When we think about the men and women who stand up for our country through their military service, we most often think about their bravery, strength, and selflessness.  It’s heartbreaking to learn that many of these service members suffer from substance use disorder (SUD).  The most common reported SUD is alcohol use disorder.  This blog aims to shed light on the challenges faced by the military community, drawing on key findings from a Department of Defense (DOD) survey, described below, to better understand the complex issue of alcohol misuse within this unique environment. Th ..read more

Prescription drugs play a crucial role in managing medical conditions, particularly for chronic diseases and pain.  In the U.S. about 6 out of 10 adults report they are currently taking at least one prescription drug and a quarter report they are currently taking four or more prescription medications.1 At the same time, alcohol is widely consumed by adults with 65% of adults 21 years of age and older drinking alcohol.2 When these two worlds intersect, there can be significant consequences. In this blog, we will explore the potentially harmful interactions between prescription drugs and al ..read more

Table of Contents Toggle Who is WHO? What’s is the EML? How does a medicine get added to the EML? How does inclusion in the EML help? In July, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the 24th edition of its Model List of Essential Medications (EML). For the first time since the EML was published in 1977, it includes medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD)- naltrexone and acamprosate. This is big news for individuals worldwide suffering from AUD. Keep reading to discover why. Who is WHO? WHO is a United Nations specialized agency founded in 1948 dedicated to healt ..read more

Table of Contents What causes obesity? How alcohol consumption and obesity are connected How to recover from alcohol consumption and obesity Using medication Getting support Many people drink alcohol for leisure. While usually fine in moderation, drinking can become a problem when a person has pre-existing conditions, especially obesity. As found in a study by the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Center, obese people had over 50% greater risk of liver disease, even if they drank within alcohol guidelines. When compounded with excessive drinking, health is much worse— there ..read more

A new study from UCLA is calling attention to an alarming rise in the number of overdose deaths among people age 65 and older.  Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database, researchers determined that over the last 20 years, overdose mortality has quadrupled in this older population.  More specifically, the rate increased from 3 per 100,000 in 2002 to 12 per 100,000 in 2021. The researchers examined the most current year’s data in depth, identifying the demographic characteristics, specific drug involvement, and ma ..read more

Addiction recovery is a complicated process that doctors have spent decades researching and analyzing. Mental and physical healing are two components that have to work hand-in-hand, but not every individual responds positively to different types of treatment. Thankfully, meta-analysis has found strong evidence that physical exercise is an effective method for adjunctive treatment of alcoholics, nicotine, and illegal drug dependents, and can also reduce withdrawal symptoms. In fact, exercise intervention programs for people with substance use disorder were found to encompass a range of activiti ..read more

A recent study published in Pediatrics revealed that opioids are now the most common substances contributing to fatal poisonings in children 5 years old and younger.  Children in this age group make up over half of reported poisonings and have the highest emergency room visits for unintentional drug-related poisonings. The study utilized data from the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System since the creation of the system in 2005 through the end of 2018.  The study analyzed data from fatalities where the cause of death was attributed to “poisoning, overdose, or acute intoxica ..read more

For many individuals suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD), relapse is a common part of the recovery process.  While frustrating and agonizing for the individual and their loved ones, relapse should be viewed as part of the recovery process and its causes explored to determine how to better manage them to prevent future relapses.  Before examining common causes of relapse, it is important to acknowledge a few facts about AUD. AUD is a complex disease that affects the brain and behavior.   Managing addiction is a challenging and lifelong process.  With continued dri ..read more

Peer support has been a crucial component in addiction recovery for decades. It is a form of support where individuals in recovery offer support and guidance to others who are struggling with addiction. In this blog, we will delve into the history and importance of peer support in addiction recovery. The earliest documented use of peer support dates back to the mid-1790s to the mental health work of Jean Bapiste Pussin and Philippe Pinel at the Bicêtre Hospital in Paris, where hospital staff to the extent possible were recovered patients.  The history of peer support in addiction recovery ..read more

What is it? Dry January is a month-long challenge of voluntarily foregoing alcohol consumption.  Some people view it as a time to reset and even test one’s reliance on alcohol. How did it get started? A British charity, Alcohol Change UK, kicked off the first Dry January campaign in 2013.  According to their website, the idea for Dry January was sparked by an employee/marathon runner’s experience with giving up alcohol for a month originally for training purposes. Publicity surrounding the month-long event started modestly with radio advertisements in 2015, which grew slowly to inclu ..read more