Substance Abuse and Addiction Medical Reference

A police officer may ask you to take a breath alcohol test if he believes you have been drinking and driving. But how does it work, and what do the results mean?

This powerful drug is used for pain relief and drug addiction. But it comes with some negative side effects and risks.

Starting your new sober life can be tough, but a plan and the help of supportive friends and family can make it easier.

Find out more about the options for treating alcohol abuse, including detox, therapy, and medication.

Learn more about the signs of this issue and how it’s treated.

If you've got a friend or loved one who may have a drinking problem, it can be hard to figure out how to help. Start here.

Just because you drink doesn't mean you abuse alcohol. Find out how to know if you've crossed the line.

From a traffic stop to a health emergency, you might get your blood alcohol level tested for any number of reasons. Find out when you might get one, what to expect, what the results mean, and when you can drive safely and legally.

If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s important to drink in moderation. Understand how heavy drinking can affect your health and when drinking is “risky.”

Learn how recreational marijuana use can affect your health. And find out if it's addictive.

Debbie's story reflects her experiences as told in an interview. The photograph is not of Debbie,to protect her privacy. Debbie was raising four children,working 12-hour days,and doing all the cooking and housekeeping. "I was unhappy,crying,and my house was dirty. I'd try to cope by doing just a little bit more," Debbie says. "Needless to say,it unraveled." She healed through months of ...

A list of contributors to the topic on Quick Tips: Cutting Back on Drinking.

WebMD gives tips and motivation for reducing your alcohol intake and living healthier. Learn how to cut back and reward yourself for success.

Drinking alcohol may increase the risk of injury from cold exposure. Alcohol: Changes your body's ability to regulate body temperature. Changes your judgment. For example,a person may not put on more clothing when it is needed if his or her judgment is changed by alcohol. Can cause blood vessels in the skin to get bigger (dilate). This increases heat loss. ...

Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition. Alcohol Problems: How to Stop DrinkingInteractive tools are designed to help people determine health risks, ideal weight, target heart rate, and more.Interactive Tool: Do You Have a Drinking Problem?

A list of contributors to the topic on Drinking and Your Health.

A list of topics related to Drinking and Your Health.

A list of resources for information on Drinking and Your Health.

Alcohol can be a safe and enjoyable part of life. If you choose to drink alcohol,the key is to keep your drinking at low to moderate levels. People who drink too much are hurting their health. Heavy drinking can cause all kinds of problems,from stomach and sexual problems to stroke and liver disease. It can also lead to problems at work,school,or home,and to drunk driving and violence. ...

A breath alcohol test is an estimate of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of the test. It is measured as a percentage (millimoles per liter (mmol/L)) of alcohol in the blood.

A blood alcohol test measures the amount of alcohol (ethanol) in your body. Alcohol is quickly absorbed into the blood and can be measured within 40 to 70 minutes after you have consumed any alcoholic drink.

WebMD has the details on popular street drugs, how they impact your body and mind, and how they can affect your health. Learn about newer drugs such as bath salts and flakka as well as those that have been around for decades.

CitationsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (2004). Youth risk behavior surveillance: United States, 2003. MMWR Surveillance Summary, 53(2): 1–96.Ammerman SD, Neinstein LS (2002). Tobacco. In LS Neinstein, ed., Adolescent Health Care: A Practical Guide, 4th ed., pp. 1290–1313. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Dias PJ (2002). Adolescent substance abuse assessment in the ..

Teens who do not use alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs are less likely to use them as adults. Efforts to prevent teen substance abuse should begin early in a child's life with drug education, encouragement of healthy behaviors, and good family communication. While teens are more likely to use alcohol or drugs if their parent does, parental attitudes towards substance use also influence teen ...

Sometimes it's difficult to tell if your teen is using alcohol or drugs. Parents may worry that their teens are involved with drugs or alcohol if they become withdrawn or negative, although these behaviors are common for teens going through challenging times. It is important not to accuse your teen unfairly and to try to discover why your teen's behavior has changed by telling him or her that you