percentage who are ordered to attend twelve-step meetings by courts dealing with drug and alcohol related offenders. There is nothing that says that cannot be the beginning of your journey on the road to recovery, people with over 5 DUI's have been ordered to Alcoholics Anonymous and it changed their life forever. Clearly, if a judge is making decisions for you, your life has become unmanageable.

Two weeks ago we posted about a Mainer receiving seven years in jail after receiving his tenth DUI. In similar news, a South Dakota woman had a blood-alcohol level almost nine times the legal driving limit, after blowing a .708 blood alcohol level. The legal limit in South Dakota is the "normal" .08; you might be wondering how Marguerite Engle (45) could still be alive? The answer is that Engle suffers from the disease of alcoholism; what would send the normal human body into toxic shock, keeps an alcoholic from the DT's (delirium tremens). Authorities said on Dec.1 Engle was found passed out behind the wheel of a stolen delivery van along Interstate 90 and was arrested. Officials have said Engle's blood alcohol level likely is a record for the state. Engle, not surprisingly was arrested again in late December, with a BAC 3 1/2 times higher than the legal limit.

Engle has pleaded guilty to two drunken driving charges and faces up to two years in jail when she is sentenced on Feb. 23. "In exchange for her guilty pleas, prosecutors have agreed not to pursue other charges, including receiving stolen property and drug possession", reports the AP. Just like Stephen Faulcon, Engle while serving her time would do herself a great favor by attending a 12-step meeting. Recovery is available to all who desire a change for the better in their life. It's never too late to enter a program of recovery whether it is at a drug treatment facility or in prison, the fellowship transcends prison bars. The message can be heard just about anywhere!

"You Cannot Separate The Mind And The Body"

"You cannot separate the mind and the body", said Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I. People in need of mental health care may finally get the help they need. Insurance companies have always provided the least amount of coverage for mental health and substance abuse patients. Countless people have been denied coverage for mental health related problems, to the point where people have come to accept that that is the way it is. With the help of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy and his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., politicians were able to get the parity bill on to the Wall Street bailout package in September 2008. While the entire nation was preoccupied with the presidential election and the economy, the bill was passed without anyone even noticing. Starting Jan. 1, 2010 large group health insurance plans that provide mental health coverage must provide the same level of coverage at the same price as physical and surgical coverage; the new law only applies to group health plans which cover 50 or more. This is the beginning of a very significant change in the way health care is provided. "This is a major piece of civil right's health care legislation," the younger Kennedy told an audience honoring him and Ramstad at Mar-a-Lago last year according to the Palm Beach Post.

Just as with any new bill, there is still a lot that hasn't been worked out, such as the guideline for how the new law will be implemented. Companies that offer mental heath care with their package may choose to drop mental health coverage all together rather then be burdened with the new law. Nobody knows if student health care plans and employee assistance plans fall under the umbrella of this bill or not. Naturally, if insurance companies have to provide equal coverage, the cost of coverage will increase; heightened costs may be unaffordable for a significant amount of employers, forcing them to drop coverage all together.

Despite the kinks that still need to be worked out this is a big step and providing patients what they need and deserve. Routinely, those in need of drug and alcohol treatment have been denied coverage by the health care provider. For too long mental health patients have slipped through the cracks - not any more!

Measure To Legalize Pot May Be On California's November Ballot

California residents may find that they are casting their vote in November regarding the legalization of marijuana. The original consensus was that marijuana advocates would wait until 2012 to put it on the ballot, but, 680,000 people signed a petition in favor of legalization causing the timeline to speed up. Marijuana buzz is sweeping the country, as more and more states tarry with the idea of medical marijuana programs; it seems like with every passing month the snowball increases it size and moves faster towards all out legalization. These are big times in the United States, nothing like this has happened since Roosevelt's New Deal; when a country hits hard financial times then it is time to legalize something in order to bring in revenue. Or at least that has been the American way in the past, to make money on the addiction and suffering of others. On the surface it seems like California and America are heading in the right direction: smaller prison populations, less crime, generates tax revenue, pharmaceuticals, hemp, oil, paper, etc... The pros listed are certainly worth agreeing with, it is clear that marijuana does have benefits and could be utilized in number of ways. However, California may be heading down a slippery slope and could possibly bring the whole country with it.

Richard Lee, the measure's main proponent, said to the LA Times, "It was so easy to get them, People were so eager to sign". Richard Lee has already invested over a million into the campaign, he owns a dispensary and a marijuana college called Oaksterdam in Oakland, California. "The initiative would allow cities and counties to adopt laws to allow marijuana to be grown and sold, and to impose taxes on marijuana production and sales. It would make it legal for anyone who is at least 21 to possess an ounce of marijuana and grow plants in an area of no more than 25 square feet for personal use", according to the LA Times. Medical marijuana has completely shifted how we look at marijuana in the United States, opening the door to all out legalization talks such as this; it appears at this point that the pro-marijuana campaign is having more success than those against it.

We are still a year out from the polls and naturally a lot will take place between now and then. It is still anyone's guess! What we can be certain of is that money will end having the final say in this debate. As with most political battles, those who spend the most have the best chance of passing something - even if it is the worst possible thing. In many people's eyes marijuana is already legal because it is so easy to get a recommendation to use cannabis. If this trend keeps up, marijuana and alcohol will be in the same class. My only hope is that addiction is considered in the debates and the public is made aware of the implications of legalizing an illicit drug.

Cannabis Could Help Combat Substance Abuse

A new study at the University of California, Berkeley showed interesting results regarding marijuana and what it could be used for. The study showed that many people are using marijuana to keep themselves from drinking alcohol or doing other illicit drugs. It seems counter intuitive to use a drug to stay off other drugs, but, in these studies researchers have found that cannabis could help combat substance abuse. The study consisted of a 350 cannabis users at a cannabis dispensary the Berkeley Patient's Group. Out of the 350 patients, 40 percent claimed that marijuana helped control their alcohol. 66 percent of the group used cannabis as an alternative to prescription drugs and 26 percent used it to replace hard drugs like heroin and cocaine. These findings are rather alarming but not surprising, addicts have been substituting one drug for another for a long time; marijuana may be less harmful than other drugs but the disease is still present and thriving.

There is no question that marijuana is a better alternative than a lot of different chemicals out there, but, the disease of addiction is being fed by smoking weed and a person's problems are far from being dealt with. Amanda Reiman heads up this study and feels that marijuana could be an effective treatment for other addictions; she may be right, as far as the detoxification process goes. However, this proposed treatment method will not show the addict a better way of life, just another way to blanket one's problems. Marijuana may be an effective medication for certain ailments, I'm not sure that the disease of addiction is one of them.

We can be sure that all the new studies that are taking place will generate the need for more research into the medical benefits of cannabis. The times are changing with regard to marijuana and its new found acceptance, according to Reiman, The Independent reports: "The economic hardship of the Great Depression helped bring about the end of alcohol prohibition. Now, as we are again faced with economic struggles, the US is looking to marijuana as a potential revenue generator. Public support is rising for the legalization of recreational use and remains high for the use of marijuana as a medicine".

Is Marijuana an Illegal Drug or a Medicine?

Iowans have been turning to marijuana for their medical ailments despite their Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's opinion. Grassley, who recently is working to prohibit all discussion regarding medical marijuana in a bill to amend drug policy. However, the citizens of Iowa have a different opinion and many are pulling to have medical marijuana legalized. According to the Iowa AP, "opponents claim marijuana is already the state's most abused drug and the problem will only worsen if it's allowed for medical use". A lot of people still hold on to and are not willing to let go of the idea that marijuana is the gateway drug that leads to the abuse of all other drugs. However, that idea has come under serious debate in the last few years and doctors are professing the medical benefits of marijuana; alcohol is generally considered more damaging then marijuana these days.

"The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has held four hearings in recent months to seek scientific evidence and testimony on the topic. That review could lead to a recommendation to state lawmakers whether to change Iowa laws", stated the Iowa AP. More people in Iowa are speaking out for legalization than there are against it; very few people have expressed their opposition which is kind of surprising to many people. Thirteen states are now allowing the use of medical marijuana, very few states have set up dispensaries as of this point but more are expected to pop up in the near future.

The fact still remains that marijuana is addictive and affects the brain and lungs in a negative way. Will legalizing medical marijuana send out the wrong message to young people? Medical marijuana use could very possibly spike addiction rates in the coming months and that data will give people a better idea of the societal effects of medical marijuana. Before any kind of decision in Iowa is made, Dr. Ron Herman the director of the University of Iowa's Drug Information Network said, more research is needed.

Genetic Pathways and Genes Associated with Levels of Alcohol Consumption

A new study has given scientists a better understanding of the genetics of alcoholism. The amount you drink does not necessarily mean you have the genes for alcoholism, in fact there are many different genes operating; how much a person drinks is associated with one set of genes and another set are responsible for predisposition towards alcohol dependence. On the other hand, an alcoholic can drink very little and still have the predisposition towards the disease. It's common to identify alcoholics as binge drinkers, but, that is not always the case, there are many who carry the gene for alcoholism who are not heavy drinkers. Medical News Today reported, "BMC Biology's research was published in the open access journal, pinpoints genetic pathways and genes associated with levels of alcohol consumption but not with alcohol dependence in rats and humans".

The research team was led by Boris Tabakoff, Laura Saba, and Paula Hoffman from the University of Colorado, Denver, USA. Rats where used to identify the genetic pathways affecting drinking behavior. It was determined that the pleasure and reward pathways in the brain and the genetic systems that control satiety and appetite for food were linked to the rats drinking behavior. Using two male study groups, one from Montreal and the other from Sydney, human genes were directly compared with rat genes involved in these alcohol-associated pathways to identify common genetic factors linked to alcohol use across species.

According to Tabakoff, "We know that high levels of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of becoming alcohol dependent in those who have a genetic make up that predisposes to dependence. This is a case of interaction between genes and environment. Indeed, in our study we found that, higher alcohol consumption in humans was positively correlated with alcohol dependence. However, because different sets of genes seem to influence the level of alcohol consumption, as opposed to propensity for alcohol dependence, we are confronted with great variation in humans. Individuals with a set of genes that predisposes them to drink moderate amounts of alcohol may still have the genetic predisposition to lose control over their drinking behavior, and perhaps become alcohol dependent. Conversely, individuals with a genetic predisposition to drink high amounts of alcohol may not have the genes that predispose them to become dependent."

Each advancement in the study of alcohol genetics brings us closer to understanding how we can better manage it. There is much still not understood regarding the variation found in humans and why people drink the way they do. Fortunately, there are many researchers working very hard to paint a clearer picture of alcoholism and the disease of addiction.

More Young Teens are Using Alcohol and Marijuana

The California Healthy Kids Survey was released on Monday showing that more young teens are using alcohol and marijuana in Santa Cruz County. More young people believe that alcohol is harmful but that is not deterring them from drinking; teens are smoking more pot believing that it is not harmful, how could it be - it's medicine. The laws in California and fourteen other sates allowing the use of medical marijuana have created an ideology that marijuana is in no way harmful. There is evidence that there are medical benefits to weed, there needs to be a way to produce and distribute the drug without sending out the wrong message to the young and impressionable. "Bill Manov, the director of Alcohol and Drug Services for the county's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, thinks it's good news that more teens are perceiving alcohol as dangerous because it could lead to a decrease in future drinking habits. And although he said there's a pretty widespread acceptance of marijuana in Santa Cruz, he said he is still alarmed at the upward trend of use among children", reports San Jose Mercury News. Here are the reported statistics:

• Thirty-six percent of high school freshmen countywide who were surveyed in February say they've been very drunk or sick from alcohol, up from 29 percent in 2005. Sixteen percent of seventh-grade students report binge drinking, up from 10 percent in 2005.

• More freshmen report thinking that alcohol is harmful or extremely harmful, which is up seven percent from 2005.

• Twenty-six percent of freshmen who took the survey report having used marijuana in the last 30 days, as opposed to 18 percent in 2005. Half of juniors say they've tried the drug.

• Cigarette use increased three or four percentage points for high school students since 2007.

• Six percent more said they think frequent use of cigarettes is harmful.

• About a third of seventh grade students are overweight or at-risk, though those numbers drop to 29 percent in ninth grade and 23 percent in 11th grade.

• More than 75 percent of seventh- and ninth-grade students still break a sweat for 20 minutes three times a week.

Fewer teenagers are exercising and more of them are partying. Habits in all different forms are popping up at alarming rates; young people are not as healthy as they were in the past for a number of reasons. About two hours of every young person's day is spent in front of the television. "Idle hands are the devil's workshop", the message is being sent that it is alright to get high and drink. Alcohol and marijuana may be sitting next to each other at the store one day very soon. America needs to tread lightly in figuring out the best way to implement medical marijuana.

White Clay Profiting from the Disease of Alcoholism

The "dry" Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is battling to protect its people from alcohol, which has systematically kept the residents in bondage. Pine Ridge is just across the border from the small town of Whiteclay (aka White Clay), Nebraska; the interesting thing about Whiteclay is that its sole purpose is to sell alcohol - a lot of it. The town consists of just 22 people, seems pretty harmless. What isn't harmless is the four State liquor stores in White Clay, an unbelievable number for a population of 22. Sadly these liquor stores are not in place to serve Nebraska locals, but, rather the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation just a few yards across the border in South Dakota is their target. It is believed that 80 percent of Pine Ridge's population suffers from the disease of alcoholism, a disease which is tearing the reservation apart. White Clay profiting from the Disease of Alcoholism is nothing short of an American atrocity.

Last Friday, activists called for action in the way of a crackdown on liquor outlets in the town of White Clay. According to the NP Telegraph, "those testifying criticized the four White Clay businesses that sell 3.2 million cans of beer each year - mostly to residents of the dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol-related problems and poverty are rampant". America is a country of free enterprise, but, when proponents of free enterprise system agree that liquor sales that contribute to such suffering is irresponsible then something is terribly wrong with the system. That is the viewpoint of Anthony Hendrickson, dean of Creighton University's College of Business, who also said, "This is beyond the pale. This is predatory. There's no excuse". He is right; there is no excuse for profiting off of other peoples' disease when all of this could be avoided. Pine Ridge is a dry reservation for a reason, alcohol has and still is shattering the community dynamic; if its citizens can literally walk across the border to get drunk, then Pine Ridge being dry has no sway on its people. The alcoholic would walk as far as necessary to get that next drink, especially if they can practically see the liquor store from their home window. The government needs to impose restrictions upon White Clay, I mean let's be real, White Clay knows exactly where their money comes from and Pine Ridge is nothing short of an atrocious gold mine exploited daily.

Hendrickson along with a dozen others testified before a joint hearing of the General Affairs and Judiciary Committees. They are trying to determine how to reduce the high rates of alcoholism, violence and fetal-alcohol syndrome that are destroying Pine Ridge. "State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, who visited the town earlier this year, said he wants to explore funneling some of the $122,000 a year in state liquor excise taxes generated in White Clay to alcohol rehabilitation programs", states the NP Telegraph. That idea seems like a great start at managing this epidemic; but, is it enough; will it really have that much weight on the people of Pine Ridge? A group of Omaha Creighton Prep students formed a "Solidarity Club"; they were able to gather 700 Internet signatures from people who support their efforts. The NP Telegraph reports that, "in the next few weeks, the students said, they plan to present a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to overturn a 1904 order and restore a 50-square-mile "buffer zone" of no alcohol sales along the Nebraska border". Karpisek agrees that the "buffer zone" could actually do a lot of good and would certainly make it harder for people in the reservation to acquire liquor; but, what if people will just drive further to get what they need, potentially creating more alcohol related accidents.

Clearly, action needs to be taken by both South Dakota and Nebraska together to curb this devastating social dilemma. People should not be allowed to profit from the suffering of others, despite this being a capitalist society. Education and prevention is really the only answer to this, the government needs to provide the option of drug treatment to the citizens of Pine Ridge. With out those crucial measures the people of Pine Ridge will be forever taken by the disease of alcoholism.

Baby Boomers Abuse of Drugs and Alcohol

The rate of illicit drug use is going up in the 50-59 age group; this group includes America's Baby Boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964. The Baby Boomers' abuse of drugs(both legal and illegal) and alcohol has been increasing in the United States. This becomes more apparent as people in this age bracket need to see doctors for other ailments and request pain medication. Woodstock may have ended 40 years ago but the party has stayed the same for many who were young adults at that time. "The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported Wednesday that rates of illegal drug use by the older generation have doubled in recent years." Statistics are showing that people age 50 to 59 who admit to using illicit drugs in the past year nearly doubled from 5.1% in 2002 to 9.4% in 2007 while rates among all other age groups are the same or decreasing. The use of drugs and alcohol by people at that age will no doubt add to increased hospitalization in the coming years. "These findings show that many in the Woodstock generation continue to use illicit drugs as they age," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick. "This continued use poses medical risks to these individuals and is likely to put further strains on the nation's health care system, highlighting the value of preventing drug use from ever starting."

The information used in the study came from various surveys including 16,656 men and women participating in the 2002 through 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. On top of illegal drugs there are many who use pharmaceuticals as well; the CDC states that "of 2.4 billion drugs mentioned in patients' medical records in 2005, 118 million were antidepressants. High blood pressure drugs followed, with 113 million and arthritis or headache drugs were mentioned in 110 million." I find those numbers to be staggering and a good indication that there are just as many Baby Boomers addicted to legal drugs as illegal - if not more! There are some serious issues that need to be addressed regarding this with respect to the solution. How to go about stopping a generation of people who have been using drugs in one way or another for over 40 years is not an answer that we can come to easily.

I will say that many Baby Boomers do end up recognizing the problem and check themselves into drug an alcohol treatment facilities. But drug and alcohol treatment programs typically need to be fine tuned to deal with the additional health problems that can affect the Baby Boomers age group. These problems might include hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and chronic lung problems. I am curious how you feel about this study.

People tend to start having health problems in the age group and there is no telling what effects the use of illegal drugs will have. I encourage you to watch a video called Woodstock Generation Still Getting High.

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Depicts How Drinking Alcohol...

The new Harry Potter has some people frenzied about excessive drinking throughout the movie. It has some people wondering if there is too much alcohol and if it is sending the right message. Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince depicts how drinking alcohol will calm ones nerves and give one the courage needed to take on challenges. Social norms come in question about what is acceptable in children's movies, and how to appropriately talk to children about how they are interpreting the messages.

In England, the legal drinking age is 18, but, one can order drinks with food at the age of 16; Harry Potter and his classmates are 16 in The Half-Blood Prince. The complaints on this subject are coming from Americans who have taken their kids to see this movie and then watched 16 year old teenagers constantly drinking mead with their friends and professors. Then, after the movie having to explain to their children that alcohol is not a healthy coping mechanism.

This segment of the Harry Potter story is about coming of age, teenagers drinking alcohol is a part of the real world. It is easy to side with the author's point of view that if we shelter our kids from alcohol we may be doing them a disservice; parents need to talk to their kids about drinking and this movie gives them the ability to open up the conversation. On top of that, Harry Potter is not just for children for the fact that it is a story that people of all ages can relate to.

Many people would like to hold the media and Hollywood responsible for underage drinking and drug use. They believe that if a child sees something they will try to imitate that behavior, especially if it is a person that has become a role model in the child's life. When it comes down to it, children will make poor decisions if they are not properly educated about drugs and alcohol; furthermore, differentiating between fiction and reality is also very important. If children are properly equipped, then it shouldn't matter if they see teenagers drinking in movies or not. There are statistics that show that exposure to drinking in movies may cause people to start drinking at a younger age and there may be some truth to that. However, it is what happens outside of the movie theater that will determine whether or not the child will act on what they see or not.

This argument is not new, people have always found a way to tear apart great movies based on what their kids are exposed to. I am not sure how seeing teenagers drink to cope with anxiety or stress is any worse than a teenager seeing their parents drink after work to unwind? Teenagers and children are constantly barraged with messages both inside and out of the theaters that it is alright to drink; but it is the outside that is more important because that is where the action takes place. More education is the only way to keep our youth informed about alcohol and the damage that it can do if you don't understand it.

US FDA Determined a Suicide Warning on Anti-Smoking Drugs

On Wednesday smoking cessation manufacturers were required to warn against the mental health dangers, including suicidal thoughts, for two popular anti-smoking drugs. The US FDA determined a suicide warning on anti-smoking drugs is a very important thing for those considering quitting smoking. When attempting to quit any addictive substance there is a lot of stress that can occur. If a person is already stressed out, irritable, and discontent from withdrawals it cannot be good to take a medication that could possibly make them suicidal.

Many people who make the decision to go to drug and alcohol treatment think and can be encouraged to quit all addictive substances, including cigarettes and coffee. Which, naturally, is a very good thing to consider trying to do, as cigarettes and coffee are not good for you; however, if an individual is quitting drugs and alcohol they are mentally unstable in most cases and suicidal tendencies can occur. If prescribed a smoking cessation drug like Chantix or Zyban while already potentially suicidal it can be like throwing fuel on the fire. Furthermore, relapse potential could be exponentially increased by taking a drug that may cause suicidal thoughts while withdrawing from drugs or alcohol.

Quitting smoking is a great thing for every one to consider and smoking cessation drugs could be effective with the task. Anti-smoking drugs should be prescribed when there is no clear and present danger at hand; like quitting heroin or alcohol for example, when a person is under a lot of mental stress. "The risk of serious adverse events while taking these products must be weighed against the significant health benefits of quitting smoking," said Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Although, Woodcock stated that the products "are effective aids in helping people quit". Tell me your thoughts on anti-smoking drugs and whether newly recovering addicts should take these drugs...