Addiction Articles and Information

The latest news on drug addiction and alcoholism…

Our goal is to share with you the most current addiction recovery information not only for the Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona areas but throughout the nation as well through these addiction articles. As addiction is skyrocketing nationwide, the media is bringing to light the latest news on drug abuse, particularly involving opiates (painkillers such as Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet) and opioids like heroin and fentanyl.  Even the government and the election candidates have been addressing the surge in drug abuse spreading across the United States, that seems to becoming almost epidemic.

As Arizona’s leading addiction treatment center for young adults 18-35 and those who are 35+, we feel it is essential for us to keep you current with the latest news and information regarding drug addiction, alcoholism, chemical dependency, relapse prevention, drug rehabs services, treatment options, current events and so much more. We will reference only the most trusted sources and professionals in the drug and alcohol addiction industry, such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and Science Daily.

If you have questions related to any of the recovery articles or would like more information on addiction treatment services for you or your loved one, please contact Scottsdale Recovery Center 24/7 at 888.663.7847.

Recent News & Articles by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

• Intensive intervention increases clinical adherence to opioid prescribing guidelines in chronic care July 17, 2017
  Photo by ©iStock.com/18percentgrey There is much discussion on the safety and effectiveness of prescribing opioids for chronic pain patients. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued clinical guidelines for chronic opioid therapy, these guidelines are not followed by many...
• Long-term anabolic steroid use linked to damage to heart and arteries May 23, 2017
  ©shutterstock.com/Pivot/©istock.com/Eraxion/ New research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that long-term exposure to anabolic-androgenic steroids may be associated with substantial impairment of the heart, including a reduction in pumping performance and damage to the...
• Epigenetics takes center stage with this year’s Addiction Science Awards  May 19, 2017
  A project applying the science of epigenetics to demonstrate the health dangers of hookah smoke won a first-place Addiction Science Award at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)—the world’s largest science competition for high school students. The awards are coordinated...
• NIDA hosts sessions on pain at APA annual meeting May 11, 2017
  Dr. Nora Volkow to receive APA Special Presidential Commendation To help address the ongoing prescription opioid overdose epidemic, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will host sessions on the management and treatment of pain as it relates to substance use disorders at the 2017 American...
• Study shows buprenorphine more effective than morphine for treatment of opioid withdrawal in newborns May 4, 2017
  A newly published study showed that buprenorphine is more effective than morphine in treating withdrawal symptoms in newborns prenatally exposed to opioids, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Unlike morphine, buprenorphine did not affect breathing rates, although medications were...
• Illicit cannabis use and use disorders increase in states with medical marijuana laws April 26, 2017
  An analysis of national survey data indicates that laws legalizing medical marijuana use are associated with increases in illicit cannabis use and cannabis use disorders among adults. The research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse...
• College students at increased risk for smoking marijuana April 21, 2017
  ©Shutterstock/Stephen Orsillo An analysis of national survey data indicates that students attending college are at a significantly higher risk of beginning to use marijuana than those not enrolled in college, underscoring the need for improved prevention efforts. The research, conducted by...
• Dr. Rita Valentino to lead NIDA’s neuroscience and behavior division April 17, 2017
  Dr. Rita Valentino The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health welcomed Dr. Rita Valentino today as the Director of the NIDA Division of Neuroscience and Behavior. Dr. Valentino’s career spans 26 years of academic, research, and leadership experience in...
• NIDA announces recipients of 2017 Avant-Garde Awards for HIV/AIDS research April 5, 2017
  The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, today announced that three scientists have been selected to receive the 2017 Avant-Garde Award for HIV/AIDS Research. The winning proposals focus on a variety of novel approaches, including: improving HIV...
• New resources available for criminal justice and drug treatment counselors March 16, 2017
  The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has created several new resources for those who work within the criminal justice system and other environments where people in recovery are ready to return to their lives outside of a structured setting. The new materials include: Drugs & the Brain...

Recent News & Articles by Science Daily

• Very low rate of early use of prescription smoking cessation medications among older patients after heart attack July 19, 2017
  Only about 7 percent of older adults who smoked used a prescription smoking cessation medication within 90 days after being discharged from a hospital following a heart attack, according to a study.
• The dangers of driving after restricted sleep and moderate alcohol intake July 19, 2017
  In a recent study, combining moderate alcohol consumption (within legal limits for driving) and moderate sleep restriction led to greater drowsiness and increased deficits in attention, compared with either sleep restriction or alcohol intake alone.
• Heavy drinking during adolescence: Dire effects on the brain July 18, 2017
  A review of the literature shows that the effects of heavy drinking among young people on the brain are serious -- binge drinking among young people is associated with a thinning or reduction of areas of the brain that play a key role in memory, attention, language, awareness and consciousness, which include cortical and subcortical structures.
• Reversing fetal alcohol damage after birth: Study offers hope July 18, 2017
  Two commonly used drugs erased the learning and memory deficits caused by fetal alcohol exposure when the drugs were given after birth, thus potentially identifying a treatment for the disorder, reports a new study. The scientists also newly identified a key molecular mechanism by which alcohol neurologically and developmentally harms the developing fetus. […]
• Depression among young teens linked to cannabis use at 18 July 17, 2017
  Young people with chronic or severe forms of depression were at elevated risk for developing a problem with cannabis in later adolescence, found a study looking at the cumulative effects of depression in youth.
• National strategy to reduce opioid epidemic, an urgent public health priority July 13, 2017
  Years of sustained and coordinated efforts will be required to contain and reverse the harmful societal effects of the prescription and illicit opioid epidemics, which are intertwined and getting worse, says a new report.
• ADHD medication tied to lower risk for alcohol, drug abuse in teens and adults July 13, 2017
  The use of medication to treat attention deficient hyperactivity disorder is linked to significantly lower risk for substance use problems in adolescents and adults with ADHD, according to a new study.
• Clinical trial looks at tramadol for opioid withdrawal July 12, 2017
  A randomized clinical trial compared tramadol extended-release with clonidine and buprenorphine for the management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in patients with opioid use disorder in a residential research setting.
• In rats that can't control glutamate, cocaine is less rewarding, staving off relapse July 11, 2017
  Rats missing a neuroreceptor that controls the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate are less amenable to the rewarding effects of cocaine, increasing their chance of kicking the habit once addicted, researchers find. Their work suggests that the receptor, which protects nerve cells from fatal inundation by excess glutamate, is involved in modulating the […]
• On-site ecstasy pill-testing services may reduce user risks at concerts and raves July 10, 2017
  At least some recreational users of illegal drugs may choose not to take them if tests show the pills are adulterated or fake, shows data collected over five years by volunteers who tested pills free of charge at music festivals and raves across the United States.