Addiction Treatment

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Researchers at Yale University say that the ADHD medication Ritalin (methylphenidate) may help cocaine addicts resist urges to use the illegal drug.

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The abuse of alcohol can lead to disrupted circadian rhythms (our natural ‘body clock’ which tells us when to sleep or eat, for example) and disrupted circadian rhythms can lead to increased consumption of alcohol! Researchers say that exercise is a good way to ‘reset’ this body clock to reduce alcohol consumption.

• After Exercise, Smokers Are Less Aware of Visual Smoking Cues

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In a bid to trim $53 million from MediCal, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed, among other measures, to eliminate MediCal funding for methadone treatment.

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About 10% of heroin users never respond to methadone, and continue to abuse heroin while using the medication. Using supervised heroin injections as treatment seems to work a lot better.

• In Ireland - a Cure Worse Than the Disease? Methadone Kills More than Heroin Each Year

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The number of soldiers enrolling in military opiate addiction treatment programs increased by 500% between 2004 and 2009.

• Suicide: Low Omega 3 Levels Linked to Military Suicides
• Suicide: Army Suicides Spike in July
• Opiate Abuse: Opiate Tainted Breast Milk Kills infant

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A First Nations reserve community in BC Canada gave addicts a choice – accept 8 weeks of addiction treatment, or face eviction from the island.

• Longevity : People with Addiction Gene Live Longest?!
• Indoor Tanning: Indoor Tanning Proved Addictive
• Insomnia: Children with Insomnia

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Israeli researchers say that methadone treatment drastically reduces hepatitis C transmission.

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Officials say that in many states, budget cuts which eliminate substance abuse treatment programs in jails actually end up costing taxpayers more money, as inmates can’t comply with treatment recommendations that would earn them early parole and release.

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Prison doctors in the UK are getting ‘clean’ inmates back on opiate drugs prior to release, in an effort to reduce overdose deaths.

• Brits Use Vending Machines to Distribute Methadone in Prisons

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Researchers say that happy people are significantly less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and heart attack.

© Photo Credit: Kyril

Although 40% of people believe their employers would be supportive or very supportive of treatment for mental health or addiction, a much higher number fear that admitting to such problems would cost them their jobs or harm them at work.

• Poll: Who is to blame?
• Poll: Mental Illness?

© Photo Credit: Stephen Dyrgas

Vancouver’s Insite safe injection clinic has won a court battle against the Canadian federal government that wanted to shut it down.

• HIV: Needle Exchanges Reduce HIV Rates
• Harm Reduction: Vancouver Will Supply Crack Pipes to Users
• Insite Safe Injection Clinic: Safe Injection Clinic Saves Lives

© Photo Credit: Saul.Davis

Long term heroin addicts who have failed to respond to methadone are among the hardest people to treat effectively. A previous Canadian study proved that these people do respond well when given heroin as treatment – this new Canadian study will evaluate how well a synthetic heroin, hydromorphone, will work.

© Photo Credit: Hurleygurley

Researchers in South Carolina say they’ve found a harmless amino acid that seems able to reverse some of the brain changes that occur during cocaine addiction.

© Photo Credit: Foxtongue

Researchers say that they’ve come up with a vaccine that can attach to cocaine in the body and destroy it before it gets to the brain.