Strategies to Help Alcoholics
Razi Berry A recent qualitative study has identified six strategies that recovering alcoholics use to negotiate social situations and remain sober, depending on how they feel about stigmas associated with drinking and alcoholism. “There is a stigma in the United States associated with not drinking socially,” says Lynsey Romo, corresponding author of the study and […]
The Three Most Impactful Ages of Alcohol Use on Brain Health
Razi Berry The evidence for the harmful effects of alcohol on brain health is compelling, but now experts have pin-pointed three key time periods in life when the effects of alcohol are likely to be at their greatest. Writing in The BMJ today, researchers in Australia and the UK say evidence suggests three periods of […]
Effects of “Second-Hand Drinking”
Razi Berry Each year, one in five U.S. adults — an estimated 53 million people — experience harm because of someone else’s drinking, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. “Second-Hand Drinking” “a significant public health issue” Similar to how policymakers have addressed the effects of secondhand smoke over […]
DNA Changes from Heavy Drinking May Increase Cravings for Alcohol
Razi Berry From Rutgers University Binge and heavy drinking may trigger a long-lasting genetic change, resulting in an even greater craving for alcohol, according to a Rutgers-led study in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Heavy drinkers may be altering their DNA to crave even more alcohol “We found that people who drink heavily […]
Dietary Supplement for Your Hangover
Razi Berry A product called Survivor has just been released in Europe, it is designed to improve the liver’s response to alcohol and mitigate the negative effects it has on the body. Both a blessing and a curse This could be a blessing and a curse. No one wants to have a hangover in the […]
Researchers Categorize 5 Types of Problem Drinking
Razi Berry An incredibly interesting research study has categorized alcohol abuse into 5 distinct categories. The study, led by researchers at Penn State University, points out that these categories may be more common at different stages of life. The categories are meant to serve physicians and others to better understand and screen for alcoholism/abuse in […]
Binge Drinking Lowers Working Memory in Adolescents
Razi Berry A recent study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center notes that binge drinking impairs working memory in the teenage brain.1 This study may help explain why adolescents who binge drink are 15 times as susceptible to alcoholism as adults. Teen Brains Vulnerable to Addictive Behaviors It is well known that the brains of […]
The Complexity of Alcoholism
Do You Know What Drives Alcoholics to Drink? A recent article by researchers from The Mayo Clinic considered the question: “What drives alcoholics to drink?”1 The answer was perhaps intuitive to some, “a lot of things.” The complexity and varied reasons for drinking behavior complicates long-standing theories on alcohol (and addiction in general) treatment protocols, […]
Could Treating Alcoholism be a Little Easier?
An NPR segment last week showcased the use of naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism. Roughly 28% of American adults report drinking more than recommended, or are considered heavy drinkers, according to a recent NIH survey.1 This is a concern and a condition that has far-reaching repercussions into the community and healthcare system. Alcoholism is […]