By Heather Yakin
The U.S. reached a strange milestone in 2008: poisoning became the most common cause of death by accidental injury, surpassing the long-time number one, motor vehicle crashes.

The main culprits in the increase in poisonings seem to be prescription painkillers.

Fatal drug overdoses accounted for 36,500 of those 41,000 poisoning deaths. Of the drug overdoses, 77 percent were accidental.

The figures were released Dec. 20 by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.  » More

By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog
Recovery is a beautiful word for people suffering from a mental illness or addiction. But what does it mean? A year-long project by experts nationwide has led to a new definition of the term that is meant to help doctors, counselors and policymakers who oversee the field.

And it just might help people who are in recovery, too.

The new definition is thoughtful, if not pithy: "A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential."  » More

By Rick Nauert, PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
Mood Disorders Up Risk of Opioid AbuseResearchers have discovered that people suffering from mood and anxiety disorders are more likely to use and abuse non-prescription opioids.

The illnesses associated with abuse of opioids include bipolar disorder, panic disorder and major depression. Mood disorders in general heighten the risk for substance abuse. In this study,  investigators made a distinction between prescription opioids commonly used for treatment of chronic and acute pain and opioid use that occurs absent a prescription. » More