Image (c) www.taatgen-fotografie.nl

According to MedPage Today, the American Medical Association has changed it's policy on medical marijuana.

They are asking for marijuana to be moved out of Schedule I, in which drugs considered to be unsafe, highly risky for abuse, and having no medical use are placed -- without specifying the schedule under which it belongs -- for more research to be conducted into the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, and for funding to be made available for research. Read more...

Image (c) Hyperorbit/sxc.hu

An article on controvery discussion site "Opposing Views" suggests that medical marijuana may help reduce aggressive behavior in children with autism.

Although this is a complex issue, my gut reaction is negative. Here are some of the reasons why. Read more...

Image (c) Charles Thompson

A new study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal has shown that daily smoking of crack cocaine increases the risk of HIV infection, independently of other risk factors.

The study followed over 1,080 injecting drug users who were HIV negative at the start of the study, and found that 137 had become HIV positive at follow up. The risk increased over time, and was independent of other risk factors such as needle sharing, sex work and unprotected sex. Read more...

Image (c) Charles Thompson

An exciting new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has demonstrated a new level of the addictive process in food addiction.

The study, which induced palatable food addiction in rats, showed that these unfortunate creatures not only experienced pleasurable reward processes from overeating, but also actually experienced physiological withdrawal when the palatable food became inaccessible. Read more...

The decision to get vaccinated against a disease such as H1N1 is a personal one. I've noticed this reflected in the way people talk about the decision -- whether they are in the higher risk groups, whether they mind being ill etc.

Yet it is worth bearing in mind that your decision whether or not to get vaccinated may affect many more people than just you. You are also affecting everyone you could potentially pass the virus on to. And with people being contagious both before symptoms appear and after they disappear, there is a high likelihood that you will pass it on to many others without realizing it if you are not vaccinated. Lifestyles associated with drug and sex addictions also increase risk of transmission.

So if you aren't sure whether you will come into contact with a young child, someone with a neurological disorder, a pregnant woman, or anyone else at risk of becoming seriously ill as a result of H1N1, I would encourage you to think seriously about having the shot.

Need to know more before making the decision? About.com has a wealth of information on the H1N1 vaccine, including what we know about the vaccine, people at risk of complications, safety of the vaccine, common concerns about the vaccine, the relationship with pneumonia, and frequently asked questions.

For those who have multiple sexual partners, whether part of a sex addiction, or sex work, you should be aware of the increased risk of H1N1, and consider getting vaccinated.

H1N1 is spread through the saliva, typically by coughs and sneezes. However, direct mouth-to-mouth contact will spread the virus even more readily. Your partner may not even look sick, as they may be contagious both before and after symptoms are present.

You should be particularly concerned about the spread of H1N1 if you or your partners are pregnant, have a developmental disability, or have a supporessed immune system as a result of HIV/AIDS.

Others at risk of complications of H1N1 common in the addictions community are people with severe obesity and people with liver, heart lunch and kidney diseases.

Also at risk are children under 5 years old, so take special care if you live or work with young children. Others with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, blood disorders and neurological conditions are also at risk.

Vaccinations are becoming increasingly available, so ask your family doctor or local health clinic where you can get a shot.

This old saying was never more relevant than it is to the process of overcoming an addiction.

Although it is great to start the process of quitting with the attitude that you will stick to your goals 100%, the experience of relapse is so common that it is actually sometimes recognized as part of the cycle of change, for example, in the stages of change model.

And approaches such as motivational interviewing will help you uncover your reasons for falling off the wagon, which can actually strengthen your chances of sucess in the future. For example, if it was cravings that cause you to relapse, your therapist can help you to learn strategies for dealing with cravings when they happen next time.

Unfortunately, 12 step programs are not always so understanding, so if you are finding your relapses are making it difficult to participate fully and honestly in a 12 step group, you might consider switching to motivational interviewing. Contact you local treatment center to find out where it is offered.

When people start to experience unpleasant consequences of their addictive behavior, they often wonder why they can't just quit.

Despite the popular belief that quitting involves little more than realizing you have a problem and sheer will power, quitting is such a complex process that there is actually a model, known as the stages of change model, that details the various stages that people typically go through on the road to recovery.

The stages include precontemplation -- common among people in the early stages of addiction; contemplation -- common among people who want to continue with their current behavior, but are aware of some issues; preparation -- when a decision has been made but you're aren't quite ready to make changes; and action -- when you are in the process of quitting.

Additional stages of maintenance and relapse are also sometimes included.

Not sure which stage you are in? A visit to your local addiction treatment centre will often involve an assessment of your readiness for change, as well as support that matches the stage you are in.

With the focus on the White House's shift in policy on medical marijuana, this seems a good time to provide some links to medical marijuana resources.

Dr Lynne Eldridge, About.com's guide to Lung Cance, recently wrote about the pros and cons of medical marijuana.

And Angela Morrow, R.N., About.com's guide to Dying, has put together a collection of articles on the topic of medical marijuana.

Watch this space for more on medical marijuana from the addictions perspective.

According to the New York Times, the Obama administration has reversed its policy on medical marijuana.

In contrast to the Bush administration, who allowed authorities to enforce federal drug laws in states with laws allowing the use of medical marijuana, the Justice Department softened their stance, allowing some use or sale of marijuana for medical purposes where state law allows it.

This is expected to limit the raiding of medical marijuana distributors to those who are attempting to abuse the medical marijuana laws, using them as a guise to cover up drug trafficking and dealing.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the following 13 states currently have medical marijuana laws:

• Alaska
• California
• Colarado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington