Prevention | Intervention
New Research Findings on Adverse Childhood Experiences and Brain Development
The connection between adverse childhood experiences and brain development and of that connection on a person developing a substance misuse problem is the result of brain research of the past 10-15 years. Jane Stevens reported in her article, “Traumatic Childhood Takes 20 Years Off Life Expectancy,” published today by Lawrence Journal World and News, the…
Read MoreSPECT Scans Showing the Brain Can Change When Substance Abuse is Stopped
SPECT scans are the result of new technology. In the case of understanding and treating substance abuse and/or addiction, they can be of particular help in providing the “visual” evidence (in conjunction with a complete clinical evaluation, of course) of what alcohol abuse, drug abuse and/or addiction does to the brain’s ability to function. In…
Read MoreAlcohol Abuse is the Bigger Problem
There’s a range of drinking patterns – use, abuse, dependence (alcoholism) – and it’s alcohol abuse that is the biggest problem. Following the various articles and blogs that contain my google keywords: drunk driving, alcohol, underage drinking, alcohol abuse, alcohol research, alcohol and the brain, codependency, etc., brings me so may tragic stories of what…
Read MoreImpacts on Children of Growing Up With Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Impacts on children of growing up with alcohol abuse and alcoholism can be life-changing. It can actually change the wiring of a child’s brain (neural circuitry) and thereby change how that child views and copes with the world. These brain changers are primarily related to the impacts on the developing brain of the verbal, physical…
Read MoreHow Can Parents Help Teens Decide Not to Drink?
How can parents help teens decide not to drink? And should they – shouldn’t they be “teaching” their teens to drink? These are common questions among parents (and teens, for that matter). There’s an underlying perception that “all teens drink” or “I [parent] drank and am fine, so what’s the big deal?” Reasons to Help…
Read MoreEverybody Drinks
Everybody drinks – time and again, you hear students and adults say something like, “It’s normal. All kids drink.” And, often, researchers (myself included) focus on how many young people are drinking. The 2002 to 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, for example, found that in 2006 almost one in five people aged…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Disease of Addiction Before “That” Drink
Understanding the disease of addiction before “that” drink. Where am I coming from? I was reading a recent post, “Repeat Drunk Driver Accused in MLB Player’s Death,” reporting on the tragic death of a young, promising baseball player and two others at the hands of a repeat DUI offender, and was taken by Lou C’s…
Read MorePowerless Over Alcohol
Powerless over alcohol … For those who are not familiar with 12-step programs (such as AA or AlAnon), the first step is to admit you are powerless over alcohol. I recall reading and hearing this and thinking “they” were nuts. How could anyone be powerless over alcohol? And, how could a person who is not…
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