Behavioral addiction is an addiction to an activity that causes physical and/or psychological harm to the individual. Common behavioral addictions include gambling, sex, shopping, hoarding, video games, and the Internet. Internet and Other Behavioral Addictions--Are They Real? Internet addiction is a relatively new ... Read More
Addiction News
We believe strongly in the use of emerging technology to treat addictions and disorders. In our addiction news section we cover breaking addiction and mental health related news. This includes national drug crime news to identify trends as well as measures being taken by local governments to affect change in their area. By recognizing success and failures across the country we believe that we can keep the community informed on the most important behavioral health news.
New Ideas for Treating Behavioral Addictions
An Anti-Opioid Vaccine? The Latest Developments
When we think of vaccines, we immediately think of infectious diseases like the measles, mumps, pertussis and polio. But now, Scripps Research Institute researchers have developed a possible anti-opioid (addiction) vaccine involving monoclonal antibodies to prevent opioid addiction in at-risk individuals. Afterall, we ... Read More
Using Virtual Reality to Beat Addiction
Breaking free from drugs and alcohol can be a challenge, but new technology may be able to help ease the process. Virtual reality, often referred to simply as VR, could be one important new tool in the fight against addiction and substance abuse. How VR Works VR involves slipping on a headset to immerse yourself in a ... Read More
Drug Epidemics: A Global Overview
There's no doubt about it - the United States has a serious drug problem as a whole, and the ongoing opioid epidemic has only added to our already grim statistics related to addiction issues. The thing is that substance abuse knows no boundaries. Despite the lack of media coverage regarding addiction beyond our ... Read More
The Opioid Crisis: An American Issue?
Opioid addiction has impacted world societies since the discovery of morphine in the 19th century. Originally intended as a medicinal solution for a variety of ailments, morphine addiction spread rapidly among doctors who had easy access to the drug. Another opioid developed in the 19th century was heroin, which did ... Read More
Rise in Xanax Addiction for Britain’s Children
A disturbing trend in the United Kingdom is being looked at with growing concern by British public health officials: Xanax use among children and adolescents is showing a rapid increase. An article published by the Telegraph reported that an NHS study found that one in eight British children, some as young as 11 years ... Read More
The Role of Unnecessary Prescriptions in the Opioid Crisis
When used appropriately, prescription opioids play an important role in pain reduction. Unfortunately, these drugs also come with serious risks, including a high risk of addiction. While many doctors have taken steps to reduce how many prescriptions they write for these addiction-risk drugs, there is evidence that ... Read More
US Life Expectancy Drops Third Year in a Row
In some rather alarming news, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that for the third year in a row, the U.S. saw a drop in life expectancy, meaning that the age of death of the average American is lower than it was in 2016 and even lower still than in 2015. In this article, we'll analyze ... Read More