Books and Articles — Substance Abuse and Addictions

Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse Up 400 Percent, by The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun, July 19, 2010.  “There has been a 400 percent increase in substance abuse treatment admissions for people abusing prescription drugs, according to new government data.&rdquo

Spill Takes Toll on Gulf Worker's Psyches, by Mireya Navarro. New York Times, June 16, 2010.  “Beyond the environmental and economic damage, the toll of the mammoth spill in the Gulf of Mexico is being measured in hopelessness, anxiety, stress, anger, depression and even suicidal thoughts among those most affected, social workers say.&rdquo

Scientists Closer to Finding Cure for Alcoholism, by Rochelle Oliver. Psych Central, May 06, 2010.  “Scientists have discovered the molecule in the brain that leads to hangovers. The neuropeptide, a brain-signalling molecule, is believed to cause the body to experience withdrawal symptoms as the brain tries to adapt to different intoxication levels.&rdquo

New Rules Promise Better Mental Health Coverage, by Robert Pear. New York Times, January 29, 2010.  “The Obama administration issued new rules that promise to improve insurance coverage of mental health care for more than 140 million people insured through their jobs. Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said the new rules guard against “needless or arbitrary limits.” In general, under the rules, employers and group health plans cannot provide less coverage for mental health care than for the treatment of physical conditions like cancer and heart disease.&rdquo

How Cocaine Scrambles Genes in the Brain, by Maia Szalavitz. Time Magazine, January 08, 2010.

Perceptions of Risk from Substance Use among Adolescents, by National Survey on Drug Use and Health. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Reportt, November 26, 2009.

Alcohol Promotion on Facebook, by Sara Mart and Jacob Mergendoller, et al. Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice, November 01, 2009.  “This article explores the prevalence of alcohol-related content found in popular aspects of Facebook profiles. and offers recommendations for both Facebook and the alcohol industry to remove paid ads and other types of content promoting alcohol products and dangerous drinking behaviors in order to protect youth and young adults from the harmful effects of alcohol advertising.&rdquo

Massachusetts expands mental health parity, by Nan Shnitzler. New England Psychologist, October 15, 2009.

Alcohol Promotion on Facebook, by Sarah Mart and Jacob Mergendoller, et al. The Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice, October 01, 2009.  “For this article, we explored the prevalence of alcohol-related content found in popular aspects of Facebook profiles. We also identified aspects of Facebook that contain a great deal of alcohol content and are accessible by anyone, regardless of age. We offer recommendations for both Facebook and the alcohol industry to remove paid ads and other types of content promoting alcohol products and dangerous drinking behaviors in order to protect youth and young adults from the harmful effects of alcohol advertising.&rdquo

The Importance of Family Dinners V, by CASAColumbia. National Center on Additiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia, September 23, 2009.  “CASA report finds teens who have infrequent family dinners likelier to drink, smoke, use marijuana.&rdquo

Ask the Needham Youth Commission: Cough medicine abuse and how to protect your teens, by Needham Youth Commission. Needham Times, June 30, 2009.

Staying Sane May Be Easier Than You Think, by John Cloud. Time Magazine, June 22, 2009.

Program Tries to Identify Problem Drinkers Before Problems Start, by Jane Brody. New York Times, May 11, 2009.  “The alcohol institute estimates that 30 percent of people 18 and older drink at levels that raise their risk of alcoholism.&rdquo

The Real Face of Mental Health Stands Up to Win the Campaign of Many, by T.R. Johnson. thealternativepress.com, March 23, 2009.

Causal Relationship Between Alcohol and Depression May Start with Alcohol Abuse, by Pauline Anderson. Medscape Medical News, March 10, 2009.  “An association between alcohol abuse and depression has long been recognized, and 1 popular theory was that depressed individuals tend to self-medicate with alcohol. However, researchers are now drawing quite a different conclusion; that it is more likely that alcohol abuse leads to depression than the other way around.&rdquo

The Mystery of Borderline Personality Disorder, by John Cloud. Time Magazine, January 08, 2009.  “A 2008 study of nearly 35,000 adults in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that 5.9% â�� which would translate into 18 million Americans â�� had been given a borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnosis. As recently as 2000, the American Psychiatric Association believed that only 2% had BPD. (In contrast, clinicians diagnose bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in about 1% of the population.) BPD has long been regarded as an illness disproportionately affecting women, but the latest research shows no difference in prevalence rates for men and women. Regardless of gender, people in their 20s are at higher risk for BPD than those older or younger. What defines borderline personality disorder â�� and makes it so explosive â�� is the sufferers' inability to calibrate their feelings and behavior. When faced with an event that makes them depressed or angry, they often become inconsolable or enraged. Such problems may be exacerbated by impulsive behaviors: overeating or substance abuse; suicide attempts; intentional self-injury.&rdquo

Teenage drinking, by Michael Jellinek, M.D. The Newton Tab, November 11, 2008.