Our Alcohol Awareness Month topic this week is How to Curb Youth Drinking? According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), alcohol is the most widely used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more so than tobacco or illicit drugs. Not only does early use of alcohol put youth at risk for developing dependence later in life, but alcohol use increases the number of injuries and deaths related to alcohol misuse, while exacerbating many problems that already exist for our young people. So what are the risks of underage drinking and how might we help to curb youth drinking? Read more →
What is chronic pain? Chronic pain can exist in many forms. It can be mild or unbearable. It can come in spurts or be continuous. It can also range from being an inconvenience to being debilitating. Typically, it’s categorized as pain that lasts longer than three to six months. Read more →
Alcohol Awareness Month in April was founded by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) in 1987. Its aim is to promote public awareness about alcoholism, educate, and help reduce the stigma surrounding alcoholism that often acts as a barrier for people and families needing help.
The theme for this year is “Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow,” which speaks to all those who are effected by alcoholism including our youth, families and communities. Read more →
The dramatic rise in prescription painkiller abuse in recent years is nothing short of epidemic. And the CDC recently reported that many high-risk opioid users get their painkillers with legal prescriptions from their doctors. In observance of last week’s National Poison Prevention Week (March 16-22), the National Safety Council released a list of seven alarming facts about prescription painkillers that many people might not know, but should: Read more →
When it comes to teens and drugs, how can you make sure that your home is a safe haven? Talking to your kids about drugs is important at any age, but teens are especially susceptible to drug use because of peer pressure and high stress levels. Teens look to their parents to set a good example for how they should conduct their lives. They count on their parents to be their support system and to help them create a positive home environment that encourages an open dialogue about drugs. Read more →
As the pain pill Zohydro hits the market, the opioid epidemic continues with veterans remaining high at-risk. A recent report provided by the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAOM) found that half of veterans prescribed medical opioids for pain continue to chronically use (more than 90 days) the drugs.
According to research drawn from national Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) data, of 959,226 veterans who received opioid prescriptions, 502,634 (52%) chronically used opioids. Some factors that were most likely to be present in veterans who chronically used opioids were PTSD, tobacco use, being married, having multiple pain conditions, the use of more than one type of opioid medication, and using an opioid dose above 100 mg per day. (Science Daily) Read more →
