The economic burden to society in general has been evaluated for some major illnesses such as heart disease but, until now, similar evaluations have not been made for drug addictions.  Now, however, the RAND Corporation has estimated the annual societal…

It’s really not news.  Silent film star Gloria Swanson knew it way back when.  William Duffy’s 1975 bestseller, ‘Sugar Blues,’ quotes her as saying, “That stuff is poison.”  Wouldn’t even allow it in her house.  Now a new study from…

Adolescent substance abuse is a problem in many parts of the world, particularly so in the United States, where almost 50% of all high school students admit trying at least one illegal drug before graduation day.  The heaviest users are…

Those of us who can’t open our eyes in the morning before downing a nice, steaming cup of coffee eagerly anticipate that java jolt that gets our hearts pumping, our blood flowing, and clears the cobwebs out of our sleepy…

Military personnel returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to turn to the bottle to ease painful memories and shocking experiences of the war front than military personnel who did not see combat.  The tendency to turn…

Do you worry about becoming addicted to pain meds? I do. And I’ve heard enough stories to know I’m not alone. People around us frequently worry about it as well, some of them even making accusations of addiction and distancing…