Archive for June, 2009
Is Moderate Drinking Good for Your Health? Some Scientists Don’t Think So
Every few years, the media tells us that something that used to be bad for us is now good for us and vice versa. At one point, salt was bad for us—now it can be dangerous to cut out salt altogether. Chocolate was once to be avoided but now is said to prevent certain cancers and keeps arteries from clogging.
Histamine Plays a Role in Alcohol-Related Behavior
A new study finds that the histamine-3 receptor plays an important role in alcohol-related behavior, and that a drug that affects that receptor may be able to alter alcohol-related behavior.
Do You Have a Problem with Alcohol?
Alcohol dependency can present itself in many different ways. You don’t have to be waking up every morning with no recollection of the night before to have a problem with alcohol, and you don’t have to be confronted about your drinking before you take action to get help. Having a problem with alcohol simply means that your drinking is negatively interfering with your life.
Alcohol Rehab Resources
Here are some helpful resources if you are researching treatment for alcohol addiction:
MADD Severs Ties with Liquor-Backed Organization
Mothers Against Drunk Driving has cut ties with Century Council, a nonprofit organization funded by liquor makers such as Diageo PLC, claiming that the Council has hindered their efforts by opposing state legislation requiring harsher penalties for first-time drunk driving offenses, among other things.
Better Substance Abuse Treatment Needed for Older People in the United Kingdom
As more and more older people need help with addiction problems, researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE) have identified that healthcare providers and substance abuse programs will need to offer services geared toward an older population. As a result, the St. Monica Trust, a charity supporting older people in the West of England, is now funding organizations involved in drug and alcohol abuse in the South West to improve understanding of the problem and to create new support services for older people with addiction problems.
Standard Labels on Alcohol Doing More Harm than Good Among Youth
The proper way to label a product to maximize its effectiveness in the market is a critical marketing tool. In the alcoholic beverage industry, there are specific standards that are set by law as to what information must be provided on the label. While the industry has argued that these practices promote responsible drinking, a new study has determined that the opposite is true.
Women and Alcohol: Why They Don’t Mix
Studies show that alcohol takes more of a toll on women physically, mentally, and socially. Women become intoxicated more quickly than men and don’t absorb and metabolize alcohol the same way. In addition, women have less water in their bodies than men, so the alcohol is more concentrated. Aging also causes the amount of water in the body to decrease, making it harder to metabolize alcohol.
Two or More Drinks a Day May Increase Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal cancers; fewer than 5 percent of those diagnoses are still alive five years after the diagnosis. Even more disturbing is that pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a “silent killer” because it often doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages, and the later symptoms are usually varied and non-specific. Smoking, obesity, and diets that are high in red meat are major risk factors for pancreatic cancer, and alcohol consumption was recently added to the list.