High school seniors have a lot of expectations about what life will be like once they move on from their parents’ homes. When I prepared to leave for college, I hunkered down in my room to make a list of all the things I’d “need” for my new life, including a fully furnished student apartment. […]
Intervention for binge drinking in college has shown to be successful, but only for a limited time according to research published in the APA Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. A total 1,040 college students participated in a twelve-month study by James Henson, PhD, a psychology professor at Old Dominion University. He concluded that “brief […]
Someone who has had a blackout while drinking cannot remember part of their drinking episode. Unfortunately, most people do not understand how dangerous blackouts are, yet up to 50% of drinkers may have an alcohol-related blackout (ARB). A new study identifying different trajectories of ARBs of drinkers between the ages of 15 and 19, along […]
Why has heroin abuse skyrocketed, who is using it, and what can be done about the problem? Prescription opioids abuse data suggests the reason for a resurgence of heroin use in America. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): “Today’s typical heroin addict starts using at 23, is more likely to live […]
The potential medicinal properties of marijuana have been the subject of substantive and heated debate. Currently 23 states and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana use, although use of the drug can have harmful effects in some instances. It is not recommended for medical or recreational use until research proves its safety. Marijuana is […]
Binge drinking is defined as consuming at least four drinks for women and five drinks for men in a single drinking session, at least once every 14 days on average. New research suggests that binge drinking at college is associated with high status and these drinkers are happier with their college social experience than their […]
An alarming number of young people are consuming alcohol nowadays, often binging on the weekends and combining drinking with drug experimentation. These risky behaviors are causing health problems with consequences that will have to be dealt with throughout their adult lives. I should know. I was once that teenage drinker turned alcoholic. As such, these […]