Joan Borsten and Liz Winchell
This review is written from the perspective of a “normie,” one of those working in the field of addiction treatment that is neither an alcoholic nor an addict.
Kenneth Blum, Rajendra D. Badgaiyan, Gozde Agan, James Fratantonio, Thomas Simpatico, et al.
The Brain Reward Cascade (BRC) is an interaction of neurotransmitters and their respective genes to control the amount of dopamine released within the brain. Any variations within this pathway, whether genetic or environmental (epigenetic), may result in addictive behaviors or RDS, which was coined to define addictive behaviors and their genetic components.
Kenneth Blum, Benjamin Thompson, Zsolt Demetrovics, John Femino, John Giordano, et al.
There are some who suggest that alcoholism and drug abuse are not diseases at all and that they are not consequences of a brain disorder as espoused recently by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Some would argue that addicts can quit on their own and moderate their alcohol and drug intake.
Stephen J. Schoenthaler, Kenneth Blum, Eric R. Braverman, John Giordano, Ben Thompson, et al.
The connection between religion/spirituality and deviance, like substance abuse, was first made by Durkheim who defined socially expected behaviors as norms. He explained that deviance is due in large part to their absence (called anomie), and concluded that spirituality lowers deviance by preserving norms and social bonds.
Thomas McLaughlin, Kenneth Blum, Marlene Oscar-Berman, Marcelo Febo, Zsolt Demetrovics, et al
Lucid Dreams are a form of dream life, during which the dreamer may be aware that he/she is dreaming, can stop/re-start the dreams, depending on the pleasantness or unpleasant nature of the dream, and experiences the dream as if he/she were fully awake.
Kenneth Blum, Marlene Oscar-Berman, Eric R. Braverman, Marcelo Febo, Mona Li and Mark S. Gold
Many US states now embrace the medical and recreational use of Cannabis. Changes in the laws have heightened interest and encouraged research into both cannabinoid products and the potential harms of Cannabis use, addiction, and intoxication.
Rajendra D. Badgaiyan, Sampada Sinha and Kenneth Blum
It is unclear whether pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder (OUD) should be continued for short or long-term. Before introduction of buprenorphine, methadone was the primary pharmacotherapy for OUD in the United States. Because of its specific pharmacokinetic properties methadone was recommended for long-term use with some justification.
Richard Gustin, Jake Nichols and Peter R. Martin
The current opioid epidemic in the United States is changing our perceptions of the face of addiction. Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has become pervasive and is affecting all ethnicities, races, socioeconomic classes, the young and the old.
Edward Justin Modestino, Kenneth Blum, Marlene Oscar-Berman, Mark S. Gold, Drake D. Duane, et al.
We theorise that in some cases Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) predisposes to narcolepsy and hypersomnia, and that there may be a shared pathophysiology with various addictions [Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS)]. Reticence to acknowledge such connections may be due to a narrow nosological framework.
Kenneth Blum, Rajendra D. Badgaiyan, Daniel H. Angres and Mark S. Gold
Undoubtedly substance-related disorder is a chronically relapsing problem worldwide, the question is; should anti-drug vaccines be embraced for treatment of this enormous problem?. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has approved a number of Medical Assisted Treatments (MAT) for alcohol, opiates and even Nicotine abuse, while, other abusable drugs like cocaine and cannabis have not been addressed [1].