Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have shown that zebrafish could be used to study the underlying causes of psychiatric disorders. The study, published online in the journal Behavioural Brain Research, found zebrafish can modify their behaviour in response to varying situations...

Alcohol and drug use can progress into abuse and even addiction so insidiously that sometimes people do not realize that it has become a problem for them and those around them. The following self-assessment tests can help you determine whether or not it may be time to get help.

• Alcohol Abuse Screening Quiz
  
• Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Quiz
  
• Marijuana Problem Screening Quiz
  
• Drug Abuse Screening Quiz
  
• Could You Be Depressed?
  

Questions for Families:

• Are You Troubled by Someone's Drinking?
  
• Are You Enabling an Alcoholic or Addict?
  
• Did You Grow Up With a Problem Drinker?
  
• Is Your Child Using Drugs?
  
• Adult Child Screening Quiz
  
• Domestic Abuse Screening Quiz
  

Photo: © BigStockPhoto.com

Do You Have an Alcohol or Drug Problem? originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Saturday, May 19th, 2012 at 09:01:17.

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According to a new study in the American Journal of Public Health, Australia could yield economic and health benefits by reducing its overall national yearly alcohol consumption...

An extract of the Chinese herb kudzu dramatically reduces drinking and may be useful in the treatment of alcoholism and curbing binge drinking, according to a new study by McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School researchers...

Title: Chinese Herb Kudzu May Help Drinkers Cut Down
Category: Health News
Created: 5/18/2012 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/18/2012 12:00:00 AM

Mary Kennedy Found Dead in New York... Polo Tycoon Goodman Sentenced to 16 Years... Amber Portwood Jailed for Missed Drug Test... Lions' Leshoure Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge... James Koenig Arrested on Assault, DUI Charges... NYPD Busts Notorious 'The Ghost' Drug Dealer... More... Read more...

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Alcohol and Drugs in the News originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 00:01:04.

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NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is the most common type of liver disease in the developed world, affecting up to one-third of the US population. NAFLD is often associated with obesity and other parameters of the so-called "metabolic syndrome," which is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease...

A drug made from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard is effective in reducing the craving for food. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, have tested the drug on rats, who after treatment ceased their cravings for both food and chocolate...

Resiliency is a measure of a person's ability to flexibly adapt their behaviors to fit the surroundings in which they find themselves. Low resiliency during childhood has been linked to later alcohol/drug problems during the teenage years...

Prior research has shown that neighborhoods with higher densities of alcohol outlets are more likely to have higher rates of violent crimes. This study examined the effects of different types of alcohol outlets - on-premises such as bars and restaurants, and off-premises such as liquor and convenience stories - on four different categories of crime in urban neighborhoods...

Although various kinds of substance use are associated with reduced educational attainment, these associations have been mixed and may also be partially due to risk factors such as socioeconomic disadvantages...

Prenatal exposure to alcohol often results in disruption to the brain's cognitive and behavioral domains, which include executive function (EF) and adaptive functioning...

Driving while under the influence of drugs is dangerous, and it doesn't not matter if the driver is doing illegal drugs, abusing prescription drugs or taking some drugs exactly as prescribed. There is a reason for those warning labels on many medications about not operating machinery while taking the drug. Some drugs can affect your driving skills. Read more...

Related Information:

• Does Marijuana Affect Driving?
  
• Drug Abuse FAQ for Teens
  
• DUI vs DWI?

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Drugged Driving Dangers originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Thursday, May 17th, 2012 at 00:30:31.

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Did you begin your recovery in a professional treatment or rehab program? What would you tell others who may be considering going to rehab? What did you learn that helped you stay clean and sober? Share Your Experience...

About Treatment:

• Four Stages of Alcohol and Drug Rehab
  
• Finding the Right Treatment Program
  
• Does Treatment Work?

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What Did You Learn While in Rehab? originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 00:10:12.

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Title: Depression
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/15/2012 12:00:00 AM

We receive many emails that read like this: "My husband lost his job and started drinking heavily and now he wants to get help to quit drinking. But we have little money and no insurance. What can we do?" Actually, there are several rehab and treatment options that cost absolutely nothing. Read more...

Related Information:

• State Substance Abuse Agencies
  
• What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?
  
• 12 Steps For Christians

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Cost-Free Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 00:09:31.

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Researchers at Rutgers University have uncovered a new way to stimulate activity of immune cell opiate receptors, leading to efficient tumor cell clearance...

According to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 21.8% of pregnant white women between the ages of 15 to 44 years smoked cigarettes within the past 30 days, which is considerably higher compared with the smoking levels amongst pregnant Black women (14.2%) and pregnant Hispanic women (6.5%) within the same age range...

Alcohol and drug use can progress into abuse and even addiction so insidiously that sometimes people do not realize that it has become a problem for them and those around them. The following self-assessment tests can help you determine whether or not it may be time to get help.

• Alcohol Abuse Screening Quiz
  
• Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Quiz
  
• Marijuana Problem Screening Quiz
  
• Drug Abuse Screening Quiz
  
• Could You Be Depressed?
  

Questions for Families:

• Are You Troubled by Someone's Drinking?
  
• Are You Enabling an Alcoholic or Addict?
  
• Did You Grow Up With a Problem Drinker?
  
• Is Your Child Using Drugs?
  
• Adult Child Screening Quiz
  
• Domestic Abuse Screening Quiz
  

Photo: © BigStockPhoto.com

Do You Have an Alcohol or Drug Problem? originally appeared on About.com Alcoholism on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 at 09:01:17.

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Chronic exposure to cocaine reduces the expression of a protein known to regulate brain plasticity, according to new, in vivo research on the molecular basis of cocaine addiction. That reduction drives structural changes in the brain, which produce greater sensitivity to the rewarding effects of cocaine...