The Complex Nature of Addiction
Addiction is a complex, multifaceted disease that impacts millions globally. It transcends the boundaries of substances like alcohol, opioids, and others, wreaking havoc on individuals lives, relationships, and health. Grasping the myriad factors that fuel addiction is pivotal for crafting effective treatments and aiding those on the path to recovery. Root causes often intertwine genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, psychological turmoil, and social pressures, making addiction a uniquely personal yet universally challenging condition. Substances such as opioids and stimulants are particularly insidious, as they modify brain chemistry, leading to physical dependence and intense cravings.
Understanding addiction involves recognizing i…
Stevia, a natural sweetener with significant health benefits, could create income opportunities in the depressed Spanish economy.
The field where the Unemployed Workers Movement of Málaga has planted 2,000 stevia seedlings. Credit: Inés Benítez/IPS
MÁLAGA, Spain, Sep 26 2012 (IPS) – On a parcel of land a few kilometres outside the southern Spanish city of Málaga, unemployed activists are growing 2,000 seedlings of stevia, a plant used by the Guaraní indigenous people for centuries as a natural sweetener that is awakening ever greater interest in Spain.
Stevia rebaudiana bertoni, called ka a he e or “sweet herb” by the Guaraní, originates from the Amamb…
Community health worker Urmila Kasdekar performs a health check on a new born baby in Berdaball village of western India. In India, for example, where it is thought that as many as 120,000 babies alone die every year from sepsis caused by antimicrobial-resistant infections, doctors say two of the key factors behind rising AMR are pharmacies selling antibiotics without a prescription and poor infection control in overcrowded healthcare facilities. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS
BRUSSELS, Dec 4 2018 (IPS) – European Union officials and global health bodies have called for help for poorer countries as growing resistance to antibiotics threatens to become a ‘global health tragedy’ and …