Is a cure to drug addiction so simple that all that needs to happen is to have the addiction “turned off” in the brain? That is what some American researchers are claiming. A study in rats has found that stimulating a key part of the brain reduces compulsive cocaine-seeking and suggests the possibility of changing addictive behavior generally. As reported in www.ghanaweb.com. The study, published in Nature, was conducted by scientists at the Intramural Research Program of the Natio... [More]

Can anyone argue that a little more education and a little more training is a bad thing? I would hope the United States Military would think more training against the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs could only be a good thing. There are many who feel that the military takes up an undue portion of our national budget. Do you agree? As reported in www.myabc50.com. Do you have any idea how much our military spends on pain killers and other prescription medication? Please sit down immedia... [More]

In my book a stroke can never be a good thing. But if you want to make a bad pun, it may have been a stroke of good luck for one man horribly addicted to cocaine. Montreal researchers are reporting on the curious case of a Quebec man apparently cured of a cocaine addiction following a stroke. As reported in o.canada.com. It is the first known instance where a stroke cured addiction but could set the foundation for more research into whether it’s possible to target and treat the underlyin... [More]

Are you or someone you care about addicted to drugs or alcohol? Do you have suspicions that abuse may be happening but are not quite sure? There are definitely some tell-tale signs of addiction and substance abuse. This is the third in a series of blogs addressing some of the warning signs of addiction. In our previous blog we looked at the most obvious sign – lies. As reported in newswatch.nationalgeographic.com. Who do you hang out with? A second sign that someone may have addiction i... [More]

So many famous actors and singers use and abuse alcohol and drugs. Some succumb to their vices, while others overcome their addictions. It is nice to hear that one of my favorite singer’s appears to be one of the success stories. Many of you may not recognize the name Jacoby Shaddix. He is the lead singer for Papa Roach. The name of the band certainly gives one the understanding that this is a band that might partake in the consumption of illegal substances. As reported in www.washingtonp... [More]

Virtually everyone on the planet knows someone who has substance abuse issues. Before I ever started using drugs I sure knew a lot of people who used drugs and drank alcohol. At first I did not recognize they had substance abuse issues. As I started to experiment, I noticed some people had progressed to serious abuse. We made fun of those people. They were weak. It could never happen to us. Believe me folks, it can happen to anyone who ever tries drugs or alcohol. As reported in nationalgeograp... [More]

I have to admit that the headline to this blog entry is somewhat misleading. One might think that the detainees at Guantanamo Bay have access to illegal drugs (like prisoners in most American prisons – although I have no idea how these drugs are actually smuggled in) and have addiction issues. Actually I am talking about the use of drugs by the US military to get detainees to spill their guts. As reported in sl.farmonline.com.au. New evidence has emerged that all Guantanamo Bay detainees... [More]

The stories of Hollywood tragedies due to drug and alcohol abuse are numerous and tragic. From Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston to Amy Winehouse and now Johnny Lewis, it seems like substance abuse ruins the lives of some of Hollywood’s most talented people. I was a big fan of “Sons of Anarchy” and really thought star Johnny Lewis had the making of a great Hollywood star. It was shocking to hear the story of his death last month. As reported in www.huffingtonpost.com. The 2... [More]

It is terribly sad to see someone suffering from the ravages of drug addiction. It always causes premature death and always decreases their quality of life while alive. The death of pop superstar Amy Winehouse could have been a wake-up call for her ex-husband. It seems to have been a trigger for his expediting his own demise. Winehouse's ex-husband is fighting for his life after collapsing following an apparent drink and drug binge. As reported in www.dailyrecord.co.uk. The 30-year-old Blake F... [More]

Russell Brand is one of the Hollywood success stories (at least thus far) for celebrities overcoming serious addictions. He ranks right up there with Robert Downer, Jr. and Ryan O’Neal. Is it ironic that all three have first names that start with the letter r? Less than ten years ago Russell Brand was in the destructive grip of drug addiction. His life was about scoring drugs at all costs. As reported in www.thesun.co.uk. He admits that he was addicted to marijuana alcohol, speed, acid, ... [More]