Category: Substance Abuse
Is alcohol good or bad for you? Yes.
It’s tempting to assume that because heavy alcohol consumption is very bad, lesser amounts must be at least a little bad. But the science isn’t there.
Alcohol use disorder can be treated with an array of medications – but few people have heard of them
While 22% of patients with opioid use disorder receive medications to treat it, the rate of medication treatment for alcohol use disorder is much lower. Less than 10% of people with alcohol use disorder receive any treatment in any year, and less than 3% receive medications for it.
Binge drinking is a growing public health crisis − a neurobiologist explains new research on alcohol use disorder
Since Amy Winehouse’s death in 2011, professionals have learned a great deal more about alcohol use disorder
Cheers to health? Uncovering myths around the health benefits of moderate drinking
Moderate drinkers often lead balanced lifestyles in other areas, too, which may contribute to their perceived better health. It is not just moderate drinking, but also their healthier overall opportunities and choices, such as better health-care access and self-care, that make them seem healthier.
Adele called herself a ‘borderline alcoholic’. But is that a real thing?
British singer-songwriter Adele says she has quit drinking, describing herself as a “borderline alcoholic” when she was in her 20s. She joins a growing number of people who are trying to quit or reduce their drinking. But what does “borderline alcoholic” mean and is it a real thing?
Local resources for those with drug use disorders
Treatment: What’s available and how to access it
Planning for a baby? Why both men and women should consider quitting alcohol before and during pregnancy
While the focus tends to be on a woman’s use of alcohol before and during pregnancy, an increasing amount of evidence indicates that men’s alcohol use also plays a role when it comes to the health of the baby. Indeed, alcohol can affect sperm DNA, in some cases reducing fertility and the potential to conceive.
Alcohol use is widely accepted, but even moderate consumption is associated with many harmful effects
Research increasingly shows that the dangers of alcohol have been downplayed and its benefits exaggerated. In fact, having even one drink a day can have a negative effect on your health.
How Many Is Too Many? When Drinking Becomes a Problem
For some people, a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail is an occasional treat. Others struggle to stop at just one or even many drinks. Some may drink alcohol in moderation, but still feel like they’re not in control of their drinking. How do you know if alcohol has become a problem for you?
‘Oh well, wine o’clock’: what midlife women told us about drinking – and why it’s so hard to stop
For many midlife women, alcohol makes life better – or at least, liveable
Trying to cut back on alcohol? Here’s what works
Most people successfully quit or cut back their alcohol consumption on their own. But people who drink more frequently are much more likely to have symptoms of dependence and might find it more difficult
Thinking about a Dry January? Tips from a UW doc
As New Year’s Day approaches, health-based resolutions are hardly novel. The trend of “Dry January” has gained momentum during the pandemic, with 15% of U.S. adults attempting temporary alcohol abstinence last year.
Pandemic-Fueled Alcohol Abuse Creates Wave of Hospitalizations for Liver Disease
Alcoholism-related liver disease was a growing problem even before the pandemic,
Tough Fire Season Takes Toll on Firefighters’ Mental Health
It’s not uncommon for wildland firefighters, even in a less-intense year, to develop depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders or suicidal thoughts.
Is pot or CBD use safe while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Talk with a Doc: Cannabis use while pregnant and breastfeeding Public Health Insider Now that retail cannabis is legal in Washington, there’s a lot of speculation about its potential benefits and harms. Whether it’s marijuana, edibles, CBD products, or any…