The Checkup Archive: Drug Abuse

Is food addiction real?

Even if there is such a thing as food addiction, it's not likely that all or even most of the people in the U.S. who are obese or overweight suffer from such an affliction. While some people may have genetic or other forms of predisposition to addiction, others of us just plain overindulge, and we can't blame our neurochemistry for our decisions to eat more than we should.

By Jennifer LaRue Huget  | January 18, 2011; 7:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
Categories:  Alcohol and Drugs, Drug Abuse, Eating disorders, Neurological disorders, Nutrition and Fitness, Obesity, Psychology, Weight loss  
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SIDS deaths rise sharply on New Year's Day

Parents of infants, here's something to take note of as you plan your New Year's celebration. New research shows a sharp spike in the incidence of SIDS deaths on New Year's Day.

By Jennifer LaRue Huget  | December 30, 2010; 7:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  Alcohol and Drugs, Drug Abuse, Family Health, Infant health, Parenting, Sleep  
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Pot use among teenagers still rising, survey finds

Marijuana use continues to increase among young people in the United States, according to an annual federally funded survey of drug, alcohol and cigarette use among U.S. youths.

By Rob Stein  | December 14, 2010; 10:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (11)
Categories:  Alcohol and Drugs, Drug Abuse, Teens  
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Hallucinogen salvia has no short-term dangers, study says

A hallucinogenic drug that is apparently becoming increasingly popular is extremely powerful but does not appear to produce any adverse effects in the short term in healthy people, according to what researchers say is the first careful study examining the substance.

By Rob Stein  | December 8, 2010; 7:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Alcohol and Drugs, Drug Abuse, Mental Health, Neurological disorders, Psychology  
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Greg Giraldo's death highlights prescription abuse problem

The abuse of prescription drugs has been on the rise in the U.S. for the past few years, particularly among teenagers. It's a particularly troubling problem in that we parents might be taking part, unwittingly, in making these often-addictive drugs available to our kids.

By Jennifer LaRue Huget  | September 30, 2010; 10:27 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (8)
Categories:  Drug Abuse, Teens  
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