What the Pot Legalization Campaign Really Threatens

David Sirota / Truthdig Sep 24, 2010 By their actions, alcohol companies are admitting that more sensible drug policies could cut into their government-created monopoly on mind-altering substances. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Heavy Drinkers Live Longer Than Nondrinkers

Staff / Truthdig Aug 31, 2010 A study has found that people who drink a lot of alcohol tend to live longer than people who never touch the stuff. So much for not burning the candle at both ends. But don't go crashing that frat party just yet: People who drink in moderation, as in one to three drinks a day, live longest of all. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Drink Up, Ladies

Staff / Truthdig Aug 19, 2010 There are three kinds of studies we hear about. (1) Something incredibly obvious turns out to be true. (2) Something you like is good for you. (3) Something you like is bad for you. Obviously we prefer No. 2s, like this study out of Norway that says drinking wine -- especially if you're a woman -- might make you smarter. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Alcohol: For the Rheumatoid Arthritis That Ails You

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2010 This could be a case in which the cure may cause problems above and beyond the severity of the symptoms, but a study that sounds like more fun than others we've heard of has found that alcohol consumption may help ease the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, as well as check the disease itself. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

What Are They Smoking in California?

David Sirota / Truthdig Apr 9, 2010 There is record support for marijuana legalization, as more Americans see the drug war for what it really is. But framing the debate in terms of tax revenue is just bad politics. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Kids Just Want to Get High

Staff / Truthdig Mar 12, 2010 File this under scary stories about drugs that lead to bad policy, but U.S. health officials just announced that about 7 percent of 12-year-olds have tried to get loaded by inhaling household chemicals. The little huffers far outnumbered junior pot smokers (1.4 percent), but, even at this age, alcohol is America's drug of choice. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Blame It on the 2 A.M. Worm

Staff / Truthdig Feb 10, 2010 Computer security experts have identified a malicious virus that steals your credit card information and orders Mario Batali kitchenware, usually after 2 in the morning. Either that or you were just drunk. Here's the full story from the satire masters at The Onion. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Booze Pirates Fleece Puerto Rico With the Help of Congress

Staff / Truthdig Feb 4, 2010 A transfer of billions of dollars in federal aid from public projects in Puerto Rico to one of the world's largest liquor conglomerates over the next 30 years continues to move forward without any objection from Congress. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Mel Gibson Is Done With Apologizing, Calls Reporter an A-Hole

Staff / Truthdig Feb 3, 2010 Is it unfair to bring up Mel Gibson's troubles? After all, it's been more than three years since the superstar allegedly blamed those "fucking Jews" for "all the wars in the world." Gibson loses it in this interview, saying "I've done all the necessary mea culpas." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ohio’s Unemployed Getting Smashed

Staff / Truthdig Jan 29, 2010 While seemingly intuitive, it's bit frightening to see the correlation so clearly illustrated: A graphic, covering a 12-year period, shows the tie between Ohio's unemployment rate and the amount of alcohol purchased. With unemployment and booze consumption at their contemporary highs, many are wondering about the public health effects of unemployment on those out of work. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Spanish Gov’t to Set Limits on Diet-Related TV Ads

Staff / Truthdig Jan 22, 2010 The Spanish government is cracking down on television advertising that promotes weight-loss products and other related goods and services, including plastic surgery, by creating legislation that would bar the ads from being shown until after 10 p.m. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Primordial Brew: Did Alcohol Inspire the Cultivation of Civilization?

Staff / Truthdig Jan 22, 2010 Sure, it behooved our Neolithic ancestors to band together and form proto-civilizations for many reasons, but one main motivation, according to archaeologist Patrick McGovern -- who works, and we kid you not, at the University of Pennsylvania Museum's Biomolecular Archaeology Laboratory for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health -- was the time-honored pursuit of alcoholic intoxication. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )