| A Drug to End Drug Addiction
What if science made a pill to protect us from addiction keeping us from smoking cigarettes, getting fat or abusing drugs and alcohol? According to encouraging results from several lines of study, it seems that day may be closer than we thought. Researchers in labs around the world are now developing vaccines (not a pill, but an injection) to inoculate people against dangerously addictive substances such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Within "one to 10 years, and closer to one year," says Dr. Frank Vocci, director of treatment research and development at the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), scientists may produce a vaccine against cocaine one of the more promising areas of research that can potentially help millions of addicts, two million in the U.S. alone. .
Beating The Addiction
Fewer teenagers are using drugs like marijuana and methanphetamines, but more teens are abusing prescription pain killers. A national teen drug use report released by President Bush found that highly addictive narcotic pain killers are as popular as ever among 50,000 teens surveyed. And that is a trend that is seen in South Dakota as well. They're known for knocking out severe pain and helping patients with chronic illnesses, but pain killers aren't being used by just the sick. "I tried it at a party actually first time, and a lot of people were doing it. I tried it and I fell in love with it first time I did it," a teen patient said. This teen can't be identified because she's going through treatment at Keystone's treatment Center. Her addiction to Oxycontin landed her here. "I didn't like the taste at first but I got used to it and I'd fene for that taste..that drip in the back of your throat," the patient said.
Epilepsy Drug Holds Promise as Treatment for Alcoholism
TUESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A drug used to treat epileptic seizures could be added to the short list of medications prescribed to help alcoholics control their addiction, a new study suggests. The drug topiramate proved measurably better than a placebo at helping alcoholics stay away from heavy drinking, the study authors said. "Not only is there an effective new treatment, but there's a medication that you can take at the time of crisis. You can start immediately when you need help," said study author Dr. Bankole Johnson, chairman of the University of Virginia's Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. For many alcoholics, treatment is no different than it was 50 or 60 years ago: They must rely on their own willpower, often with the help of groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Marking National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
Imagine a nation in which a deadly but treatable disease is taking its toll on more than 5 percent of the population. One that is wreaking havoc with the lives of millions of men, women, and children, but only 20 percent of the people who need treatment are receiving it. Would we help?These are the statistics that prevail in the U.S. today. The disease is alcohol and drug addiction.Alcohol and drug abuse disrupts families, threatens the safety of our neighborhoods and ruins the lives of countless men, women and youths. During September, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, we recognize the damaging effects of substance abuse and renew our support for individuals battling to overcome addiction.The theme for the 2006 Recovery Month campaign is "Join the Voices for Recovery: Build a Stronger, Healthier Community." It is always our hope that the campaign will urge all Americans to help prevent alcohol and drug abuse and to promote treatment and recovery options.Recovery Month is a national public education campaign developed by the U.S.
Lohan's boyfriend slams mum's TV show
Lindsay Lohan's boyfriend has criticised her mother Dina for filming a reality TV show.Snowboarder Riley Giles said publicity surrounding the series could set back Lindsay's recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.The pair have been dating since they met at the Cirque Lodge rehab centre in Utah, where Lohan spent two months in a treatment programme. Giles also revealed that he and Lindsay were asked to appear on the show, writing on his MySpace page: "Advice of the week - if you're a mother with four kids the best thing you can do for them right now is have a reality show We Do Not Want. She had the nerve to ask us to be on it. No thanks!"The series, which began filming last month, will follow the Lohan family's life in New York, focusing on Dina's new career as a talent manager.Lindsay reportedly sacked her mother as her manager last month, accusing her of courting media attention.
San Joaquin Jail Program Claims Success
San Joaquin County officials are hoping the state can match its success with a jail program that reduces repeat offenses.
It's called "Beyond Incarceration" and it began just over three years ago. The program stresses education and treatment for prisoners, not just punishment.
Judge Richard Vlavianos of the Superior Court of California, San Joaquin County, sees participants in the program once a month and spends much of his visit on the subject of drug addiction. He refers to statistics that show 76 percent of the men in California state prisons are there for drug-related crimes.
Beyond Incarceration would seem to be making good progress against those statistics. The recidivism rate in San Joaquin County among the 800 inmates who've taken part is 35 percent.
|
