Although some die-hard believers in the medicinal benefits of marijuana will argue this truth to no end, plenty of evidence already exists showing cannabis can be addictive 1. Now researchers have identified specific alleles on the human genome that are associated with cannabis dependence risk, and have shown “evidence of genetic overlap between cannabis dependence […]
Each person who becomes addicted develops the disease for different reasons, which can vary based on his or her unique circumstances. As to what those reasons may be, we’ve learned that addiction develops through some combination of biological, behavioral, social and environmental factors.1 Knowing about these situational factors has helped us develop more targeted treatments […]
J. was 16 when he started abusing painkillers. A decade later, he and most of his close friends have been in and out of rehab. J. grew up in Madison, Conn., a small coastal town that in 2013 boasted a median household income of $105,000.1 Known for its miles of beaches and quaint downtown, the […]
Fewer people are using painkillers these days for nonmedical reasons, and that’s good news.1 But many of those who have already gone down that road have developed serious dependency problems. Some are now abusing heroin and even dying from overdose, new studies show.1 The chronic nature of opioid relapse, and a reluctance of many addicts […]
“Through scientific advances, we know more about how drugs work in the brain than ever, and we also know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and lead productive lives,” according to The National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA). But despite the great strides we’ve made in understanding addiction […]
