Anxiety Disorder Is On The Rise Among College Students

 

In theory, your young 20’s should be a carefree time of life. It’s an era of freedom, setting goals and planning for a bright future. But for many college students across the country, that is simply not the case. And according to new research from UC Berkeley, there has been a sharp increase in anxiety issues among coeds.

 

Two of the biggest reported reasons for this spike are “financial difficulties” and “digital devices.” On the finance side, there are certainly more concerns now about setting up a successful life after graduation. Competition is fiercer, more jobs are being outsourced and degrees don’t hold quite as much weight as they did in years’ past. The money worries also come from lower income students, as they report to be constantly stressed about their parents not being able to pay the school’s bills.

 

Devices are a newer concern, but it’s something we have seen among many Millennials and Generation Z’ers. In this instance, issues like “cyber bullying,” social media flaunting and scary digital headlines can stir up uneasy emotions among students. In fact, according to the study, coeds who spend more than 20 hours a week of leisure time using a device are 53% more likely to have anxiety than those who spend less than five hours a week doing the same. Sadly, being constantly connected can lead to anxious consequences.

 

UC Berkeley professor Richard Scheffler was interviewed about the data for The San Francisco Chronicle. In his mind, these new stats should be very concerning.

 

“We have a new epidemic on college campuses,” he explained. “Our numbers show that (the number of) students being treated or diagnosed for an anxiety disorder has doubled nationally in the last eight years. It now outranks depression as the number one mental health issue for this set.”

 

And Scheffler emphasized that this research work was not taken lightly. Over nine years of data was studied from a variety of sources. Typical questions presented included “worry levels among students” and the persistence of ongoing, unnecessary fears. As Scheffler put it, “it’s the definition of anxiety.”

 

Frankly put…In 2018, roughly 1 in 10 students was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. As of the last two years, it has now become 1 in 5. There were also larger trends among females and minorities (particularly African-Americans).

 

Certainly research like this merits further discussions and perhaps a bigger awareness play about mental health services for students. We are always available to lend support to 20-somethings suffering from emotional distress. If this is something happening to you or someone you are close, please do not hesitate to reach out.

 

Why Are More Women Abusing Opioids?

 

As the opioid addiction crisis continues to cripple the country, more studies are underway to determine some of the causes behind these dependencies. Of course it’s hard to pinpoint one single underlying factor, but there are some interesting trends that have been emerging regarding painkiller abuse and gender. In the case of women, for example, certain research has shown that domestic violence may play a role in why females begin using.

 

Nabila El-Bassel is a professor of social work at Columbia University. In article for the academic site The Conversation, she discussed examples and stats that may lend credence to the physical abuse theory. El-Bassel also touched upon the slippery slope many addicted women face and how an opioid dependency can quickly evolve into heroin needles and the potential for HIV contractions.

 

“Research has repeatedly indicated that drug use is associated with partner violence, specifically against women, who may be particularly susceptible to such violence when under the influence of opioids,” El-Bassel wrote. “Living with substance use disorders puts these women into a number of contexts that expose them to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases that jeopardize their survival in many ways.”

 

Another harsh reality is that domestic violence can lead to painkiller prognoses. It’s a sad fact, but there are many abused women who need to be hospitalized for their injuries; breaking bones and receiving brutal concussions. A common treatment method for that has been opioid prescriptions, in the hope that they can reduce the severe physical ailments. So, in essence, the household violence could ultimately lead to a woman’s first exposure to opioids.

 

El-Bassel also brings up the fact that abusive male spouses sometimes purposely feed addictions to assert more control. A common technique will be undermining a woman’s attempt to get sober and preying on sensitive emotions. It is ultimately done as a form of dominance.

 

One other alarming stat brought up by El-Bassel was the fact that women are nearly three times less likely to receive the life-saving naloxone treatment during an overdose. In her opinion, it was because women may be devalued and there could be a gender barrier involved that first responders may not be aware of.

 

El-Basel finished her piece with some recommendations on how society as a whole can help to change the stigma.

 

“Women who use drugs face multilayers of stigma and disbelief, preventing them from disclosing problems such as partner violence,” she wrote. “Staying in treatment is difficult for women when services are designed and delivered by men who may not know how to create an environment of trust for women. These issues must be changed if we are serious on addressing the opioid epidemic among women.”

 

Addiction Dangers For Teens And Children

 

Though we may not like to admit it, the years between middle school and college often represent our first introduction to drugs and alcohol. For many this is considered a time of experimentation and, truth be told, it can be where lifelong addictions begin to form. Unfortunately there are much more dangerous substances out there today then there were a generation ago; which is leading to an increased amount of overdoses among children and teens.

 

Forbes recently touched upon this topic, putting forth some alarming new stats relating to youth in America. One major red flag concerns the country’s growing opioid addiction epidemic, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of adult lives. Well within the teen and preteen set, this crisis has taken a serious toll as well. New research has revealed that nearly 9,000 high schoolers have died from painkiller overdoses within the past two decades. This includes prescription drugs, as well as illicitly manufactured opiates like fentanyl.

 

The age group that was most impacted was teens between 15 to 19 years old (basically prime high school age). Within the study period of 1999 to 2017, their OD fatality rates shot up by 252 percent. Even more tragic was the significant amount of deaths tied to children aged 0-4. Yes the crisis is wreaking havoc on them too, primarily because of negligent parents who leave their substances in places where young toddlers can gain access.

 

Forbes also revealed that heroin use is on the rise among teens and poses one of the biggest threats when it comes to OD’ing. Using needles also opens up a host of other risks, including the contraction of Hepatitis C and HIV. Other stats from the study pointed to males being the primary teenage overdose victims (roughly 73 percent), most of whom were identified as non-Hispanic white.

 

Another research point that we found interesting was the fact that most of these youth-related overdose deaths occurred at home. This could open the door to multiple scenarios. Perhaps these children were getting into their parents’ stash? Perhaps they were experiencing isolation or other types of teenage angst? Whatever the reasoning, it proves how essential alert parenting can be in an era like this. Though it may seem uncomfortable, we highly encourage anyone with children in the house to ask questions and pay attention to behavioral changes.

 

And of course, as Forbes emphasized, let’s do our best to keep the kids as educated as possible on the dangers of these drugs. Melissa Moore, Deputy Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, told the site that children of all ages should be made aware of addiction and the recovery resources that are available to them.

 

“I really want to emphasize the importance of providing evidence- based drug education for young people that builds their critical thinking skills,” she explained. “This study underscores the importance of making harm reduction services available to anyone who needs them, and the importance of lowering barriers to treatment for all age groups,”

 

Pets May Help With Severe Depression

In case you were unaware, we are big pet lovers at Inneractions. Not only do they offer affection and support, they may actually be able help people who are clinically depressed. At least that’s what writers from The Journal of Psychiatric Research are now reporting and to us, it makes a lot of sense.

 

The latest Journal issue offered data that showed people with severe depression (who may be struggling in treatment) were able to significantly reduce their symptoms after adding a pet into their lives. Portuguese researchers Jorge Mota Pereira and Daniela Fonte contributed to the study, interviewing multiple participants who had “treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.” Each were encouraged to adopt one animal, with 20 going for dogs and seven selecting a cat.

 

After 12 weeks (with regular ongoing checkups), more than 33 percent of the group that adopted saw their depression symptoms go from severe to mild. One big discovery was that pet ownership gave these participants a greater sense of purpose.

 

“By having the responsibility of taking care of an animal, people have to get up in the morning to take care of the animal, namely pet them and feeding them,” the researchers explained in their report. “In the specific case of dogs, the need of taking a dog for a walk, hike and run promotes the increase of physical activity and could help its owner to meet new people that also have pets, sharing experiences and improving their social skills.”

 

All very encouraging material, though it was emphasized that pet adoption may not be for everyone. The checkups proved to be a very important component of the study. There is also the very real possibility of a severely depressed subject not being able to handle the responsibilities of ownership and thus neglecting their dog or cat.

 

Mota Pereira and Fonte singled that out at the end of their study, advising that only those who appreciate their animals should go down this path.

 

“It is worth noting that these benefits will only occur in people that appreciate domestic animals,” the researchers concluded. “Those who choose adoption must have the time, attention and money necessary to take care of their pets.”

 

If taking an action like this could benefit you or someone you are close to who is battling depression (assuming they are up for the challenge), we think that it’s a good idea. Especially since there are so many abandoned animals in shelters right now, in need of a good home.

 

More Pregnant Women Are Smoking Marijuana

As marijuana continues to gain widespread acceptance, it is not unusual to see usage rates among Americans go up. But sadly, that stat is increasing for a particularly vulnerable population segment: pregnant women. While marijuana obviously has its champions (defending its habitual use for medicinal purposes), it is a proven fact that it can be harmful to an unborn child.

Clearly this new research is alarming, particularly when you realize that the number of pregnant women smoking has nearly doubled over the past 10 years (from 3 percent to 5 percent). And while those figures do seem somewhat small, know that every person in that 5 percent ratio is putting their pregnancy at serious risk.

Research from The National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) has shown that using marijuana while pregnant (particularly in the early stages) can seriously harm fetal development and neurological functions of unborn babies. For women who smoke, the dangers intensify as issues can now impact the lungs and airways.

As mentioned in a report on TheFix.com, this risky smoking component should not be ignored by any marijuana users.

“Marijuana smoking is associated with large airway inflammation, increased airway resistance, and lung hyperinflation,” the site explained, referencing data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “And those who smoke marijuana regularly report more symptoms of chronic bronchitis than those who do not smoke.”

Not surprisingly, the pregnancy  issues were most prominent in U.S. regions where marijuana use is deregulated. That includes our home state of California, as well as Colorado and Washington D.C., among others.

The stats also leaned towards younger, minority women when it came to the largest sect of pregnant smokers. It particularly singled out women who did not finish high school.

If there was any silver lining in this latest data, it was that other addictive substance were on the decline among pregnant women. Alcohol abuse among women who were expecting, for example, fell from 10 percent to 8 percent. Cigarette smoking saw a sharp decrease as well, falling from 18 percent to 10 percent among the same group.

Regardless, it is our opinion that pregnant women should steer clear of all harmful substances during those precious nine months. And let it be known; if you are already fighting an addiction and happen to be pregnant, there are plenty of healthy detox options that can ensure you have a healthy baby. Our team is more than willing to help if this is a scenario you are encountering. Just please, seek it out quickly to avoid any and all delivery risks.

Links Discovered Between Teen & Parent Depression

Is sadness contagious? That is probably too bold of a statement to make, but a new study claims that households with a depressed teen often include a depressed parent as well. Termed a “ripple effect” by The Atlantic, it is research that is both alarming and encouraging. Particularly because further data is showing that one family overcomes their issues, so can another.

This particular study included several years of research and monitored 325 teens who were clinically depressed, along with their parents or caregivers. Northwestern University professor Kelsey R. Howard, M.S. oversaw much of the research, which also pointed to an increase in teen diagnoses.

“Depression is a massive public health concern that will take a variety of approaches to better manage,” he explained. “We believe our study is among the first to evaluate how the emotional health of a child can impact that of the parent.”

One interesting component regarding the adults was that not all caregivers had biological connections to the children. In fact, a good portion were adoptive parents. Regardless, it was shown that mom or dad’s depression affected both their adopted and non-adopted children. Now other research has shown a genetic link with issues like depression, but this proves that environmental factors are also at play.

“The concept of emotions being ‘contagious’ and spreading from person to person is well-known by psychologists,” Howard added in the article. “This work opens up a range of possibilities for future research on the family-wide effects of treatment for adolescent depression.”

But as we mentioned before, there were quite a few positives to arise from this research as well. One very encouraging stat showed that when depressed teens go through some version of mental-health treatment, symptoms of depression in their parents lessen. So, in many ways, “happier kids lead to happier parents” and certainly the vice versa is true as well.

One big recommendation is opening up an entire family to mental health treatment. Sure the teenage child may be exhibiting more outwardly depressed symptoms, but bringing parents into therapy can open up the healing process on a much grander scale.

As Howard concluded in the article; though alarming, there are quite a few silver linings to come out of this data. And he is certainly hopeful that families can use this information to make a positive change.

“It’s terrific to have that data,” he explained. “I think that it highlights our need to look at the interaction between a teen and their family members … The more support the family can get, the better.”

Female Alcoholism May Be On The Rise

Typically, stories of wild drinking debauchery concern men. And historically, studies have shown that the male gender tends to be more prone to boozing. But the tide may be turning, according to data released by WebMD. Their research is starting to show a sharp rise in female alcoholism. Not only that, there are now more documented cases of women binging and suffering from chronic drinking issues, such as cirrhosis of the liver.

Truth be told, this may actually be a longstanding issue that is only now getting the attention it deserves. Recovery advocate (and Instagram influencerLaura McKowen continues to highlight this problem across her social media profiles. Her stories trail it back several generations and include personal accounts of her own.

McKowen had initially thought of herself as a “casual drinker.” That is, until her habit began to interfere with the welfare of her family.

“I put [my daughter] in danger at a friend’s wedding. I left her unattended for a long period of time. She was 4,” McKowen told the site. “I knew eventually, I would lose custody of my daughter if I kept drinking. It was inevitable. I knew I would lose pretty much everything.”

Since entering treatment and coming clean, McKowen has become a fierce advocate of the recovery movement. She also has made it a point to bring the topic of female alcoholism to her 30,000 followers.

After sharing McKowen’s story, WebMD shared some alarming statistics about this growing trend. “High-risk drinking” among women (equating to 3 or more drinks consumed in 1 day), shot up by 58 percent over the past 15 years. There was also a stat about alcohol-related ER visits for U.S. females. That number increased by 5 percent over the last year, surpassing the growth rate for men.

And these habits are forming at a much younger age than previously thought. A recent study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that teenage girls are picking up the bottle much more frequently now than in decades past.

“Now, by eighth grade, more females than males are drinking,” a researcher told TheFix.com. “Females are now, for the first time in history, more likely to drink in 10th grade than males; and by 12th grade, where there used to be a big gap 10 or 15 years ago, it’s now dead even.”

As always, our hope is strictly to educate people about the facts and erase any stigmas women may have if they’re facing an addiction. If a mom, daughter or sister in your family is experiencing anything like this, get them help before it’s too late.

No Alcohol For New Moms

Alcoholism is obviously a crippling addiction and we all know that it can do tremendous damage to babies in utero. But additional research is showing that new moms need to avoid the bottle too. Just because the baby is born, doesn’t mean you have free reign to continue bad habits; particularly when you look at the serious risks associated with drinking and breastfeeding.

According to a new article in The Daily Mail, alcohol in breast milk can severely impact developing babies’ brain cells. It also reduces their thinking and reasoning abilities, potentially causing permanent damage that can live with these children for the rest of their lives.

There is also the deficiency component, as breast milk tainted with alcohol does not provide the vital nutrients needed for babies to grow and mature. And let’s not forget that being inebriated around an infant creates tremendous risks as well. Not only is your judgment impaired, your cognitive functions are severely impacted; raising the risk for an accident while holding a baby.

The common misconception is that drinking is ok after a baby comes to term. While we will all agree that expectant mothers should NEVER touch harmful substances, often times addicted parents feel that it is ok to resume their destructive behavior after a healthy newborn is delivered. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As the research showed, no alcohol should be consumed during the breastfeeding phase. Even a casual glass of wine could lead to a harmful transfer of alcoholic substances. And sadly, this is a fact that many new parents don’t realize.

“The safest option is to abstain from alcohol completely during both pregnancy and breastfeeding,” study author Louisa Gibson explained to The Mail.  “This study suggests that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, with every extra drink causing a little bit more harm.”

And this research was not conducted lightly. Over 5,000 mothers and babies were analyzed over a course of 10 years. Throughout that time, the development of children exposed to alcoholic breast milk was measured and significant issues were uncovered, from babyhood through middle school age. Further data showed that alcohol affected the daily functions of each of these babies, making it harder for them to focus and fall asleep.

Clearly if you have the urge to drink while nursing a young child, there is a serious problem afoot. If you sense this is happening to you or a new mom that you are close with, please reach out and get in touch with someone who can help.

New Teen Addiction Trends Identified

The teenage years have often been thought of as a time of experimentation and, tragically for many, the first introduction into addiction. In decades past, alcohol, marijuana and hallucinogens have been the substances of choice. But, a new study is highlighting some interesting changes within that sect. According to data released by USA Today, popular drugs from years’ past are declining in popularity with high schoolers, while other new dependencies are on the rise.

Gathered by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the research included survey answers from nearly 15,000 students and covered a wide variety of topics. Beyond addiction, there were new stats related to bullying, “coming out” and sexual activity. CDC director Kathleen Ethier found a lot of the data encouraging, but honed in on a few new dangerous findings.

“We are seeing real improvements in some areas, but real concerns in others,” she explained. “But ultimately, schools, communities and parents do need to create more places where students feel safe and connected.”

On the positive side, pre-teen sexual intercourse has declined by 54 percent since 1991. Condom use has become prominent during this era as well, potentially limiting the amount of teenage STDs. The study also found that suicidal thoughts were down, declining 29 percent over the last 20 years.

Now as far as addiction goes, there were both good and bad stats to come out of the research. One encouraging find was that cocaine, heroin, inhalant, methamphetamine and ecstasy use was down by 23 percent over the past 10 years.

The negative news was related to (no surprise) opioid and prescription painkiller use. Coinciding with the devastating crisis impacting this country, the CDC findings concluded that pill abuse, such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin, was up by 14 percent. This proved to be a very concerning stat to Ethier.

“Opioid use among teens appears to be quite substantial,” she added.  “There is no doubt about it. It’s high – we didn’t expect it to be that high.”

And one other important caveat to all of this information deals with who they surveyed. Keep in mind that these were active students, not young people who may have dropped out or fallen off the grid. Certainly when you take those numbers into account, you’d expect to see much higher activity on the addiction front.

We certainly know that addictions can be devastating at any age. If there is a young person in your family who may be facing a serious issue, please reach and get them help.