Alcohol & Alcoholism

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation that is designed to cut down on underage drinking on chartered party buses. Under the new law, party buses with alcohol and underage passengers will need chaperones and ID checks.

Teenagers can purchase alcohol on eBay, according to an investigation by the news show “20/20.”

A new study finds a link between mothers’ belief that it is acceptable to let their children sip alcohol, and their children’s reported alcohol use. The study found one-quarter of mothers of young children believed allowing children to sip an alcoholic drink would likely deter them from drinking in the future.

Substance abuse among members of the U.S. military and their families has become a public health crisis, according to a new report. The Defense Department’s approaches to preventing and treating substance abuse are outdated, the report states.

The increased risk of esophageal cancer that is related to alcohol is reversible after a person gives up drinking, but it can take up to 16 years to return to the risk level for non-drinkers, a new study concludes.

Alcoholics can help reverse bone loss that results from their addiction by quitting drinking and engaging in exercise, a new study suggests.

A growing number of states are instituting “social host” laws, which are designed to cut down on underage drinking, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The shape of your glass may influence how much alcohol you consume, a new study suggests. Researchers in England found a curved glass interferes with a person’s ability to judge their alcohol intake.

People who have three or more alcoholic drinks a day may have a higher risk of stroke at a much younger age, compared with those who don’t drink heavily, a new study suggests.

The federal government is introducing a national campaign to prevent suicide, CNN reports. The Surgeon General notes that individuals with mental and/or substance use disorders are at increased risk for suicidal behaviors.

Recovering alcoholics who help others in Alcoholics Anonymous have better outcomes themselves, a new study concludes.

A new study shows 57 percent of fatal car crashes involve a driver who tested positive for alcohol or drugs. Alcohol was the most common substance detected, followed by marijuana and stimulants, Reuters reports.

College freshman, relishing newfound freedom away from home, are at greatest risk of alcohol-related harm during their first few weeks of school, according to an expert at Penn State’s Prevention Research Center.

A new survey finds an estimated 17 percent of American high school students say they drink, smoke or use drugs during the school day. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found 86 percent of teens say they know which of their peers are abusing substances at school.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is sponsoring the first National “Above the Influence” Day on October 18 to celebrate youth who avoid pressure to use drugs and alcohol.

In case you missed any of our thought-provoking columns this summer, from individuals such as Rep. Mary Bono Mack of California, Dr. Stuart Gitlow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Sharon Stanliff of the Harm Reduction Coalition and other industry experts, please find our top 10 features of the summer here.

The Naval Academy is using Breathalyzer tests to detect alcohol use in its students, known as midshipmen, the Marine Corps Times reports.

A new study shows people who are treated for both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse have improved PTSD symptoms, without an increase in severity of substance dependence.

Prenatal alcohol exposure can affect a child’s growth up until age 9, a new study finds.

Almost three-quarters of deaths in drunk driving crashes in 2010 involved drivers who had blood alcohol levels that were nearly twice the .08 legal limit, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.

While many people blame spicy or acidic foods for their heartburn, alcohol is a major culprit, a gastroenterologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, tells NPR.

Therapists who treat adolescents for drug and alcohol abuse deliver more complete treatment when they are offered monetary rewards based on the quality and quantity of care they deliver, suggests a new study.

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration finds 37.2 percent of treatment admissions for substance abuse involve both drugs and alcohol.

Alcohol ads that violate industry guidelines are more likely to appear in magazines popular with teen readers, a new study finds.

The Affordable Care Act is leading to changes, both now and in 2014, for people with private health insurance who have a substance use disorder.