Addiction Research

This article examines potential positive and negative effects that video and computer games have on our society. Two important effects are aggression and cognitive abilities, both of which are supported by research. This article also covers a few areas that are less approached by research, such as whether games can reduce aggression.

In this trial, a sample of alcohol-dependent patients received naltrexone, acamprosate or placebo for 12 weeks. While there were no differences in outcomes between treatment groups, those who believed they had been taking active medication consumed fewer alcoholic drinks and reported less alcohol dependence and cravings.

When depression and substance abuse occur together, as is common, either condition can hamper effective treatment of the other. Behavioral interventions that address both conditions have not been rigorously tested. Although delivering such interventions by computer holds promise for extending their reach, their effectiveness in treating these co-occurring disorders remains unknown.

Leading  addiction  scientists  met  in  New  Mexico,  USA,  in  2004  at  a  “think-tank” conference  to  share  research  findings  in  their  respective  areas  and  discuss  possible implications for treatment and prevention interventions. This conference resulted in a seminal book,  “Rethinking Substance Abuse: What  the Science Show, and What We Should Do about It” which I will consider in this and a following article.

Parental substance dependence and abuse can have profound effects on children, including child abuse and neglect, injuries and deaths related to motor vehicle accidents, and increased odds that the children will become substance dependent or abusers themselves.

Alcoholic dementia is often an overlooked type of memory dysfunction. It is estimated that about 8 percent of people in the U.S. over age 65 may have an alcohol abuse problem. Sixty percent of the elderly drink and 5 to 10 percent are binge drinkers.

The concept of addiction as a progressive, chronic disease remains an idea with substantial support in the recovery community.  This belief persists despite substantial scientific evidence that significant numbers of addicts eventually mature out of addiction as they age.

Because brief interventions are low in cost and have proven to be effective across the spectrum of alcohol problems, health workers and policymakers have increasingly focused on them as tools to fill the gap between primary prevention efforts and more intensive treatment for persons with serious alcohol use disorders.

This manual for Brief Marijuana Dependence Counseling (BMDC) is based on the research protocol used by counselors in the Marijuana Treatment Project (MTP). The manual provides guidelines for counselors, social workers, and psychologists in both public and private settings who treat adults dependent on marijuana.

Patterns of drinking shape both benefit and harm: Where people drink, what, how, when, how often, and with whom are all important influences. At the same time, drinking— like many other behaviors—is learned, it can be accompanied by responsible choices, and the potential for harm is preventable.