Substance

We atheists and agnostics in AA have faced a long struggle for acceptance. But newer 12-step fellowships are leading the way to a more tolerant form of recovery—despite a "Back to Basics" backlash.

As opposition to the war on drugs grows louder, a movement to challenge traditional ways of treating—and doing treatment with—people who have difficulties with drugs is also reaching critical mass.

Many seniors use drugs to self-medicate, and baby boomers—with their long history of casual drug use—are retiring in vast numbers. As America's population ages, will the little addiction treatment that exists for older people be swamped?

Against all medical guidelines, children who are two and three years old are getting diagnosed with ADHD and treated with Adderall and other stimulants. It may be shocking, but it's perfectly legal.

The popular view is that if a woman is into BDSM she's probably a sex addict, and vice versa. In fact, most kinky women are perfectly happy—and possibly healthier than their vanilla counterparts.

After 21 years in federal prison for a first-time, non-violent drug offense, I'm now living in a halfway house. I can go out to work and visit my wife, but I'm sometimes reminded how vulnerable my new life is.

The mid-term elections prove that support for legalizing weed continues to grow. But progress has been rolled back before—it's important to remember how we got here if we're to keep moving forward.

I have a condition called trichotillomania, which means that I compulsively pull out my own hair, every day. Too little is known about it and I don't know where to turn.

Recently, Baltimore was the scene of a remarkable gathering. It provided a fascinating glimpse into a movement that's both practical and radical—and full of confidence.