If you’re eating on your couch every night because you think you don’t have room for a dining area, these three tips may change your mind. A little bit of strategy when it comes to selecting the table, chairs, and decor means you can chow down with style in even the tiniest space. With the right setup, you can seat a surprising number of people in a tiny dining area. A corner nook with an upholstered bench set against the walls is a comfy space-efficient way to maximize seating.

Along with the joys of being a cat parent comes the challenge of protecting your home from scratching, hairballs, and shedding. These three tips will help you defend your decor so you can get back to kitty playtime and snuggle sessions. Cats have a natural instinct to scratch, so the best way to keep your furniture, rugs, and curtains from being clawed to shreds is to provide kitty with a sturdy scratching post. Your local pet store will have a variety of options in different colors and materia

What if a night of heavy drinking was enough to diagnose you as an alcoholic? That may not be too far off following the American Psychiatric Association’s proposed redefining of “alcoholism” in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

An extract of the Chinese herb kudzu root has been shown to help curb binge drinking, according to a study by Harvard Medical School. The research could prove useful in designing alcoholism rehabilitation programs, particularly for those seeking more natural, holistic treatment strategies. Binge drinking is defined as consuming at least 4 to 5 alcoholic beverages over a 2-hour period. Binge drinking might not seem like a big deal — after all, bars are packed every weekend with revelers consuming 4, 5 or more drinks over the course of a night out.

Naloxone is an antidote to a heroin or painkiller overdose. There is currently a debate as to whether naloxone, also known as its old brand name Narcon, should be available to the public without a prescription in order to prevent overdose deaths. During the last decade in the U.S., heroin overdose deaths nearly doubled, rising from 1,725 in 1999 to 3,278 in 2009. Lethal overdoses from opiate painkillers such as Oxycontin and Vicodin almost quadrupled during the same period, from 4,030 to 15,597. In response to the alarming increase, the Food and Drug Administration recently unveiled a proposal to distribute naloxone to the public.

Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, says it’s about time the government recognizes drug and alcohol addiction as a real medical condition, not a character flaw. In a June 11th speech at the Betty Ford Center, he said “We know from scientific research conducted by some of the world’s leading neuroscientists that drug addiction is not a moral failing on the part of the individual. It’s a chronic disease of the brain that can be treated.”

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs to newborns whose mothers use opiates during pregnancy. The newborn is born with symptoms of drug withdrawal, which can include increased irritability, respiratory distress, tremors and seizures. The newborn is also at greater risk for low birth weight and mortality.

Did you know the leading cause of relapse for those in recovery is cross-addiction? In other words, once you’ve dealt with one addiction, there is a much greater likelihood you’ll experience another one, whether to a substance or behavior. To avoid cross addiction, it’s important to be vigilant in your lifestyle habits and maintain a strong support network after treatment is finished. You must be constantly aware of the possibility of relapse and avoid any mind-altering behavior, whether ingesting alcohol or drugs (illicit, prescription or over-the-counter) or engaging in addictive behavior such as gambling, binge eating, excessive shopping and sex addiction.

Are you looking for the best restaurant in Harrisburg? Bricco, a celebrated restaurant in Harrisburg, PA, offers inspired Mediterranean and Italian cuisine, specialty cocktails, and gourmet desserts expertly presented in a unique ambiance.