The United States has an opioid epidemic, but there’s one bright spot in the fight against it: Prescriptions for these addictive drugs have declined for patients with private insurance. Amid guidelines over the past decade from governments, health systems and insurers aimed at reducing opioid prescriptions, previous studies have pointed to a nationwide drop in…
Is Fructose As Addictive and Harmful As Alcohol?
Millions of pounds are consumed annually, yet it may be more like a drug than a food and just as damaging and addictive as alcohol… Fructose, which literally means “fruit sugar,”* sounds so sweet and innocent. And indeed, when incorporated into the diet in moderate amounts in the form of fruit – always organic and…
Turning Away From Vaping, Nicotine-Addicted Teens Choose Candy, Gums
Teens increasingly are turning to nicotine-loaded gum, lozenges and gummies for a quick rush, a groundbreaking study warns. Tobacco-free oral nicotine products were the second-most commonly used nicotine or tobacco items among more than 3,500 Southern California ninth- and tenth-graders surveyed last fall, researchers reported Aug. 8 in the journal Pediatrics. About 3.4% of respondents…
Data Shows 2 Biggest Factors for Cancer Risk
Smoking and older age are the two most important risk factors for cancer, a new, large study shows. The researchers also said doctors should look at excess body fat, family history and several other factors to help patients decide if they need additional screening and preventive interventions. “Single cancer type-specific screening recommendations are based on…
AHA News: Research Captures Unfolding Cardiovascular Toll From Meth Use
A massive new study spotlights the toll methamphetamine use may take on heart health, suggesting men, people with kidney disease and those with high blood pressure are especially at risk. The findings, published Monday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, indicated people who used meth faced a 32% overall increased risk for cardiovascular…
Many Smokers Who Want to Quit Just End Up Vaping, Too
Many smokers eager to quit embrace electronic cigarettes as a tool for kicking the habit, but a new study warns the move may raise the risk for becoming addicted to both cigarettes and vaping. The finding follows a look at the experience of nearly 112,000 smokers who sought outpatient care at a single hospital between…
Telehealth, Phone Visits a Lifesaver for Veterans Addicted to Opioids
There are many obstacles to opioid addiction treatment, but a new study shows one that one outgrowth of the COVID pandemic — telehealth — is enabling more U.S. veterans to get help. Researchers examined care given to vets before and after a transition to telehealth visits in early 2020 for treatment of their opioid use…
Is There Really Such a Thing as an ‘Addictive Personality’?
We’ve all heard of someone referred to as having an “addictive personality”. Some even say it about themselves. But you may be surprised to know there is no such thing. Despite decades of research, no-one has been able to identify a consistent set of personality traits or a single personality type that can reliably predict whether someone…
Today’s Potent Pot Could Be Prescription for Addiction
Cannabis has become far more potent over the years, and that may explain why the number of people becoming addicted to the drug has soared, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of Bath Addiction and Mental Health Group in the United Kingdom used data from 20 studies to analyze the relationship between the…
San Francisco Reaches $58 Million Opioid Settlement With Teva, Allergan
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and AbbVie’s Allergan unit on Tuesday reached a $58 million settlement with the city of San Francisco just before completion of a trial over claims that they fueled an opioid epidemic in the city. Under the deal announced by City Attorney David Chiu, Israel-based Teva will pay $25 million in cash and…
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