addiction

A new poll out by Truven looks at how people feel about narcotic painkillers.

POLL: More People Are Taking Opioids, Even As Their Concerns Rise

5:00am March 03, 2017

by Jessica Boddy

The number of people who have used opioid painkillers is still rising, according to a new NPR-Truven Health Analytics poll. But they're also worried about addiction, overdose and side effects.

Scientists have genetically engineered mice (but not this cute one) to be resistant to the addictive effects of cocaine.

A Brain Tweak Lets Mice Abstain From Cocaine

4:36pm February 13, 2017

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists have created addiction-resistant mice by altering the reward system in their brains. The findings shed light on the biochemistry of addiction.

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(Left) Bob Hardin's son has fought alcoholism for decades. (Right) Cary Dixon's adult son has been in and out of treatment for opioid addiction.

W. Va. Families Worry About Access To Addiction Treatment Under Trump

6:59pm February 09, 2017

by Sarah McCammon

If President Trump fulfills his promise to repeal Obamacare, families in the state hit hardest by the opioid epidemic are concerned their loved ones will lose coverage for alcohol and drug treatment.

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After about a week in detox, the men spend 60 to 90 days in this room during their treatment at Recovery Point.

In West Virginia, Men In Recovery Look To Trump For A 'Helping Hand'

4:25pm February 08, 2017

by Sarah McCammon

Residents of a drug treatment center in Huntington, W.Va., hope President Trump follows through on promises to fight the addiction crisis. Many are worried about how they'll pay for their health care.

Health & Safety

Heroin Death Rate Spike In North Carolina Among The Highest Nationwide

11:04am December 28, 2016

by Sean Bueter

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show North Carolina has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic.

Charlie Oen revisits a garage where he abused drugs. Oen was addicted to heroin at the age of 16. Now 25, he is sober and working as a peer counselor in Lima, Ohio.

A Peer Recovery Coach Walks The Front Lines Of America's Opioid Epidemic

4:59pm December 27, 2016

Charlie Oen was addicted to heroin as a teenager. At 25, he's now clean and a peer counselor in Lima, Ohio, where he tries to help people who started using drugs before he was born.

Prescriptions for opioid painkillers increased, and so did incidents of opioid addiction.

'Drug Dealer, M.D.': Misunderstandings And Good Intentions Fueled Opioid Epidemic

3:51pm December 15, 2016

Psychiatrist Anna Lembke says the medical establishment and drugmakers began telling doctors in the 1980s that opioids were effective treatment for chronic pain. "That was patently false," she says.

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The holiday season can be a difficult time to avoid alcohol.

Health & Safety

Eat, Don't Drink And Still Be Merry: Staying Sober Through The Holidays

2:39pm December 12, 2016

by Sarah Hepola

Before she stopped drinking, Sarah Hepola relied on alcohol to get her through the holiday season. "What nobody mentions about all the holiday spirit is how much booze it requires," she says.

Addiction to opioids and heroin is a major public health problem, but so is alcohol abuse.

Surgeon General Murthy Wants America To Face Up To Addiction

2:03pm November 17, 2016

by NPR Staff

More people struggle with alcohol or drugs than have cancer, and 1 in 5 Americans binge drink. It all costs the nation $420 billion a year. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says we know how to help.

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After a string of inpatient rehabilitation stays, Louis Casanova, who lives near Philadelphia, says he is still trying to break his addiction.

How We Got Here: Treating Addiction In 28 Days

8:28am October 01, 2016

by Ben Allen

Decades ago, a researcher came up with 28 days as the ideal length of stay for inpatient alcoholism rehab, despite lack of evidence that it worked. That model is now being used for opioid addiction.