Drug & Alcohol Addiction

Addiction experts are advocating for a more medical approach to addiction treatment, instead of relying on 12-step programs, according to The Los Angeles Times.

A national training program launched last year is seeking to address the scarcity of physicians trained in treating addiction. The program, sponsored by the American Board of Addiction Medicine, aims to attract more doctors to the field, The Washington Post reports.

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.

A combination of the drugs naltrexone and buprenorphine might be an effective treatment for cocaine addiction, a study in rats suggests.

Several recent studies are shedding light on why athletes may be more prone than the general population to substance abuse, eating disorders and suicide. The findings may have implications for athletes retiring after the Summer Olympics, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

An Ohio law that recently went into effect in Ohio allows families to seek involuntary addiction treatment for a loved one—if the family agrees to pay for it.

Methadone causes 30 percent of prescription painkiller overdose deaths, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some doctors are now prescribing methadone to treat chronic problems such as back pain, which is making the drug more widely available.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act is extremely uplifting for the substance abuse field, according to A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, CEO of the Treatment Research Institute and former Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Only about one in 10 people who need treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol receive it, according to a new report. Many who do receive treatment do not receive evidence-based care, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

A study of twins suggests that genetics plays a major role in whether a person taking opioids is at increased risk of addiction, or will suffer unpleasant side effects from the drugs.

A growing number of Floridians in their 50s are entering publicly funded substance abuse treatment programs, according to a new report.

Addiction is a disease, not a moral failure, according to Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He is scheduled to speak about addiction and drug control policy Monday at the Betty Ford Center in California.

The United States is looking to other nations for ideas on how to treat addiction as a disease, the U.S. Director of National Drug Control Policy said Tuesday.

A group of well-known addiction doctors is urging that the son of Michael Douglas receive treatment, instead of additional jail time, for his latest drug offense.

Four activists and a grassroots community organization will be recognized for their work as recovery advocates by Faces & Voices of Recovery. The addiction recovery advocacy organization will present the awards Wednesday, June 27 in Washington, D.C.

The Medicaid contractor in Kentucky that announced last week it would stop paying for the opioid addiction medication buprenorphine has reversed its decision, according to The Courier-Journal.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s plan for mandatory treatment for all low-level drug offenders could reduce treatment slots for people who seek treatment voluntarily, but don’t have the money to pay for it, critics say.

A proposed revision to the definition of addiction by mental health specialists could lead to millions of additional people receiving an addiction diagnosis, The New York Times reports. The changes could lead to big consequences for both health insurers and taxpayers, according to the newspaper.

A Massachusetts law passed in 2006 that expanded insurance coverage did not lead to an increase in the number of state residents who received inpatient treatment for drug and alcohol abuse at state-contracted facilities, according to a new study.

Researchers at Duke University are using virtual gaming technology to treat substance abuse in veterans. Through a computer-generated environment, they are testing former soldiers with temptations, including alcohol and drugs.

A study of rats suggests a link between binge eating and the development of other addictive behaviors.

The television shows Glee, Southland, Parenthood and Shameless, along with the feature films Warrior and Take Shelter, were among those that were honored recently at the 16th Annual PRISM Awards ceremony.

Manipulating memories of people formerly addicted to drugs may help them avoid relapse, a new study suggests.

Exercise may make it more difficult to break an addiction in some cases, a study of cocaine-addicted mice suggests.

The Treatment Research Institute announced that A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, has returned to continue his leadership role as CEO of the nonprofit organization.