Crossroads for Women’s Organizational Video

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndxrU9Q5nzI] Take a look at Crossroads for Women’s new organizational video directed by Laki Vazakas. This new video tells the story of Crossroads for Women through the women who have walked through its doors. Crossroads for Women is where you would send your mother, sister or daughter for outpatient or residential treatment for substance abuse…

New Studies Show Medication Assisted Treatment Effective for Alcohol, Opiate Addiction

Healthday reported that taking a regimen of prescribed medications is the most effective way to reduce withdrawal symptoms and urges to drink alcohol in those being treated for alcohol dependence. The conclusion came from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Combine study, a large-scale, multi-site, combined medication and behavioral treatment study. Data was…

Survey shows underage drinkers get alcohol from adults, younger girls drinking more than boys

A nationwide survey, being released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), shows that more than half of the teens surveyed admitted to underage drinking and 40% of those teens got free alcohol from an adult. Among the youngest teens, girls were found to drink slightly more than boys, consistent with…

Senator Jim Webb Stresses Treatment Over Incarceration

Democrat Senator Jim Webb from Virginia, and potential Vice Presidential candidate for Barack Obama, recently held a meeting on Capitol Hill to “get the facts out” about the ineffectiveness of jailing nonviolent offenders for drug-related offenses rather than treating them for their addiction problem. The hearing of the Joint Economic Committee solicited testimony from prosecutors…

UK Report Estimates Public Cost of Single Drug Addict Over $1.5M

A government report coming out of the United Kingdom estimates that a single drug addict costs taxpayers more than £800,000 (about $1.569 million) over his or her lifetime. Interestingly enough, a female drug addict was estimated to cost £859,000 (about $1.692 million), while a male user cost slightly less at £827,000 ($1.629). The admittedly conservative…

Study Shows Women’s Rate of Alcohol Dependence Climbing

A new study found an increase in alcohol dependence possibly due to American teenagers drinking at earlier ages. In particular, this increase in alcohol dependence seemed to be explained by women drinking at increasingly younger ages throughout time. While researchers saw an increase in earlier drinking and alcohol dependence in men, the changes were much…