Baby Boomers Increasingly Seeking Help for Drug Addiction

There was much the feeling of freedom and release in the drug use of the sixties and seventies, but many of the Baby Boomers that participated in this pastime are now finding themselves in addiction-treatment programs.

Combating Polysubstance Abuse

Polysubstance abuse is defined as the use of three or more groups of addictive substances over a period of 12 months. It occurs when an individual abuses several substances over a short period of time, often in an attempt to enhance the effect of a single drug to create a more intense high.

Other individuals take a drug to counteract the effects of a drug they had taken previously (like taking sedatives to come off a stimulant high). Strictly speaking, polysubstance abuse is where no single substance is identified as the user’s dru

‘Non-Addictive’ Modafinil Might be Addictive After All

Although modafinil, a popular stimulant drug used to treat narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, was developed as an addiction-free alternative to amphetamines, researchers are finding that it might be addictive after all. Modafinil (brand names include Provigil, Alertec, and Modavigil) increases the amount of dopamine released into the brain, which also increases the likelihood of addiction.

Study Shows Link Between Violent Acts in Schizophrenia Patients and Substance Abuse

Researchers recently found that the most violent acts committed by people with schizophrenia are largely linked to co-existing substance abuse problems. Because many previous studies have linked schizophrenia to violent behavior, it is recommended that all schizophrenia patients undergo a violence risk assessment, but the assessment should be prioritized in patients who are also abusing illicit drugs or alcohol.