Alcoholism The simple definition of alcoholism is an addiction to the consumption of alcohol.  Other definitions include compulsive behavior related to a dependency on alcohol or drinking that leads to a psychological and physical dependence on alcohol.  Regardless of the definition, alcoholism is a disorder that affects millions of individuals and knows no boundaries in...Read More

Alcohol use education and prevention is almost always geared towards teenagers and young adults, populations that are believed to be at the greatest risk of harm from using the pervasive substance. Young people tend to think that they are invincible, that they can handle situations that they likely cannot. While there is plenty of evidence...Read More

At the end of last week, we covered an important subject matter regarding the disease of addiction. Specifically, regarding how substance use and abuse is viewed. The American College of Physicians (ACP) published a position paper recently containing recommendations for reigning in the American opioid addiction epidemic. While opioids were the focus of the organization,...Read More

If you are the parent of a teenage son or daughter, there is a chance that you may be OK with him or her having a drink of alcohol from time to time. You may set down guidelines, such as only drinking at home, or only drinking in situations that there will not be any...Read More

It is not uncommon for people with a family history of addiction for themselves to have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Addiction is often referred to as a family disease for two reasons. 1) A person’s addiction affects the entire family. 2) Young people with a family history of substance use disorder are more...Read More

A significant number of parents accept that sooner or later their teenage child/children will consume alcohol. Some even contend that occasional alcohol use is just a part of growing up, saying to themselves, “we drank alcohol in high school and turned out OK.” Alcohol use, just like practically every other mind altering substance, can lead...Read More

One of the most common drinking practices among teenagers and young adults is mixing alcohol with highly caffeinated energy drinks, such as Red Bull or Rockstar. The idea behind the practice is to extend the length of time one can drink. As the night progresses, alcohol being a depressant, causes users to experience sedative effects....Read More

While it is probably fair to say that practically every American adult uses a form of social media in their day to day, teenagers and young adults spend more time on sites like Twitter and Facebook than any other age group. Social media sites have become, arguably, the most common method of communication between young...Read More

Alcohol is used more than any other mind altering substance in the world and consumption can lead to a number of preventable illnesses; yet alcohol use does not carry same stigma as cigarettes and drugs. Every year, around 88,000 Americans lose their life to alcohol-related causes, according to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism...Read More

Whether you are recovering from an alcohol use disorder, or actively in the grips of alcoholism, it is unlikely that you are a stranger to the term “blackout.” Nights of heavy drinking are commonly accompanied by mornings of confusion, often requiring the help of others to fill in the blanks of the night before. This...Read More