Addiction
Alcoholism, Substance Abuse

Drug Trends

Annual surveys of drug use and abuse among adolescents show both encouraging and discouraging trends. Cigarette smoking is at its lowest level ever recorded, although the use of smokeless tobacco is increasing among youth. Alcohol use has declined since 2004. Use of amphetamine and cocaine is dropping.

Nonmedical use of prescription painkillers in increasing among young people. Nearly one in 10 high school seniors reports use of Vicodin and one in 20 uses OxyContin. A majority of students reports being given the drug by or buying it from a friend or relative.

Recent Posts on Addiction

One Parent & Psychologist's Perspective	If sugar is toxic, what should you do?	The risk of cross-addictions in early recovery	The genes related to addiction and ADHD may have some advantages.
Casual friendship, relationship, or commitment?	How letting go opens up the possibility to receive.	Should we live our lives with no regrets as the song tells us to?	The best treatment is always the one that works.
How to stop even the nastiest behaviors.	The four core addictions drive addictive behavior.	Constancy, overconfidence and conscious recovery	Smoking marijuana enhances natural mechanisms within the brain.

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Addiction Blogs

A Remarkable Recovery
The battle of addiction.
By Brenda Iliff
Addicted Brains
A neuroscientist examines life on drugs.
By Marc Lewis, Ph.D.
Addiction in Society
Addiction—the thematic malady for our society—entails every type of psychological and societal problem.
By Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D.
All About Addiction
Helping addicts get their lives back.
By Adi Jaffe, Ph.D.
Emotional Sobriety
Recovering from substance addiction—without becoming addicted to spirituality.
By Ingrid Mathieu, Ph.D.
Seeking Equilibrium
Social dysregulation, psychopathology and self-medication.
By McWelling Todman, Ph.D.
The Almost Effect
Helping the nearly alcoholic.
By Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D.
The Heart of Addiction
How psychology drives addictive behavior.
By Lance Dodes, M.D.