Smoking Linked to Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Despite smoking among the U.S. population reaching an all time low of 20%, it is claimed that people with substance abuse or mental health issues consume 44% of all cigarettes smoked nationwide.  A UC-San Fransisco professor of medicine and  health policy speaks out about the lack of effort on the part of the government to address this disparity.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/27/health/guydish-smoking-mental-disorders/

Internet Use Linked to and Drug Addiction in Teens

Researchers in Greece have published new research in the Journal of Addiction Medicine showing a strong correlation between excessive or 'pathologic' internet use and a predisposition toward drug addiction.

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/09/internet-addiction-linked-to-drug-abuse/

Norwegian University Researchers Find Most Heavy Drinkers Improve After LSD Use

No, this is not based on current research.  Rather, researchers at the Norweigan University of Science and Technology's department of neuroscience have published a literature review in the Journal of Psychopharmacology which, if we are to believe the original studies from the 60's and 70's, demonstrated improved outcomes for drinkers who took part in experiments using LSD on just one occasion.

Link: http://www.thefix.com/content/lsd-alcoholism-treatment-study9793

Richard Davidson on the Emotional Life of the Brain

UW-Madison's very own Dr. Richard Davidson from the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/25/the_scientific_argument_for_being_emotional/singleton/

Bettina Luescher, World Food Programme Representative at UW-Madison March 8-9

Ms. Luescher, the Chief Spokesman for the U.N.'s World Food Programme in North America will be speaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on March 8th and 9th.  Her talks are all free.  For more information, visit http://www.news.wisc.edu/20401

Clinical Studies Show New Drug Cuts Binge Drinking by Two-Thirds

If this drug, nalmefene, is proven to be safe and effective, it will have tremendous effects for individuals for whom abstinence and moderation has not worked.

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-05/lundbeck-anti-binge-drinking-drug-helps-cut-intake-66-in-clinical-trials.html