Most Americans readily accept that alcoholism is a disease and that the only treatment is abstinence. But in an eye-opening report, ABC News medical correspondent Nancy Snyderman questions the established beliefs and conventional theories about drinking, opening the door to a heated and even hostile debate within the medical and treatment communities. Metabolic, genetic, and neurochemical models of alcoholism are challenged, and alternatives to twelve-step...

Alcohol consumption by the average woman-even in moderate amounts-has far more lasting effects than an equal amount imbibed by her male counterpart. Even if it is a single glass of wine, the effects on their respective physiology are very different: the female body absorbs alcohol faster and retains it up to twice as long as the male body, which has considerable implications both for social drinking and for driving while under the influence. This...

In this program, famous adult children of alcoholics speak out about childhood nightmares and adult behavior that continues to reflect the problem of a parent's alcoholism: some chose alcoholic partners, others developed drug, gambling, or other addictions. All speak of the difficulties of coping with the damage inflicted by an alcohol-centered childhood.

The vast majority of drug addicts are not criminals; tobacco and alcohol, both perfectly legal in most societies, are used and abused in staggering abundance. This program details the ways smoking and drinking chemically take hold of the brain. Explaining the many reasons-besides nicotine-for tobacco's stealthy effects, the program describes the existence of thousands of other addictive chemicals in the plant. It also studies properties in alcohol,...

In the early days of the nation, men drink cider and beer all day long and at nearly every occasion, from barn-raisings and baptisms to funerals and public hangings. But as hard whiskey becomes increasingly affordable and saloons turn more and more drunks into the gutter, America seems to have become a nation of drunkards. Unable to vote, women in Ohio shut down taverns by praying on their doorsteps. In Kansas, Carrie Nation attacks hotel bars with...

Alcohol is pervasive in our society; its use is accepted and encouraged. Alcoholism, on the other hand, is a disease which must be recognized and treated. This program analyzes the signs of alcoholism and shows how a family member, coworker, or friend can help break the chain of alcoholism; demonstrates how one family dealt with the problem and discusses the impact of alcoholism on the children of alcoholics; and discusses the options and prognosis...

The power of Drugs, from helping heal, to escape, to relax or hallucinate.

In this episode of Whatever! The Science of Teens, host Steve Cannane meets three very different young Aussies who all have experienced binge-drinking to black out. It's a teen issue that has shaken a cocktail of concern. But is this just media hype? Through a range of experiments, we'll expose the true dangers behind what used to be seen as just a harmless rite of passage. The latest science on the effect alcohol has on teen brains is sobering stuff,...

Fentanyl is an extremely powerful, fast-acting, synthetic opioid. It is a leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Fifty to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin, fentanyl can kill even in very small doses and is more addictive than heroin. Although it may be safely used when administered by doctors, it is very easy to overdose on a small amount of fentanyl. Worse, illicit drug dealers often...

There are all kinds of drugs. Some help people with medical problems and can be bought in any store, right over the counter. Other medicines must be prescribed by a doctor. The alcohol and energy drinks we see advertised everywhere? Those are drugs, too. Then there are illegal drugs. Some drugs are helpful. Some can be hurtful—and even deadly. What do all they have in common? They all change how your body works, and they should all be taken seriously....