In the News

Baby Born Every Hour With Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal

Baby-foot-hospital Every hour, a baby is born in the United States with symptoms of opioid withdrawal, according to a study in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).The study found the number of pregnant women who are addicted to opioids, and the number of infants born with opioid withdrawal symptoms, has jumped in the past decade.

An estimated 13,500 babies are born with withdrawal symptoms each year in the United States, The New York Times reports. Many babies who experience these symptoms must be hospitalized for weeks, the article notes. Babies going through opioid withdrawal can have seizures, dehydration, breathing problems, tremors, difficulty feeding and irritability.

A Troubling Trend in Teens Drinking Hand Sanitizer

After six teenagers suffered alcohol poisoning from drinking hand sanitizer in California, public health officials are warning parents to look out for signs of abuse.

The teens showed up in two emergency rooms in the last few months, the Los Angeles Times reports. Some of them used salt to separate the alcohol from the hand sanitizer. This makes it a drink that is similar in potency to a shot of hard liquor, the article notes.

Read more...

Too Many Teen Drinkers Get Alcohol From Family

| |

At a recent news conference, the nonprofit Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) shared a report from the U.S. Public Health Service's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that shows how underage drinkers obtain alcohol.

Read more...

New 21st Century Drug Policy Strategy Released

Drug Policy A new strategy for a new direction. That's the way the 2012 National Drug Control Strategy is being touted.

Recently, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, released the 2012 National Drug Control Strategy, the primary blueprint for drug policy in the United States.

Depression, Anxiety Top Reasons Older Adults Abuse Drugs or Alcohol

Senior wman Depression and anxiety are the top reasons older adults abuse drugs or alcohol, according to a study by a Florida drug and alcohol treatment and recovery center. The study, conducted by the Hanley Center, found 63 percent of older adults blamed depression and anxiety for their substance use.