Substance Abuse Grows Among Boomers

A recent study sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that the rate of illicit drug use among those adults aged 50 to 59 has increased 3.1 percent in the past eight years.

The NSDUH also found that an estimated 4.3 million American adults aged 50 and older (or 4.3 percent of this population) have abused an illicit substance in the past year. Of that, men over the age of 50 were more likely to use marijuana than prescription drugs, while individuals age 65 and older were more likely to use prescription medication. Women, as a group, had a higher rate of prescription drug abuse than men, although they did tend to use less illicit drugs.

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), the two most commonly abused prescription drugs are opiates or painkillers, such as oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone, morphine, and methadone, and benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and lorazepam (Ativan).

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that 48 million people in the United States have used prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes. But, although the elderly comprise only 13 percent of the population, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, this group accounts for one-third of the prescriptions, raising the potential for abuse and addiction.

This poses a problem not only for the boomers themselves, but also for their families, both children and elderly parents.

What is causing this growing incidence of substance abuse among boomers? There are several possible explanations. We’ll begin with one that seems to be a common perception, which may or may not have a basis in reality, depending on which Baby Boomer is being considered. After all, each person is the product of unique life experiences, and not all boomers fall into the same category.

Population study experts who pore over data and characteristics of generations of adults in the United States point to the fact that Baby Boomers grew up during a time when the recreational use of drugs was not only common practice, but was accepted behavior in certain parts of society. Certainly it was among the boomer generation.

Now, as life stressors are mounting up, many of these boomers are once again reverting to substance abuse as a means of coping with daily stresses and unexpected and unpleasant changes.

Contributing Factors to Baby Boomers’ Substance Abuse

But just growing up in a time of common recreational use of drugs couldn’t be the only reason why Baby Boomers are now using drugs and alcohol, often to levels approaching dependency and addiction. There have to be other contributing factors to consider.

In fact, there are a number of them.

Financial insecurity and strain, the loss of a parent or loved one, age-related health issues and other stressors tend to increase during this transitional period in boomers’ lives.

• Looking for a quick fix- With their tendency to be extremely goal-oriented or career-oriented, many boomers look for a quick fix to problems. Approaching tasks, they were used to figuring out a solution and going for it. When their current lifestyle doesn’t lend itself to immediate relief from stress, anxiety, depression, illness and other unpleasant changes, they may find that drowning their sorrows in alcohol or numbing their mind with drugs offers a way out of the pain, even it if is only a temporary solution.
• Dealing with stage of life issues – Baby Boomers are now at that time in their lives when they have to sit down and deal with some pretty heavy issues, things they either didn’t think much about before or figured were a long ways off and therefore not demanding their attention. It could be adjusting to a life in retirement that adds stress to their lives. With no job or career to attend to on a daily basis, many boomers may feel lost, undervalued, unimportant, and mourn the feeling they had of being part of something, a sense of community. Other life issues that cause stress and unpleasant change include possibly having to support two other generations: their own children and their aging parents. How much easier it often seems to just take a drink or pop a pill of one kind or another in order to just have it all fade away for a while?
• More medications prescribed as Boomers age – Then, there’s also the fact that as Baby Boomers get older, they’re subject to any number of age-related health conditions, any one of which may require that they are being prescribed various types of medication. Combine several different doctors and multiple conditions and the individual could be taking a pharmacopeia of pills – which could interact with each other and result in side-effects or complications. Factor in daily or frequent intake of alcohol, sometimes to excess, and the risks increase for dependency, addiction and overdose. Another fact to consider is that Baby Boomers are more accepting of medication, and often view prescription drug use as necessary. They may even boast how many pills they’re taking, listing them in a litany of drugs to other family members.
• Combination of drugs and age-related complex disorders – As boomers age, they may experience a combination of different disorders that are related to aging. Health risks increase when boomers abuse substances and have existing or newly-developed complex disorders. While boomers may know something about their health conditions, they may not be aware of the health risks they are taking as a result of their substance abuse in conjunction with their age-related medical conditions. Older Americans also have more problems related to drinking due to both the effect of cumulative years of drinking and the fact that their bodies and brains are older and have less restorative abilities. The effects of drinking impact an older individual faster because the body and brain aren’t able to metabolize the alcohol consumed as well or to regenerate brain cells.
• Resistant to getting treatment for addiction – Another common tendency is for Baby Boomers to feel that they can take care of the situation themselves, no matter what it is. This includes the belief that they don’t need treatment to overcome substance abuse. Not only will they deny that they have a problem with abuse of alcohol or drugs, if pressed and when faced with the facts, they often vehemently insist that they can get a handle on it without outside help. The problem with this resistance is that boomers will likely just continue abusing substances. Once dependent, it’s an almost inevitable slide into addiction. Without treatment, the cycle will just continue.

Learn about treatment options for Baby Boomers.

O’Brien says children’s social skills need more work today due to the amount of screen time they spend on their Wii, PSP, X-Box and on the Internet, to name a few. Thankfully, children are so easily adaptable they can be weaned off of such electronics, according to an article on the Daily Telegraph. O’Brien says their clinic has a program for communication and social skills that teaches children how to interact with others by joining groups and learning such basic skills as taking turns.

Experts say it is important to make the transition easier by being prepared for change. Parents need to set certain boundaries to prepare children for school with set bedtimes and limits when it comes to electronics and screen time. As both children and parents prepare for the school year, there needs to be rules in place with appropriate bedtimes and screen times that limit their exposure. Familiarity is a great way to ward off such fears, especially for those starting kindergarten or changing schools. It’s important to go over routines and practice things such as getting dressed and packing school lunches before the first day comes. It also helps to organize play dates for your children during the summer or over holidays. Be sure to visit the school beforehand so your child is more familiar and knows their way around.

Kids are much more resilient than adults and if you help encourage them and prepare them, you will help to ease some of the unnecessary stress that comes with change.

The Scope of Physician Addiction

Estimates of the number of doctors addicted to substances vary, but recent studies suggest that approximately 10 to 12 percent of physicians will develop a substance use disorder at some point during their careers. This is a rate that is similar to or greater than that in the general population.

But the incidents of substance use disorder as well as the drug of choice appears, according to several studies, to vary by physician specialty. Among physicians, alcohol abuse is the drug of choice for most doctors with addiction. In comparison, only about 10 percent of anesthesiologists enter treatment for alcohol addiction. Instead, studies have found that anesthesiologists are addicted to opioid drugs, particularly potent intravenous opioids, such as fentanyl and sufentanil.

One study by McLellan et al (2008) involved a five-year outcome of 904 doctors, 87 percent of whom were male, and who were enrolled in 16 different state physician health programs (PHPs). In this cohort longitudinal study, alcohol was the primary abused drug in 50.3 percent, opioids in 35.7 percent, stimulants in 7.9 percent and other substances in 5.9 percent.

That wasn’t all. Fifty percent of the doctors reported abusing multiple substances, 13.9 percent had a history of intravenous drug use, and 17 percent reported previous treatment for addiction.

In this study, the authors discovered that certain specialties appeared to be overrepresented in these programs relative to the national pool of physicians. The specialties included anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. The authors suggested that contributing factors may include work stress, ready access to narcotics and psychotropic drugs at work, and even possibly a selection bias in the type of doctors who seek these specialties.

Doctors Delay Seeking Treatment

One point that numerous researchers make is that by the time that doctors with substance use disorder or addiction actually seek treatment, they are usually in the advanced stage of addiction.

Why do doctors delay seeking treatment? For one thing, there is a profound stigma attached to the addicted doctor. One point that numerous researchers make is that by the time that doctors with substance use disorder or addiction actually seek treatment, they are usually in the advanced stage of addiction.

Doctors are also understandably worried that coming forward and seeking help for an addiction will cause them to lose more than prestige in the community. They fear that such a disclosure will also jeopardize their job, including revocation of their license to practice and, with that, economic ruin.

The family and coworkers of the physician abusing substances also play a part in the “conspiracy of silence.” They may be reluctant to confront the doctor or talk with anyone else to arrange an intervention because to do so would have a ripple effect of economic ruin caused by the doctor’s loss of a job and income.

Signs and Symptoms of Possible Abuse or Addiction

Looking at the problem of trying to recognize and identify possible substance abuse or addiction in physicians requires the ability to put two and two together. Not every sign or symptom, in and of itself, necessarily indicates that the doctor has a substance abuse problem, but more than one or a succession of them should certainly be cause for worry.

Gathered from various sources, here are some possible signs that may be suggestive of alcohol dependence:

• Acting in an “out-of-control” manner at social events
• Alcohol smell on the breath
• Ataxia
• Domestic or marital problems
• Erratic performance or decline in performance
• Failure to remember conversations, commitments, or events (otherwise referred to as “blackouts”)
• Frequent hangovers
• Hidden bottles
• Irritability
• Isolation
• Leaving the workplace early on a regular basis
• Moodiness
• Poor performance in the early morning
• Poor personal hygiene
• Problems with law enforcement, such as those arising from episodes of domestic abuse, driving while intoxicated
• Slurred speech
• Sweating
• Tardiness
• Tremulousness
• Unexplained absences
• Unusual traumatic injuries
Possible signs that may suggest dependence on opiates include:
• Adoption of wearing long sleeves (to hide needle tracks)
• Assay of waste drug returned that shows evidence of being diluted
• Dilated pupils (a sign of opiate withdrawal)
• Excessive narcotic use charted for patients
• Excessive sweating
• Frequent breaks to go to the bathroom (to take another dose)
• Frequent unexplained absences from the job during the workday
• Never returning any waste at the end of a case
• Patients arriving in the postsurgical recovery room with pain out of proportion to their charted narcotic dose
• Periods of agitation (sign of withdrawal) alternating with calm (sign the drug was just taken)
• Pinpoint pupils (a side effect of opiate use)
• Rummaging through sharps containers
• Sloppy record-keeping or discrepancies between the charted dose and the dose actually administered
• Spending more hours at work than necessary (to access the source of drug of choice)
• Volunteering for extra call
• Volunteering to clean operating rooms
• Volunteering to provide extra breaks or refusing breaks
• Volunteering to return waste drugs to the pharmacy

Suspected Physician Addiction

Let’s say that someone who works alongside the physician notices one or more signs or symptoms of alcohol or opiate addiction. He or she feels like something should be done but is nevertheless extremely reluctant to “blow the whistle” or get involved. The coworker may feel like it’s not his or her place to say anything, although by remaining silent, the situation could deteriorate to the point where the addicted physician causes the death of a patient.

The coworker could also be afraid of getting sued by the physician that they accuse of being addicted. A counter to this is the addition by medical licensing boards in many states that include the possibility of sanctions if a doctor knows of or becomes aware that a colleague is addicted or suspected of being addicted and fails to either intervene or notify the state PHP.

As seen in the previous section, the signs and symptoms of alcohol or opiate addiction vary considerably. They range from subtle and mile to blatantly apparent, even to the casual observer.

There’s also the fact that many physicians may be able to operate at a high level of functioning, so-called functioning alcoholics, although the same is also true with doctors addicted to certain opioids. There may only be the faintest hint that there’s a problem, and that, only over time.

Still, with the health and safety of their patients at stake, doctors who are addicted really need to have someone intervene to force the issue.

Intervention for the Addicted Doctor

There are many different ways of looking at an intervention. In the context of an intervention for the addicted doctor, it is, in essence, a confrontation with the suspected addict with the goal of forcing the individual to accept or submit to a formal chemical dependency evaluation by experts.

It is important to note that if a doctor is suspected of acute intoxication or addiction and is in charge of patient care, or who may be on-call or in charge of patient care in the near future, he or she should be immediately removed from such patient responsibility. In other words, the doctor should not be allowed to continue to care for patients.

The difficulty in arranging an appropriate intervention or even providing the intervention is something to take into consideration. No one should ever just go up to a doctor suspected of addiction and in a one-on-one exchange, either ask if the doctor is addicted or suggest that the doctor stop using alcohol or drugs. The doctor will be quick to deny it, in the first place, and such a confrontation could even be dangerous to the accuser. After all, the threat of disclosure jeopardizes the suspected doctor addict’s livelihood and career.

So, how should coworkers or superiors proceed if they suspect a colleague or employee doctor is addicted to alcohol or drugs? In an article on physician dependence The Mayo Clinic Proceedings lays out a generalized approach that may be useful to consider.

First, if doctor addiction to substances is suspected, a review of policies should take place, followed by notification of the appropriate contact, and then performing a discreet investigation. If the problem is identified, the next step is to notify the PHP and/or intervene. If the problem is not identified or is inconclusive, the recommendation is to observe. But if the problem has been identified and the PHP notified or there has been an intervention, the suspected addicted doctor should be referred to chemical dependency evaluation. If he or she refuses, termination should be considered.

If the chemical dependency evaluation identifies the problem, the suspected addicted physician should go immediately into treatment, either inpatient or outpatient chemical dependency treatment. If the doctor refuses to cooperate, termination should be considered. Should the chemical dependency evaluation prove inconclusive, the doctor should be allowed to return to work and overt or discreet observation should continue.

Following treatment, if a return to work is recommended, the doctor must sign a mandatory contract with PHP to monitor his or her recovery. If a work return is not recommended after treatment, the doctor should either be retrained or terminated.

Treatment for Substance Abuse or Addiction for Doctors

What exactly does treatment for substance abuse or addiction for doctors consist of? Do they just go into the same type of treatment setting that the general population suffering from substance abuse or addiction goes to? Is the treatment the same or is it markedly different?
In one sense, the evaluation of doctors with substance abuse is similar to that of any person being evaluated for dependence or addiction to substances. They both require a thorough evaluation, a detailed substance use history, and additional collateral information gathered from family, friends, coworkers and pharmacies. But with addicted doctors, skilled at rationalization, denial and resistance, a multidisciplinary team with experience working with such doctors is an absolute necessity.

As with almost all addicts, the addicted physician will be adamant in his or her denial that there is a problem. Thus, obtaining an accurate and detailed history of substance use may be extremely difficult. Reliance on reports from family, friends, coworkers, etc., may also require the use of signed releases or waivers by the addicted doctor to obtain.
In order to properly diagnose addiction, to determine whether it does exist and the extent of the problem, the substance use evaluation has to be as complete as possible.

During this evaluation phase, a complete medical history is obtained and a physical examination is performed. Addicted doctors very often neglect their own health. An evaluation with the family seeks to gather information on how the individual doctor functions and how the family has been affected by the doctor’s suspected addiction.
Psychiatric and psychological evaluations are also conducted, due to the fact the co-occurring psychiatric illness, also called a dual-diagnosis disorder, is common among addicted physicians. A substance use disorder in conjunction with a simultaneous major depressive disorder, anxiety or panic disorder, or bipolar disorder, can sabotage the physician’s recovery from addiction – if both disorders are not treated concurrently.
Cognitive screening is also conducted. This is because there is often substantial memory and cognitive impairments in doctors with alcohol or methamphetamine dependence.

Getting to the treatment phase, the addicted doctor needs to be in a program that specializes in the treatment of physicians with dependence or addiction. Detoxification is a necessary first step prior to initiation of any treatment. The alcohol and/or drugs have to be out of the doctor’s system before formal treatment begins.

Most treatment programs aimed at addicted doctors have curricula that are similar to treatment for addicts in the general population, although there are specific therapeutic modalities that are targeted at physicians. With the addicted doctor treatment program, then, the doctor can expect to participate in individual and group psychotherapy, addiction education (learning about the disease of addiction), and peer fellowship.

Most physician-oriented substance abuse treatment programs are abstinence-based and adhere to the 12-Step program philosophy. Addicted doctors will attend 12-step groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, as part of their overall treatment program.

Doctor-specific modalities include group meetings with multiple addicted-physician peers. In fact, this is a primary feature of treatment programs for doctors with substance addiction. During these meetings, the addicted doctors learn how to recognize their own addictive behaviors. Their peer discussions cover such issues as problems with licensing, guilt and shame, dealing with patients, access to addicting medications, and the often-thorny issues around returning to work.

The treatment plans are tailored to the specific addicted doctor and are crafted to align with the goals of the patient – i.e., to get clean and sober – as well as their employers, the state PHP, and other interested parties (which may include the Drug Enforcement Administration, for example). Recommendations include attendance at self-help meetings post-treatment, as well as continuing therapy, monitoring and any workplace limitations.

Returning to Work

Should the doctor return to work following treatment for substance use or addiction? The research shows that doctors who successfully complete treatment for addiction and participate in rehabilitation programs have a very high abstinence rate. These abstinence rates range between 74 percent and 90 percent, which is similar to the higher-than-average abstinence rate of airline pilots.

Returning to work generally requires the doctor to sign a mandatory contract with the state PHP, involving monitoring, random and for-cause drug screening, workplace education and monitoring, and so on. Failure to comply with the program may result in reporting to the state medical licensing board, disciplinary action, possible public disclosure, sanctions, and suspension or revocation of license to practice.

Some doctors, before they can return to work, will have limitations placed on their ability to prescribe medications, particularly opioids or other addicting medications.

In the case of anesthesiologists who are addicted, who have access to and use of highly addictive drugs, following treatment their professional activities may be limited to nonclinical roles. They may be directed to a new practice specialty or to roles such as teaching, research or administration. This is because the relapse rate for anesthesiologists is very high and is associated with a consequent high risk of death.

In Conclusion

There is no doubt that addicted doctors can cause great harm to their patients if they continue to abuse substances and no one intervenes. It is not in the best interests of anyone concerned to allow an addicted physician, or one that is suspected of having an addiction, to continue to practice as usual.

While the hurdles to getting an addicted doctor to acknowledge the problem and accept treatment may be high, the success rate for doctors who do successfully complete specialized treatment for their addiction and also participate in self-help meetings, monitoring and continuing peer and other therapy is encouraging. These doctors are highly motivated to be able to return to the practice of medicine.

As it is true of addiction in any individual, the addicted doctor has no guarantee of continued abstinence. It takes continued dedication, vigilance and hard work to ensure sobriety is maintained. But it can be done. Thousands of addicted doctors have gone through substance abuse treatment programs successfully, completed their PHP contracts, and have returned to work.

Although Xanax abuse occurs by individuals of all ages, there is a growing problem with young people who are using this powerful depressant for recreational purposes. Combined with the ease of getting the drug without a prescription, this has led to Xanax being one of the most abused prescription drugs on the market today.

Xanax’s Appeal

Xanax is a member of a class of controlled medications known as benzodiazepines. Drugs in this category affect the brain and nerves in order to create a sense of calmness. They can also produce a feeling of euphoria. This euphoric feeling is what makes Xanax so appealing to those who abuse it. They seek the high Xanax can produce and use the drug for recreational purposes rather than a medical treatment.

The euphoric feeling from Xanax is further enhanced when the pills are crushed into powder and inhaled. The more they use the drug, the greater their tolerance to its effects become. As a result, they need increasing amounts of the drug in order to get the same high. The increased use typically creates a physiological dependency on the medication. In many cases, a full blown addiction develops that can be difficult to overcome.

Accidental Xanax Abuse

Xanax abuse also occurs in individuals who have been prescribed the medication, often by accident. Xanax may be prescribed for use in patients who are experiencing acute anxiety in order to give them short-term relief. Because of its intense addictive properties, it is not meant to be used for more than just a few weeks at the most. However, more and more people are becoming reliant on Xanax to keep them calm on a regular basis. This has led to an increasing number of people who abuse it by getting additional prescriptions from other physicians – “doctor shopping” – until addiction prevents them from discontinuing the medication.

Xanax is generally considered safe, and produces only mild side effects such as drowsiness or light-headedness when used in the intended and prescribed manner. However, the potential for abuse increases with extended use. Because the amount needed to get the euphoric results increases, so do the risks from side effects.

Two Types of Addiction

There are two different types of addiction including physical and psychological. Xanax abuse can lead to both. It is physically addictive because of the direct effect that it has on the brain. Physical addiction results in potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms that occur when the individual abruptly stops taking the drug. The psychological addiction comes from the instant relief from anxiety that the individual comes to rely on. It can also come from the gratifying feeling of euphoria that it produces for those who use it recreationally.

Problems with Discontinuing Xanax

When regular Xanax abuse leads to dependency or addiction, stopping the medication suddenly is very dangerous. It can cause the brain to become overactive, resulting in serious withdrawal symptoms. These include:

• Heart palpitations
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Depression
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Memory loss
• Rapid heartbeat
• Hallucinations
• Changes in personality
• Anxiety, tension, or panic attacks
• Seizures
• Death

Seizures are the one of the most dangerous withdrawal effects from abruptly stopping Xanax after using it for an extended period of time. This is why it is so important to gradually decrease the dose under a doctor’s supervision. However, since many people who are abusing the drug have obtained it illegally or are ashamed that they’ve become addicted, they are hesitant to seek help to discontinue it. As often occurs with drug abuse, they continue using it. Without professional help to wean them off the drug, the potential for stopping Xanax abuse is unlikely.

Easy Access

While some individuals abuse Xanax by seeking additional prescriptions once their current one expires, others have no difficulty getting the drug in the quantity they desire in order to self-medicate. There are thousands of websites where you can purchase Xanax online without a prescription. The combination of its use as a party drug and the ease with which it can be obtained has made it a very widely abused prescription drug. Even though the largest group of Xanax abusers is comprised of young people seeking recreational drugs, people of all ages – including seniors – abuse it as well.

There are additional dangers when purchasing Xanax over the internet or from vendors in foreign countries. Just as distribution laws differ from one country to the next, regulation of ingredients may also vary. Drugs obtained online may contain unsafe ingredients, including other types of drugs that may be even more dangerous and/or addictive than Xanax.

Effective for Short-Term Use

Although the potential for addiction is always present when taking Xanax, it does provide a good treatment option under some circumstances. Anxiety disorders can be potentially devastating and greatly reduce a person’s quality of life. If used properly, Xanax can restore quality of life without causing any detrimental effects. While it is not intended for extended use, the need for the drug helps keep it available and accessible to those who may abuse it.

High Risk for Addiction

Xanax should never be used as a recreational drug, particularly in conjunction with other drugs and alcohol. Repeated users who become tolerant to the drug and continue to increase their dose have a high risk for overdose. Even if they are using the drug for its intended purpose, they may not realize how potentially addictive it is.

No one should hesitate to get help if an addiction or dependency develops, regardless of whether it’s from prescription or recreational Xanax abuse. The longer it persists, the more difficult it becomes to treat. Like many other addictive substances, Xanax addiction should be treated with a combination of detox and counseling for best results. The proper treatment will help people overcome their addiction and prevent relapses in the future.

A recent study by UK researchers was published in the online version of the Journal of Clinical Pathology that explored the recording of deaths associated with smoking. The researchers found that while doctors are willing to list alcohol as a cause of death, they are resistant to listing smoking as the cause of death, because of a fear that doing so will stigmatize the deceased.

However, the researchers say that this practice has implications when it comes to understanding the extent of negative impact of smoking on health. For instance, any statistics that rely on death certificates to estimate the death toll as a result of smoking are likely flawed. Since 1992, doctors have been permitted to list smoking and alcohol as a direct or underlying cause on a death certificate.

The researchers examined death certificates for approximately 2,000 individuals in addition to 236 post mortem reports. The deaths occurred at a large teaching hospital in London from 2003 to 2008.

The researchers found that:

• There were only two certificates in the sample that listed smoking as a cause of death.
• Ten additional certificates cited smoking as a contributory condition.
• The two cases that cited smoking as the main cause of death were cases of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• In an additional 279 deaths, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were included in the diagnoses, and in many of the cases the individual was either a current or a former smoker.
• In a total of 407 deaths, the cause was related to a condition in which smoking is generally believed to play a substantial role. However, smoking was only listed as the cause of death in two of the certificates.

The authors of the study were also surprised when examining post-mortem reports to find that not even one case listed smoking as the cause or a contributing factor in death. Doctors were much more willing to cite alcohol as a direct or contributing cause of death. The researchers believe that doctors do not perceive a similar stigma attached to death as a result of alcohol in comparison to a death related to smoking. This may be due to recent legislation that bans smoking in public places.

A CBS News report on the incident in which Baldwin found himself kicked off a flight with American Airlines after he refused flight attendants’ requests to turn off his mobile phone. The incident occurred on a plane waiting to leave the Los Angeles International Airport.

According to reports, the actor was heavily into playing the popular Scrabble-like app, "Words with Friends," while he was waiting for the plane to take off. Powering off all electronic devices is a standard request on any airplane while the aircraft is taking off. Baldwin’s refusal to comply could indicate an addiction to the game, or simply an arrogance that safety rules do not apply to him.

A spokesman for the actor, Matthew Hiltzik, suggested the former is more likely the culprit in this case. He claims Baldwin loves the game so much, he was willing to leave the plane rather than comply with requests that he turn it off for the flight.

Crew members reported that Baldwin was removed from the plane due to his violent and aggressive behavior toward airline staff. This outward reaction could have been the effects of his addiction shinning through.

The actor used the incident to then taunt American Airlines for their poor service and threatened to use another airline. His threats appeared somewhat hollow when he boarded another AA flight later the same day to get to New York.

Specifically, mothers in a rat-based study who provided high levels of touch and response to their babies helped raise the levels of Inerleukin-10 in the rats’ brains, which later studies showed contributed to the rats’ ability to avoid morphine doses as they grew older.

While researchers have known for some time that the brain’s responses were involved in addiction, this study helps pinpoint a change in activity in the glial cells that exist in the areas of the brain responsible for rewards. Scientists believe they are better able to understand what addiction looks like at the brain level.

During the study, highlighted in Medical News Today, the rat babies were taken from their mothers while at very young ages and then brought back after 15-minute intervals. The babies whose mothers began to touch and nurture them showed less of a desire to activate an element of a special cage that would provide a dose of morphine. The rats who were not removed from their mothers or whose mothers were naturally less attentive seemed to show a higher incidence of going after the morphine as the study progressed.

Researchers described this response as serving to squelch the desire to seek out drugs, and noted that the more in-tune moms created a different reaction to the drugs than less nurturing mothers. The actual craving the rats experienced for the drugs seemed to be changed when the mothers touched and nurtured them more.

Further studies will explore other connections between how stress affects mothers and how it may be connected to immunological reactions at the brain level.

Clinical director of the tobacco dependence clinic for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Dr. Milan Khara, said that he would like to see smoking referred to as an addiction. He believes that smokers would more readily seek help to quit if they thought of smoking as the serious addiction that it is, rather than just a bad habit they felt solely responsible for building up and; therefore, felt responsible for breaking it on their own. He wants them to see that it might not be possible for them to just put it down on their own. They may need extra help like others who suffer from addictions.

Dangers of Cigarettes

For decades, warnings about the dangers of cigarettes have been posted in advertisements and even on cigarette packages themselves. Despite health warnings, rising monetary costs of cigarettes, building restrictions for smokers, seeing relatives die of cancer, and even having cancer themselves, smokers continue to inhale.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 443,000 die prematurely each year from smoking or second-hand smoke exposure. But, still, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that every day 3,400 youths pick up their first cigarette, while 50 million Americans continue smoking.

Why would smokers choose to continue smoking knowing such dire statistics? Dr. Khara explains that nicotine is more addictive than other drugs because as soon as it is inhaled, it enters the brain. The brain then becomes altered, which will induce the body to have withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, craving, and irritability when a person tries to quit smoking. It is not simply a habit that is easily broken.

Treatment for Smoking Addiction

Khara stresses that even though smoking is an addiction, there are still many ways to help people overcome their smoking addiction. Just like with other addictions, he encourages smokers to get counseling from health providers and medications, like nicotine gum and patches, that would help wean smokers off of nicotine. Newer technology is also helping smokers kick the addiction.

One smoker said that electronic applications helped her track how much money she was saving by not smoking and the total number of cigarettes she had resisted smoking. She also used social networks for smokers who were trying to quit so that she could share posts of her experiences and feel solace that she wasn’t alone in her battle.

Other smokers are turning to electronic cigarettes to help curb their cravings. E-cigarettes offer smokers a vaporous nicotine minus tar, carbon monoxide, and other harmful ingredients. Supporters of e-cigarettes say that smokers can gradually decrease the amount of nicotine they take in, until they finally have such minimal levels that they can quit. Non-supporters say that smokers will lose their incentive to quit because they believe the e-cigarettes work for them.

Each November 17, the American Cancer Society has The Great American Smokeout day which encourages every smoker to take a day off from smoking in hopes that the next morning they might not pick their cigarettes back up. Some anti-smoking supporters believe that raising taxes higher on cigarettes will help discourage people from starting their addiction and will encourage others to stop. Others believe counseling and medication may help. But, armed with the new terminology of "addiction" rather than "habit," smokers may find new ways to help themselves end their lifestyle of smoking cigarettes.

One of the physical health consequences of ongoing heavy drinking is the development of acute alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatitis is a very serious form of liver disease, developed in response to overwhelming of the liver because of alcohol consumption. When extreme alcohol consumption becomes a chronic problem and continues over a period of three to six months, a person may develop the disease.

Excessive consumption of alcohol consumption can be defined as consuming about five or more drinks per day. When the individual has hepatitis, the symptoms are acute jaundice and liver failure. The conditions can sometimes result in a coma due to liver failure. The death rate is high for those who are diagnosed with acute alcoholic hepatitis, with about 40 to 45 percent of individuals dying within six months.

Traditionally, treatment has involved immediate abstinence from alcohol and using cortisone to fight the inflammation of the liver. Even with this treatment, however, about 30 percent of patients still die within six months of contracting the disease.

A recent study has tested a new combination medication treatment to determine whether the survival rate of acute alcoholic hepatitis could be improved. The researchers set out to battle the deficiency of antioxidants in the liver and the severe inflammation caused by the disease.

The study was led by Professor Nguyen-Khas from the Amiens University Hospital Centre and the Inserm research team with the objective of combining a treatment for antioxidant deficiency with the conventional treatment for inflammation.

The results of the trial show that there was a significantly improved survival rate observed for patients diagnosed with acute alcoholic hepatitis. The patients showed a significant improvement in death rates in the first month of treatment compared to the group receiving cortisone treatments only. The tolerance level for the drug combination was also very good.

The drug used was N-acetylcysteine, which is an economical medication and has long been used in the treatment of hepatitis resulting from drugs like paracetamol.

The study’s findings may give doctors a new tool to help their patients overcome the serious diagnosis of acute alcoholic hepatitis with a drug that could greatly improve their survival rate.

However, viewing pornography online is not without a high cost. Author and former sex addict George Collins wrote a new book "Breaking the Cycle: Free Yourself from Sex Addiction, Porn Obsession and Shame" addressing the consequences of porn usage in the workplace. These include extreme losses of productivity that cost companies millions of dollars each year.

Another consequence of porn usage at work is the loss of a promotion or income increase from poor or stunted performance. Employees who work alongside coworkers that view pornography may heighten the costs of pornography by suing their employers for establishing an unsuitable work environment.

Author Michael Leahy, also a former sex addict, has written the book "Porn at Work: Exposing the Office’s No. 1 Addiction," and said that 70 percent of the pornography people view online happens during the workday hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Human resources workers have also addressed the growing problem of porn use at work, with more than 60 percent of a group of 500 saying they had discovered pornography sites and materials on computers in the workplace.

Leahy believes that not only is porn more accessible than ever, many young males who are entering the workforce are already used to viewing pornography online on a regular basis and have experienced an atmosphere that normalizes pornography before they ever enter the workforce.

Emotionally, excessive pornography use is linked to loss of sexual performance and drive, depression and the destruction of family and social relationships. As usage progresses, a porn addiction can develop, which many researchers believe can be as strong as cocaine and has a similar effect on brain function, particularly the reward system. Excessive porn usage in the workplace can also be a sign of sexual addiction.

Like other addictions, porn usage in the workplace can become progressively more serious over time, with some people spending six to seven hours a day viewing pornography at work. Beyond the loss of a job, pornography addiction is often linked to obsessive and unwanted sexual thoughts that people describe as leading them to feel "hopeless" and "trapped."

Professional help is needed to recover from pornography addiction and can include individual counseling, group-based counseling or support from groups like Sex Addicts Anonymous. Counseling and treatment options can be recommended to employees who are discovered viewing pornography in the workplace, and the authors urge human resources professionals to take pornography viewing at work seriously and to have a plan in place for when it occurs.

In the U.S., it is estimated that at least 24 million adults are living with sexual addiction.