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Alcohol is the primary drug of abuse by clients in most treatment settings, so you will see many alcoholics no matter what kind of work you do. About one in 10 Americans…

The production of wine probably originated around 4000 to 6000 B.C. in the mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas.
Commercial wine production was well underway by 1500 B.C. (Courtwright,…

The use of cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat tics in Tourette syndrome may be as effective as and even superior to medication in certain cases. According to a new study published…

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russians were faced with more than the demise of a political system. Working-age men began dying in droves, and the country…

Another major problem among many people who are dependent on alcohol is that they are also dependent on another drug. The drug may be a stimulant,  such as cocaine,  or…

Nearly 38 percent of college administrators say the major barrier to more effective prevention is the public perception that substance abuse by college students is a normal rite of passage.

“College presidents are…

Binge drinking, which is generally defined as consuming five drinks on at least one occasion for men and four drinks on one occasion for women in the past 30 days, is primarily a problem among…

Heavy drinking and binge drinking are major problems on many college campuses in the 21st century,  and these problems continue unresolved despite efforts to stem the tide of alcohol abuse. (Note that…

Although the very hard-drinking days of some past centuries appear to be long gone,  there are still problems with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence in the United States…

As views toward alcoholism have changed throughout history, so have the means attempted to treat alcohol dependence.  Today,  medications,  psychotherapy, and attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are the primary means…

After the initial views of the colonial physician Benjamin Rush on alcoholism as a disease, little was done to advance this idea, and the average person viewed the alcohol-dependent person…

Prior to the United States entering World War II, those supporting Prohibition thought they had yet another chance to ban alcohol.  They actively sought to promote the idea that…

The first drunk-driving law was passed in New York in 1910,  followed by laws against drunk driving enacted in California in 1911 and many other states thereafter. Today all states have laws against driving while…

The issue of gender must also be considered in any historical overview of alcoholism.  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries,  alcoholic behavior,  or even drinking any alcohol,  was regarded as a…

Societal views toward the nonalcoholic spouse or partner of the alcoholdependent person have changed through time. In the early part of the 20th century, wives were often viewed…

Throughout history, some individuals have abused alcohol while others have become dependent on alcohol.  Similar to attitudes toward those with problems with drug abuse and drug addiction, attitudes toward those who abuse…

Whether alcohol is consumed as beer, brandy, hard cider,  wine,  distilled spirits,  or any other form,  it is an intoxicating substance that has been used and often abused by many…

Alcohol is the most popular psychoactive substance in the world, and this has been true for millennia. It is also one of the most damaging and dangerous substances known to humans,  second only…

Pathological gambling addiction is surprisingly common in the U.S., afflicting as many as 3.4% of all adults. Like other addictions, it is highly disabling both to the individual and to society, often…

Nearly all American adults with untreated alcohol use disorders don’t think they need treatment

A new report based on a national survey shows…

The number of people smoking water pipes is rising dramatically throughout the world. A large proportion of new users are young, and many believe – contrary to facts –…

Johns Hopkins researchers report the discovery of a molecular switch that regulates the behavior of a protein that, when altered, is already known…

In an analysis of opioid prescription patterns and deaths, receiving higher prescribed doses is associated with an increased risk of opioid overdose death, but receiving both…

Scientists have identified a gene that appears to play a role in regulating how much alcohol people drink, in a study of over 47,000 people published today in Proceedings of…

To parents, learning that a child has been diagnosed with autism can be overwhelming. Children with the disorder can seem trapped in a world of their own, without friends or…