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Running for Recovery

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One man is giving new meaning to the term “12-step” as he hits the road to help him overcome addiction.

The Washington Post recently told the story of Walter Barrera, a 32-year-old Washington, DC resident who has turned to running to kick his addiction to cocaine and crystal meth. Just a few years ago, he was addicted to drugs, homeless for a time, and turned to petty crime to support his habit. Then one morning

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Holding Suppliers Accountable

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It’s not just those who do illegal drugs who face legal issues.

You don’t have to do drugs for these substances to get you in trouble. In recent years it has become more common for law enforcement to hold suppliers responsible when drug use goes wrong. Recently a Wisconsin man was arrested for providing drugs to another man who later died of an overdose. The death of

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Rx Drug Ring at High School

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Officials have arrested students at a Pennsylvania high school for selling prescription painkillers on campus.

Prescription drug abuse may have started as a problem for the older crowd, but as these substances grew in availability and were discovered to be cheaper than street drugs like heroin or cocaine, younger individuals began misusing these powerful meds. A Pennsylvania school is under investigation for a student-led drug ring involving prescription medications like

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Alcohol Abuse, an ER and a Post-It

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An Arizona college student nearly died from alcohol poisoning after his frat brothers abandon him at a local ER with a note attached.

Despite warnings, tragedies and horror stories, alcohol abuse continues on college campuses across the country. Many young people dismiss drinking as a harmless rite of passage, but one Arizona State University student almost didn’t recover from a night of drinking. The story is notable not just because a 20-year-old drank to excess, passing out and

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Addiction Treatment Trends Hold Steady

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A new study found that both the number of treatment facilities and the number of individuals seeking treatment remains consistent.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) has completed a new study titled “Trends in Facility and Client Characteristics.” The review covers the years 2007-2011 and looks for changes in the types of substance abuse treatment being offered and in the individuals who seek it. The study found that both the total number of

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Celeb Champions Children’s Mental Health

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Demi Lovato recently joined SAMHSA in Washington, DC to bring awareness to kids’ mental health issues.

Young singer and Disney star Demi Lovato lent her name and her time to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as they celebrated the eighth annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7, 2013. A press briefing was held on the big day at the University of the District of Columbia

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Do Products Encourage Overindulging?

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A new line of prescription-themed shot glasses, coasters and flasks marketed to young drinkers seems to make light of drinking to excess.

At a time when underage drinking is a problem and alcohol poisoning puts teens and college students at risk, it seems irresponsible to market products to that age group that encourage drinking to excess. Urban Outfitters, known for supplying teens and college students with trendy, low-cost clothing, accessories and household goods, knows its market. They’ve

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Addicted to Junk Food?

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We crave junk food and can’t seem to get enough, but that doesn’t mean it leads to addiction.

These days almost anything you can do to excess is given “addiction” status. If pop culture is to be believed, you can be addicted to your smart phone, texting, gaming, tanning, exercising and junk food. Well, we hate to break it to you, but, even if you have a hard time saying “no” to those

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There’s a Pill for That

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We’ve learned that no matter the ailment, there’s a medication for it, but can we get real relief without addressing the underlying problems?

We’ve become a nation of pill poppers. Can’t sleep? Trouble focusing? Anxious or depressed? High cholesterol? Just take the corresponding pill, and everything will be all right. Or will it? Modern medicine has made amazing advances that save lives every day, but with that progress has come an unintended side effect. Medication has become so

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Celeb-Branded Marijuana Blends

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Stars are mixing their own blends of medical marijuana in the latest celeb endorsement trend.

Is the world ready for celebrity-branded marijuana? A member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony believes so. Stanley “Flesh-N-Bone” Howse recently announced he is partnering with a company to create his own strain of medical marijuana. Michigan Live recently reported that the musician has partnered with a Michigan-based medical marijuana facility to create a new strain of marijuana

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