Substance Abuse and Addiction

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a Problem Gambling Toolkit, which offers the following advice for family members of problem gamblers: Take the gambler's name off all credit cards. Deposit the gambler's paycheck... Full Answer

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you might have a gambling problem that deserves further evaluation. During the past 12 months, have you: become restless, irritable, or anxious when trying to stop or cut down on gambling?... Full Answer

Just as certain drugs produce a surge of dopamine (a neurotransmitter that seems to be especially important in the development and maintenance of addiction) in the brain, certain behaviors can elicit a similar response, as evidenced by modern... Full Answer

It varies depending on how available gambling is in your geographic area. The lifetime prevalence is somewhere between .4% and 3.4% in adults. However, keep in mind that gambling is illegal in two states, Hawaii and Utah, and the prevalence is likely... Full Answer

Even though behavioral expressions of addiction don't require the use of psychoactive substances, certain behaviors cause the brain to generate the same chemicals, most notably dopamine (a neurotransmitter that seems to be especially important in... Full Answer

It's not unusual for people to combine different objects of addiction. For instance, people who drink excessively often smoke; people who gamble tend to drink. Heroin users tend to have experience with many legal and illegal drugs. These patterns... Full Answer

Stimulant prescriptions soared from around five million in 1991 to 45 million in 2010. In 2010, about 1.1 million people reported using prescription stimulants for nonmedical uses. A 2009 report in the journal Pediatrics documented a 76% increase in... Full Answer

In some cases, doctors prescribe a milder sedative for people who are addicted to more powerful sedatives to help wean them off these medications. For example, people dependent on alprazolam (Xanax) may be prescribed chlordiazepoxide (Librium). Full Answer

Withdrawal symptoms of sedatives often mimic the symptoms of anxiety, such as worry, tension, fear, and restlessness. Disturbing dreams, frequent awakening, and feelings of tension in the early morning can also occur. According to some reports,... Full Answer

Do not attempt to stop taking sedatives on your own. Withdrawal from these medications can lead to seizures that, in some cases, are life-threatening. You must gradually taper back your dose under the close supervision of a health care provider. Full Answer