Is there a link between the moderate consumption of alcohol and depression? I. The Research Researchers wanted to learn the effects of drinking. Specifically, drinking throughout early to middle adulthood and depression at age 50. They compared the effects consistent abstinence to the following. Occasional drinkers. Moderate drinkers. Heavy drinkers. They did so by analyzing …
Almost everyone has heard that alcoholism and denial are related. And probably everyone has heard the old “Have you stopped beating your wife” trick question. Answering either yes or no damns the respondent. Similarly, the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-step program also supports a “heads I win, tails you lose” trick question. Question: “Are you alcoholic?” …
Confusing correlation with causation is natural. We all tend to fall into the trap. The classic example is the correlation between high ice cream sales and drownings. And the sale of sunglasses. But ice cream sales don’t cause either drownings or the sale of sunglasses. The cause of these things is clearly warm weather. It’s …
Both intoxication and distraction are dangerous for driving. Either can cause a fatal traffic crash. Combining the two further increases the risk of crashes, according to research. Study subjects used a driving simulator. Their primary goal (# 1) was to keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of them. Their secondary goal (# 2) …
The effects of bogus intoxication surprise people. Bogus or sham intoxication has real effects on people and their actions. People are made to falsely believe that they’ve been drinking alcohol. They tend to act like people who have actually been drinking. Other people are falsely made to believe they they’ve not been drinking alcohol. And …
There’s a proven way to reduce alcohol abuse. What’s more, its results occur quickly. And also it’s inexpensive to do. Dr. H. Wesley Perkins developed the technique. In this interview with David Hanson he explains how and why it works. Hanson — Dr. Perkins, your research and insights form the basis of a unique way …
The Life Process Addiction Help Program is used in residential treatment centers. It had a consistent success rate of over 65%. Because of its high success rate, Dr. Stanton Peele adapted his program to use at home. Thus, it’s now affordable and available to people in their own homes. The Life Process Program is not …
A substantial proportion of doctors in the U.S. believe that alcoholism is a behavioral pattern. They reject the theory that alcoholism is a disease. So they don’t treat it themselves. Instead, they typically send their patients to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA Beliefs In AA, alcoholics are taught that they Suffer from an incurable disease. Must …
Much research focuses on early age of first drink. Researchers usually call this early onset of drinking. (They ignore age at first intoxication.) Many report that age at first drink is linked with later drinking problems. But no one knows why this is true. There are two obvious possibilities. One is that early onset of …
The former head of the US National Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) argues that the real solution to drunk driving begins with personal responsibility. So he raises an important question. Is drunken driving — predictable, but inevitable? Drunken Driving — Predictable, but Inevitable? by Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. Driving anywhere, anytime, under the influence of alcohol …
