Alcoholics Anonymous is a key means by which millions of Americans deal with drinking problems. However, white Americans are much more likely to engage in the trusted “12-step” program than Black of Hispanic drinkers, a new study finds. Black and Hispanic alcoholics are about 40% less likely to have ever attended an AA meeting, compared to white drinkers, according to analysis of data from the National Alcohol Survey. Researchers also discovered age-related disparities. Among adults younger than 30, less than 5% had ever attended AA versus about 12% of those 30 and older. After accounting for other factors, younger adults still attended AA at a third of the rate of older adults. “This is concerning, because the disparities suggest that these groups — Black, Latinx and emerging adults — are not receiving optimal care,” said lead researcher Sarah Zemore, a senior scientist with the Alcohol Research Group in Emeryville, Calif. AA and other similar support groups have become a staple for treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders, researchers said in background notes. Research has proven these groups can help people achieve lasting recovery. “It’s known that mutual-help groups can be quite effective in initiating and sustaining recovery,” Zemore said. And in the United States, more Americans turn to AA-type groups than specialty substance abuse treatment programs, Zemore noted. It’s not clear why racial and…  read on >  read on >

If you decide to see a therapist, finding one who’s right for you presents one of the biggest early hurdles. “The field of psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy has advanced over the years, and one of the ways it has advanced is by learning that certain therapies may work best for certain problems,” said Eric Storch, vice chair of psychology in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Storch offers some solid tips for finding the best therapist for your needs: Make a Connection You should feel a sense of connection and comfort when disclosing personal information to a therapist. Being able to talk openly and comfortably is a good sign you’ve found the right therapist. What’s the Plan? Expect a therapist to ask questions about your situation at the first meeting, which will help them figure out the problem and create a treatment plan best suited to deal with it. Their plan should align with therapies proven to work for your particular issue. “In psychotherapy, you want to be looking for people who have a particular expertise in a particular type of problem,” Storch said. For example, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety might best be served by cognitive-behavioral therapy. Interpersonal problems would require a different type of therapy. Ask Advocates Patient advocacy groups can provide you…  read on >  read on >

Loneliness can be a killer, but it can be particularly deadly for obese people, who are markedly more likely to experience social isolation. Luckily, a new study shows that addressing it may lower the risk of health complications and an early death for these folks. “To date, dietary and lifestyle factors are the major focus in preventing obesity-related illness,” study author Dr. Lu Qi, interim chair of the department of epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, told CNN. “Our study highlights the importance of taking social and mental health into account in improving health for people with obesity.” Dr. Philipp Scherer, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, wasn’t surprised by the findings. But the results do point to improving “social isolation as a potential remedy for the reduction of mortality,” he told CNN. In the study, researchers looked at data from nearly 400,000 people from the UK BioBank, a large database that has tracked the health of Britons for years. Those included in the research did not have heart disease when the scientists began collecting data for this latest study. They then followed up with the volunteers between March 2006 and November 2021. During that period, all causes of death for people who were obese was 36% lower in those who felt…  read on >  read on >

Think your kid is safe from exposure to gambling?  Don’t bet on it. “Teens and young adults may have a difficult time going into a casino unnoticed but they have easy access to a variety of betting and gambling options,” said Sarah Clark, co-director of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. “This expanded accessibility has increased exposure to the risks of underage betting, but there is little regulation or conversation around this problem.” Just 1 in 4 parents who took part in the latest poll said they had talked to their teen about virtual betting. More than half of parents who participated didn’t know their state’s legal age for online gambling, and 1 in 6 said they probably wouldn’t know if their kids were betting online. More than half of states have legalized some form of online gambling in the wake of a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Most restrict online sport and casino betting to people 21 years or older, but loopholes exist, along with concerns that teens may bypass security steps. Clark likened online sports betting to fantasy football leagues and March Madness pools that are popular with sports fans, including kids. “Many online gambling options will seem familiar to teens,” Clark said in a news release. “They feel like games kids have been playing on their phones, including features…  read on >  read on >

Depression affects half of the 6 million Americans who struggle with debilitating heart failure.  Now, research shows that two leading modes of treatment — antidepressants and an approach called behavioral activation psychotherapy — work equally well to ease depression among these patients. Behavioral activation psychotherapy works by promoting involvement in activities that the patient enjoys, explained the team at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “The most important finding here is that patients experiencing depression have a choice in terms of their treatment between therapy or medications,” study lead author Dr. Waguih Ishak said in a hospital news release.  “Patients who prefer not to be on medication can do behavioral activation therapy with similar results,” said Ishak. He’s vice chair of education and research in the hospital’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences. In their research, Ishak’s group tracked the mental health of more than 400 heart failure patients over the course of a year. Half of them received antidepressants to help ease their depression, while the other half engaged in behavioral activation psychotherapy. The result: Each treatment approach helped about equally, with patients in either group benefiting from an average 50% reduction in depression symptoms. Antidepressants are effective, Ishak’s group said, but some patients prefer a non-pharmaceutical approach, and behavioral activation psychotherapy may be for them. In the treatment, a therapist helps the patient draw up…  read on >  read on >