The drinking you do in your teenage years may affect your children.

Underage drinkers in the United States account for over 20 percent of all alcohol consumption in the United States. Over 90 percent of underage drinking is consumed in binge drinking patterns, defined as raising the blood alcohol level above the legal driving limit (0.08%) within two hours. Read more…

Almost every day, something about meditation and mindfulness appears in the news. The reports suggest that these practices will make us healthier, happier, keep our brains healthy, and make us more successful. Meditation is the new miracle intervention that improves everything for everyone. But what exactly are meditation and mindfulness? Read more…

Zika Virus has been in the news lately. Until recently, it was known as a rare and unremarkable virus that was connected to a few small outbreaks. In 2015, the virus tore through South America, and carried a previously unseen side effect: severe birth defects. This has understandably caused a lot of concern about the spread and risk of contracting this disease, and leaves people with many important questions: Read more…

March 23, 2016

DePaul University, McGowan South
1110 West Belden Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA

Addiction is one of the most common forms of mental illness in the world. Tens of millions of Americans, and over a quarter of a billion people worldwide, have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Everyone who has watched a loved one suffer from addiction wonders, “Why are they acting like this? Why can’t they stop?” And people with addictions wonder the same things about themselves. Many people think of addiction as a moral failing, or as a conscious choice—neither belief is supported by scientific evidence.

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February 25, 2016

MATTER Chicago
222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL, USA

Cancer is scary. We all know someone who has battled cancer. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, killing a half million people of all ages nationwide each year.  For many, simply being diagnosed with cancer can feel like a death sentence.

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December 1, 2015

Geek Bar Beta
1941 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA

Seasonal changes in temperature and light impact our moods and can cause serious impairment to our everyday functioning. But, how does the weather outside impact what happens inside our bodies? The answer to that question depends on what type of “weather personality” we have. While some of us thrive in sunlight and feel better in warm temperatures, most of us are able to cope with fluctuations in the weather and seasons by using adaptive coping skills. Read more…