About teenagers and college students additions
Artificial intelligence chatbots have quickly become part of everyday life. People use them to answer questions, study, brainstorm ideas, solve problems, practice conversations, and find emotional support. For many people, these tools are useful and easy to control. However, some individuals may begin spending so much time interacting with chatbots that the behavior interferes with … Read more
For decades, many people have heard that moderate drinking—particularly a glass of red wine with dinner—might be good for the heart. Some observational studies appeared to show that people who drank small amounts of alcohol had lower rates of cardiovascular disease than people who did not drink. Today, the picture is much more complicated. Researchers … Read more
People living with addiction are often told to “just quit,” “try harder,” or “have more willpower.” Although motivation and determination are valuable parts of recovery, overcoming addiction involves much more than simply choosing to stop drinking or using drugs. Substance use disorders can affect brain systems responsible for reward, motivation, learning, stress, and self-control. Over … Read more
Larry Hagman became a television icon as J.R. Ewing on Dallas and Major Tony Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie. Behind his successful career, however, Hagman experienced years of heavy alcohol use that eventually contributed to serious liver disease. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis in 1992 and later developed a malignant liver tumor. In August … Read more
Patrick Swayze was known around the world for movies such as Dirty Dancing and Ghost, but behind his successful career were personal struggles that included problematic alcohol use and, later, a devastating diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. His experience provides an opportunity to discuss addiction, cancer risk, coping with serious illness, and the importance of family … Read more
“Why can’t you just stop?” is a question many people struggling with addiction hear, yet it overlooks the challenges involved in changing compulsive behaviors. To someone on the outside, quitting alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling, or another addictive behavior may seem like a matter of making a firm decision and sticking to it. When negative consequences … Read more
Infidelity can cause profound emotional pain, leaving individuals questioning the trust, intimacy, and security they once felt in their relationship. Physical infidelity involves sexual or intimate contact with someone outside the agreed-upon boundaries of a committed partnership, while emotional infidelity occurs when a person develops a secretive or deeply intimate emotional connection with someone else. … Read more
Late-night binge drinking can look spontaneous from the outside: someone finishes a stressful day, pours a drink to relax, and suddenly several drinks have disappeared. But excessive drinking rarely occurs in isolation. Stress, loneliness, poor sleep, emotional distress, environmental cues, social habits, and easy access to alcohol can combine to create a powerful pattern. Understanding … Read more
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of testosterone that may be prescribed for specific medical conditions but are also misused to increase muscle mass, strength, or physical appearance. When used without medical supervision—particularly at supraphysiologic doses, for long periods, or in combinations sometimes called “stacking”—these drugs can cause serious health problems. One concern is their … Read more
Gia Carangi became one of the most recognizable fashion models of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Often described as one of the first supermodels, she appeared in major fashion magazines and worked with leading photographers. Behind her rapid rise to fame, however, Carangi experienced severe substance use problems, particularly heroin addiction. Her health, relationships, … Read more