Legal Blood-Alcohol Limit to be Lowered in Quebec

Legal Blood-Alcohol Limit to be Lowered in Quebec
Quebec will be joining the rest of Canada by lowering its legal blood-alcohol level for motorists from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent, CBC News reported Nov. 30.

Pathological gambling may be successfully treated with medications for substance addiction

ScienceDaily (Dec. 11, 2009) — Pathological gambling can be successfully treated with medications that decrease urges and increase inhibitions, according to researchers at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). Researchers found positive outcomes in gamblers treated with medications often used for substance addictions.

New clues emerge for understanding morphine addiction

ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2009) — Scientists are adding additional brush strokes to the revolutionary new image now emerging for star-shaped cells called astrocytes in the brain and spinal cord. Their report, which suggests a key role for astrocytes in morphine's ability to relieve pain and cause addiction, appears online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, a monthly publication.

Craving hinders comprehension without you realizing it

ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2009) — A new University of Pittsburgh study reveals that craving a cigarette while performing a cognitive task not only increases the chances of a person's mind wandering, but also makes that person less likely to notice when his or her mind has wandered.

Deaths from opioid use have doubled; five-fold increase in oxycodone deaths

ScienceDaily (2009-12-07) -- Deaths from opioid use in Ontario, Canada, have doubled since 1991 and the addition of long-acting oxycodone to the drug formulary was associated with a 5-fold increase in oxycodone-related deaths, a new study finds. Most of these additional deaths were accidental.

Mental-health parity laws require oversight

Consumers need more information regarding new laws that mandate insurance coverage for mental-health treatment, according to an analysis of the first five years of the mental-health parity law in California. Read more here.
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Waterpipe tobacco smokers inhale same toxicants as cigarette smokers

ScienceDaily (2009-12-03) -- Smoking tobacco through a waterpipe exposes the user to the same toxicants -- carbon monoxide and nicotine -- as puffing on a cigarette, which could lead to nicotine addiction and heart disease, according to a new study.