Featured News
Articles from February 2011
- Data show that over 20,000 emergency rooms visits in the Chicago area were due to heroin-related incidents
Experts say that most individuals start by using prescription medication that contain opiates, such as Vicodin and OxyContin during their early teens and begin using heroin when they become young adults because it is cheaper. more...
- Program uses an avatar to teach autistic children about facial expressions
Individuals who suffer from autism often exhibit development difficulties in social and learning settings. In turn, this often hinders how they perceive the world around them, which can lead to trouble interacting with others. more...
- Study shows that infants can suffer from mental health problems
Research from the American Psychological Association recently found that infants who suffer mental health disorders may be unlikely to receive treatment that could prevent lasting developmental problems. more...
- Georgia begins talks of a new drug monitoring program
In an effort to curb prescription medication abuse, many states are developing drug tracking system to monitor where controlled substances are being distributed. more...
- Researchers aim to understand how autistic children process information
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that an average of one in 110 children in the U.S. has an autism spectrum disorder. more...
- Research shows that video games may cause depression, anxiety and other mood disorders
A study from Iowa State University shows that video game addiction may exist globally and that greater amounts of gaming may lead to lower social competence and greater impulsivity, the Billings Gazette reports more...
- Study reveals that peer support may be as effective as cognitive therapy
A new study from the Veteran Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the University of Michigan Health System reveals that peer support may be effective in reducing symptoms of depression. more...
- Research finds that Asian Americans suffer most from depression
A recent study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness reveals that Asian American teenage girls may have the highest rate of depression among all racial, ethnic or gender groups. more...
- Federal lawmakers urge DEA to close pill mills in Ohio
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown recently announced that he is pushing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to shut down "pill mills" and combat prescription drug abuse throughout the state of Ohio, The State Column reports. more...
- Experts say that heroin may make a comeback as prescription drug abuse rises
Recently, officials from Kentucky announced that many residents suffer from prescription drug abuse, most notably painkillers. These substances often contain opiates, which can be highly addictive. more...
- Boston suffers from increasing numbers of heroin overdoses
Many experts believe that heroin is making a comeback. more...
- Kentucky could suffer from cuts in Florida's prescription drug-tracking system
America struggles from prescription drug. However, some states are more susceptible to the behavior than others because of the supply. more...
- Proposed legislation aims to prevent the sale of violent video games
Lawmakers in California are currently attempting to ban violent video games from reaching individuals under age 18, the California State Fullerton student-run newspaper, Daily Titan reports. more...
- Funding for a nonprofit foundation allows for more autism awareness
The Northfield Bank Foundation recently announced that it present a grant to The Institute for Basic Research (IBR) and the New York State Academy of Family Physicians to help fund autism awareness, The Staten Island Advance reports. more...
- Ohio police officers want to accelerate investigation process for prescription drugs
Prescription drug abuse is a fairly recent behavior that is a result of different issues. more...
- Ten counties are targeted for underage drinking prevention program
Underage drinking is a major problem throughout the U.S. Many teens engage in this behavior as a result of peer pressure or as part of an effort to fit into a certain circle of people. more...
- One Florida county sees decrease in drug and alcohol use
Officials from Martin County, Florida recently announced that the number middle and high school students who admitted drug and alcohol use has declined over the past 10 years, the TC Palm reports. more...
- Study shows that immune systems may be associated with mental illness
Research from the University of Gothenburg shows that genes associated with a person's immune system may be linked to the risk of developing mental illness and suicidal behavior. more...
- Anxiety may be attributed to neural mechanisms
A study from the journal Neuron reveals that individual differences in the amygala region of the brain and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VPC) may be independently associated with vulnerability to anxiety. more...
- Officials say that parental involvement is key to preventing drug abuse
Many law enforcement agencies are urging parents to communicate with their teens to help prevent the spread of recreational prescription medication use. more...
- LA's public health department changes campaign message to accurately reflect that ecstasy use is illegal
Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently announced that they will revise a harm-reduction campaign to state the negative effects of ecstasy, report Fox News. more...
- Prominent school pushes for more research on cognitive disorders
Officials from Johns Hopkins Brain Sciences Institute recently announced that it has given grants totaling $5 million to different researcher groups at the school to launch the new Synapses, Circuits and Cognitive Disorders Program. more...
- Study shows a lack social services for autistic children after graduation
A study recently published in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine shows that there is a lack of services for autistic individuals after they graduate high school, BusinessWeek reports. more...
- Video game addiction affects boys and girls differently
Video game addiction, which is not formally recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, may be linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and poor time management skills, Psyche Central reports. more...
- Adolescents and the use of social media may help prevent teen suicide
A rash of teen suicides recently has prompted educators, parents, law enforcement and clergy to seek ways to prevent this occurrence. Moreover, many adults often do not see symptoms until it is too late. more...
- Researchers link Facebook and eating disorders in young girls
A recent study from the University of Haifa found an association between eating disorders and the social media network Facebook, The Jerusalem Post reports. more...
- New Jersey school district begins anti-bullying campaign
Bullying has gained national prominence as a result of recent teens who committed suicide due to harassment from a peer. more...
- Experts find that ER visits are increasing due to opiate abuse
According to a 2010 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the number of individuals seeking rehab for opiate addiction increase by 400 percent from a decade ago. more...
- Researchers find that drug use can lead to difficulties in facial expression recognition
A recent study from the University of Granada shows that individuals who abuse drugs may have difficulties in identifying negative emotions in the facial expressions of others. more...
- New York police cite bars for underage drinking
Law enforcement agencies are beginning to crackdown on underage drinking and those who provide minors alcohol. For instance, bars, convenience and grocery stores are currently being targeted for allowing teens to purchase alcohol. more...
- Teens begin coalitions to prevent drug use
Students across the U.S. are beginning to band together in an effort to curb drug and alcohol use among their peers. more...
- Experts say that prescription drug abuse among teens is increasing
Officials from Johns Hopkins Children's Center said that they are seeing increasing numbers of young people using prescription medication recreationally. more...
- Program helps young girls voice their concerns
Washington and Lee University in Virginia recently announced that the Girl Talk program is helping female middle school students who have issue that concern their gender, according to the school's news site. more...
- New York police look to crack down on fake IDs
Teens have been using false identification for years to attempt to trick store owners and cashiers into letting them purchase alcohol. more...
- Schools offer more education on teen dating violence
February marks National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, which many schools are celebrating by providing more education on this behavior to students. more...
- Teen pregnancies are prevalent in one Indiana county
Teen pregnancy can affect the lives of the adolescent, their infant and their family. more...
- Illinois school receives grant to fight underage drinking
Underage drinking among upperclassman in high school and college students remains high. Individuals in this age group often experiment with alcohol, which may lead to drug use and unintentional injuries. more...
- Georgia lawmakers push for prescription drug tracking system
Many lawmakers across the nation are beginning to propose legislation that will prevent the rampant use of prescription medication. more...
- Wyoming seeks to tweak social host ordinance
Across the nation, social host ordinance are becoming more popular. more...