A Cure for Cocaine Addiction?
Scientists may have discovered a cure for cocaine addiction, according to the UK’s Independent. A brand-new study reveals that a molecule that drives mice to seek cocaine can be successfully treated with drugs that are already known to be safe in humans. “Scientists have found that they can decrease appetite for cocaine by neutralizing a protein molecule which is found in the blood and brain at higher levels in repeat cocaine users,” the story said. The molecule itself, G-CSF, directly affects the brain’s reward center. The prospect of tailoring medicine to influence the G-CSF is particularly exciting because it’d be the first medication ever to specifically help people beat cocaine addiction.
Walmart Giving Out Free Drug-disposal Kits
Forbes reports that Walmart will give people who fill opioid prescriptions a free way to dispose of their unused pills safely at home. “At all of its pharmacies, Walmart announced it will give out packets of DisposeRx that people can use to chemically treat unused pills so they can throw them away at home instead of taking them to a pill-takeback program,” the story said. “Anyone filling a new class II opioid prescription (such as oxycodone) will get a free packet, and people with a prescription for chronic pain will get a new packet every six months. DisposeRx packets, which contain a powder that helps dissolve drugs into a gel, have been available in the US since last year.
Accidental Deaths on The Rise, Thanks to Opioids
Accidental deaths in the US are on the rise, according to an NPR story. The National Safety Council reports that accidental deaths became the third-leading cause of fatalities for the first time in over a century, the story said. The Council defined accidents as “unintentional, preventable injuries” and said that 161,374 were claimed in 2016—a 10% spike over 2015. What’s worse is that it’s all due to the opioid crisis. “Unintentional opioid overdose deaths totaled 37,814 from drugs including prescription opioid pain relievers, heroin, and illicitly-made fentanyl,” the story said. Ohio is the nation’s leader in opioid overdose deaths (3,495), followed by New York (2,752) and Florida (2,622).
Don’t Drink and Drone
On Monday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a law that makes it illegal to fly unmanned drone aircraft after imbibing too much. According to a story at The Huffington Post, the law prohibits pilots from flying a drone with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher, which is the exact same as the limit for driving a vehicle. The bill also makes clear that it’s illegal to operate a drone while under the influence of drugs, too. Violators of the new bill will face up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. Thirty-eight other states are considering similar legislation this year.
WWE Star Reveals Battle with The Bottle
WWE star Eva Marie wrote a moving essay for InStyle, according to Fox News, about her alcoholism. “I’m an alcoholic. I have relapsed, destroyed relationships, hurt my family, and disappointed myself numerous times. I will be an alcoholic for the rest of my life,” the 33-year-old wrote. Now five years sober, she discusses how it’s still a daily struggle for her to maintain sobriety and that “this fairy tale life is always one drink away from shattering.” She added that she attends multiple AA meetings a week, in addition to regular step work to stay active in recovery.
Online Tool Will Tell You if You’re An Alcoholic
Newsweek reported that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is helping to roll out a brand-new online tool called the Alcohol Treatment Navigator. It’s basically an app that uses information gathered from a questionnaire (whether you’ve ever suffered physical withdrawal symptoms, for example) as well as demographic information. From there, the tool will determine your drinking patterns and compare them to the national average. “A lot of people struggling with alcohol problems do not know where to turn,” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism director George Koob said. “Ninety percent of adults in the US with an alcohol use disorder don’t get any treatment whatsoever.” This new tool will help determine whether your drinking is abnormal and what your next steps should be.
Andrew Zimmern Opens Up About Troubled Past
The Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern has long been open about his past drug addiction and alcoholism. This week, however, he revealed to People the specific reasons why his life went down a dark road. Zimmern mentioned several events, including his parents’ divorce as well as his mother’s health problems. He turned to drugs and alcohol throughout high school and college but was functional enough to graduate—albeit not without suspensions and some jail time thrown in for good measure. The Travel Channel star’s story reveals as much about how he found his bottom as how he forged a genuine path to 26 strong years of sobriety. Looking at a photo of himself in his youth, holding up a glass of wine to the camera, the older Zimmern commented: “I was a dangerous mess and still took almost a decade to sober up. The smile on the outside is a mask. The pain inside was unimaginable and indescribable. Thankfully I don’t feel that way or live that way anymore.”
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