A study in the Oct 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that long-term alcoholism affects sleep even after long periods of abstinence, and the pattern of this effect is similar in both men and women. Results indicate that in long-term alcoholics who had not had a drink for up to 719 days, the percentage of slow wave sleep was significantly lower (6.6 per cent in men, 11.1 per cent in women) than in controls (12.0 per cent in men, 12.1 per cent in women). [continue reading…]

For many, drinking is an essential part of a night out with friends. Alcohol is widely considered to be a social lubricant, so it’s not surprising that social phobia, or extreme shyness, and drinking, frequently go together.
More concerning are reports of increased alcohol problems among socially anxious people. Research studies tell us that people who suffer from social phobia are 2-3 times more likely to develop problems with alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence.

Yet historically, alcohol dependency and social anxiety have been treated as separate problems. Now, with greater understanding about how the two interact, researchers from Macquarie University’s Centre for Emotional Health have developed a new treatment for adults that addresses both problems together. [continue reading…]

Here’s a pretty worrying statistic a new national study 1 in 5 young adults need treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use. The study also showed that 1 in 10 young adults needing treatment receive it.

Nearly 7 million Americans aged 18 to 25 were classified as needing treatment in the past year for alcohol or illicit drug use according to a new national study.  The study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows that that 93 percent of these young adults did not receive the help they needed at a specialty treatment facility.  These levels have remained relatively stable since 2002. [continue reading…]