"I am. I am an alcoholic," Vargas told "GMA" co-anchor George Stephanopoulos in interview that was taped Thursday and aired for the first time today. "It took me a long time to admit that to myself. It took me a long time to admit it to my family, but I am. "I started thinking 'Well, you know, I'll only drink, you know, on weekends," she said, laughing. "I'll only drink, you know, two glasses of wine a night. I won't drink on nights before I have to get up and do 'Good Morning America.' But those deals never work." Read More

Forbes: Hollywood promotion of addiction treatment could serve to normalize, possibly even glamorize, the idea of living to excess, and maybe excuse the reckless behavior that often lands celebrities in rehab in the first place. Rehab can be used as a mea culpa, for the famous and the non-famous: a way to make amends or smooth over a situation. Read More

It is equally shocking to learn now that some of today's cigarettes may be more addictive than those smoked in past years, most likely because the manufacturers are designing them to deliver more nicotine to the lungs to induce and sustain addiction. That devious tactic requires a strong response by regulators. Read More

The Pittsburgh area may be facing a public health crisis following a large increase in heroin overdoses in the last week. Allegheny County Medical Examiner Karl Williams believes the deaths can be linked to a batch of heroin being trafficked in Theraflu packages that is tainted with the powerful narcotic fentanyl. Read More

In an emotional recollection of his mentally-ill son attacking him with a knife, Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds painfully illustrates the shortage of psychiatric beds for mentally ill youth in the U.S. The young man, Gus, committed suicide shortly after attacking his father when he was discharged from a hospital emergency room because there no psychiatric facilities that could admit him at the time. See Videoe

It was widely reported during the mayoral campaign that Walsh still attends meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous almost 20 years after quitting. "I don't really care who knows I'm an alcoholic, because if it helps somebody else knowing that I'm an alcoholic, then they'll ask me for help if they need it. Read More

A 2012 study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found newborns addicted to painkillers tripled in just 10 years. The study indicated 3.4 out of every 1,000 babies born suffered from withdrawals associated with narcotic pain medications. Read More

Dhue said that while she hasn't relapsed in the seven years since she became sober, she knows that it could happen "at any time" because "addiction is a very tricky disease" that tells you, "you don't have a disease; you can drink like a normal person. See Video

Former Dallas Cowboys NFL football player Josh Brent, right, stands with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee in court after closing arguments in his intoxication manslaughter trial Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, in Dallas. Read More

IVice President Biden announced that $100 million will soon be available to increase access to mental health services and improve mental health care and facilities. "The fact that less than half of children and adults with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need is unacceptable. Read More