Monthly Archives: December 2008

Investigators have discovered a functional link between reward and stress. They found that dopamine — the brain’s chief reward signal — works through corticotrophin-releasing factor — the brain’s main stress signal — to increase the activity of a brain region involved in addiction relapse. The findings, reported in the Journal of Neuroscience, point to new potential targets for treating alcohol and drug abuse — particularly the problem of relapse. Continue reading →

My boyfriend and I have been together about 4 1/2 months now.He is 34 and I’m 26. Things are good. But with the holidays and my personal commitments I have been very busy. I live a home again and that is a stressor. But the problem is that over the past few weeks I’d say he is acting very sensitive about a lot of things. First off I suppose his history is relavent. He has been to rehab about 5 years ago for a cocaine addiction, he is now free and clear. His father commited suicide in 2001 after having been a raging alcoholic. He was in the Marines and after 8-9 months made sure he got kicked out. He has little to no family living around him. He has a had a series of relationships that he still has baggage from (worrying the same things will happen). He also lives with a married couple where the woman is an alcoholic and the man is addicted to the drama and fighting of the relationship. So… here are the things that have been coming up. A while ago he sent me all these texts about how we don’t spend enough time together. He is spending the holidays with my family and we sing the 12 days of Christmas (each person sings one of the 12 days) and he is afraid of looking stupid singing and almost refuses to do it. He thinks that because when I hang out at his house and I don’t have sex with him a second time or cuddle enough that something is wrong. He gets really freaked out and upset over his roommates fighting and needs to talk it out eventhough it does not effect him, but says its a reminder of how his parents were. I just feel like I’ve had a conversation with him at least 3-4 times in 2 weeks either talking him down from being a crappy mood, reassuring him, and trying to get him to just live for the moment and have fun. I sing in a band and when he comes to see me he is impossible to get excited and doing anything but just sitting there. My past relationship my boyfriend was the life of any party, talkative, friendly right away. This guy is the opposite. He takes time to warm up and is kind of predictable and sometimes boring. He is a great guy and treats me very well, but I’m tired of having these conversations with him and feeling like I’m having to sit with him so he’s not alone although I want to mingle and have fun. What do I do?

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2009 Science and Service Awards Will Honor Implementation of Evidence-Based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Interventions (12/22/08)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued a call for applications for its 2009 Science and Service Awards, a national program that recognizes community-based organizations and coalitions that have shown exemplary implementation of evidence-based mental health and substance abuse interventions.

Date Added: 12/24/08
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A really really good friend of mine does Cocaine. And I really want him to stop because its endangering his health and killing his brain. He’s 17 right now, and I believe hes been using for at LEAST 3 years. Hes tried to quit twice and only made it to 5 days without using again. He really wants to quit too but I dont think he has the motivation for it. I want to tell him something that will get his brain thinking on how much his addiction is hurting me. Something including how he could die and how much pain that would cause me and his family and friends (real friends) around him. Like a letter that would bring him to tears. Something really powerful. If you could kindly help me, it would be appreciated. Thanks!
(Oh, and if you could give me some tips to help him quit. Hes not gonna go to rehab. Is there any way he can quit just at home?? Any methods?? Please and thanks!)
He does care that if hes hurting me. I just need something that will really really convince him.
I’ll try and tell him how much it hurts me to hear that he’s been using and see how that goes. :]

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I recently ended my cocaine addiction by going to NA. Unfortunately, I am not able to involve my normal physician, because she is a friend of my mother’s, and I don’t feel comfortable. So, I have been seeing a doctor recommended by a pyschiatrist of mine. My mom doesn’t know about my addiction.

My question is, when I eventually go see the doctor that’s my mom’s friend, will she be able to tell I was a user by looking inside my nose or at my gums? I don’t really see much visiable scares or damage

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FIRST OFF: Do not tell me how stupid I am or not to do it; that’s not what I’m asking.
Kay, so I have been thinking of trying heroin. I smoke weed, and I have an extensive cocaine history without any addiction. But lately I’ve been thinking of trying heroin…..most likely snorting it.
So….what are the risks? Will I not be able to stop just after once? How does it feel? Ect.

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I have this great boyfriend and we’ve been dating for almost a year. He’s helped me through a lot including overcoming my cocaine addiction and my parents divorce. I definitely have not been the best person to him but he has always treated me so well. Lately we have been fighting a lot because I want to be able to enjoy my last year and a half of high school and party a little and he won’t let me if we’re together. I love him and I want to be with him in the future but I want to have fun now. What do I do?

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First off i have never touched the stuff and have no intention of doing so, so that’s why i am asking you.

My friend snorts cocaine very occasionally when we go out for the night, he claims that he does things he wouldn’t normally do and has no control of what he is doing.

He has done a really stupid thing…..slept with his friends girlfriend. As a result he has lost his friend and his own girlfriend. (this particular night he also claimed someone put ecstasy in his drink)

I asked them both why they did it but they both replied “i was off my head and didn’t know what i was doing”

This has happened a few times in different situations over the past few months.

Neither of them are regular users so there is no addiction there, they can both go months without it.

Can cocaine really get into your mind that bad ?

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