Does Alcohol Kill Brain Cells? Part One
Does Alcohol Kill Brain Cells? Part One: Post-Mortem Brain Research By Kenneth Anderson, MA It is a commonly held belief that alcohol kills brain cells; however, is there any truth to this belief, or is it simply a myth? While it is clear that pathological conditions such as Korsakoff’s syndrome or alcohol-related dementia result in […]
Defining Recovery, pt 2
By Tom Horvath, PhD For many individuals, particularly those in 12-step groups, recovery means abstinence (and maybe not much else). I am “in recovery” if I am abstaining. However, there are also other important aspects of the process of change. Several national organizations have devoted substantial effort to defining recovery more broadly. The following definitions […]
Vaping: The Latest Moral Panic
By John de Miranda The sociology term moral panic is relatively new, arising in the 1970s. Examples of moral panic can be found throughout history, however. The anatomy of the concept is simple. A group with power and authority determines that another group or group practice is a threat. Misinformation about the group under attack […]
Identifying and Answering Big Life Questions
By Tom Horvath, PhD Whether we think about them or not, our lives are an ongoing answer to “big questions:” What is important to me? Who is important to me? How important is my health and longevity? What is fun? What is most satisfying? What contribution (if any) do I want to make to the […]
Cannabis and THC: Neurotoxic or Neuroprotective?
By Kenneth Anderson, MA Normal and Retrograde Neurotransmission Delta-9 THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the two most commonly found cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. The plant contains over 100 other cannabinoids as well. THC and CBD both affect the endocannabinoid system. “Endo-” is a Greek prefix meaning “inside.” “Endocannabinoid system” refers to all the […]
Overdose Inaction
By Tom Horvath, PhD How can we explain the widespread expressed concern about US overdose deaths, coupled with our rather ineffective response to them? US overdose deaths may be the highest in the world. I will limit the following discussion to opiates, but alcohol, meth and multiple substance use are also of concern. I suggest […]
Does AA do More Harm than Good?
By A. Tom Horvath, PhD Is this question sacrilegious? It should not be. AA has done much good in the world, and I expect it will continue to do so, for those who freely choose to attend it. In this article I point out what harm AA can do and might continue to do. Any […]
Is Pro Football More Dangerous Than Substance Use?
By Tom Horvath, PhD Stanton Peele suggested this idea in one of his recent blogs. As we await Super Bowl Sunday (2/11/24) the question seems worth re-visiting. It would require a careful analysis of outcomes from pro football and substance use to provide an accurate comparison. The data about substance problems is easy to find. […]
Coping with Boredom
By Tom Horvath, PhD Boredom is the perception of being under-stimulated. We all have optimal levels of stimulation (some generally want more, some generally less). Whatever your level, when you are not getting enough, you are bored (and when over-stimulated, you may be stressed). Boredom is often considered an undesirable state. However, let’s start with […]
What is “Recovery?”
By Tom Horvath, PhD A recent scientific paper analyzed the responses from nearly 10K individuals who identify themselves as “in recovery” from substance problems. In recent years the addiction recovery field has been considering how to define “recovery.” Five major organizations have offered definitions or attempts at definitions. However, there is not much data on […]