The Eight Best Ways to Make It through Rehab (And Never Come Back)
The Eight Best Ways to Make It through Rehab (And Never Come Back) People wonder what can be done to maximize their chances of only going to rehab once. Relapse does not necessarily need to be part of the recovery experience. Here are eight things you can do to make it through rehab successfully and […]
Child Abuse Prepares the Brain for a Lifetime of Mental Health Issues
Child Abuse Prepares the Brain for a Lifetime of Mental Health Issues We can see the aftermath of childhood trauma on brain scans. Children who are abused, physically, emotionally, sexually or neglected, have different adult brains than their counterparts who were not abused. Current research suggests that those who were abused are left vulnerable to […]
“Be Courteous with Fireworks” Signs for Combat Vets: Do They Help?
“Be Courteous with Fireworks” Signs for Combat Vets: Do They Help? We’re coming up on the Fourth of July, the day on which we celebrate our nation’s independence from England. Fireworks, both at community shows and outside private homes, are a long-standing traditional way of marking this important day in our nation’s history. However, not […]
Pot’s Evolution: How the Drug Has changed Over the Years
Pot’s Evolution: How the Drug Has changed Over the Years It’s a topic of near-constant conversation in our communities; “Should marijuana be legalized?” In an increasing number of states, the answer is yes. But the debates are clouded by a great deal of misinformation. What matters to me as a person with substance use disorderion […]
Managing Student Expectations in the Transition from High School to College
Managing Student Expectations in the Transition from High School to College High school seniors have a lot of expectations about what life will be like once they move on from their parents’ homes. When I prepared to leave for college, I hunkered down in my room to make a list of all the things I’d […]
Designer Drugs Make Users Human Guinea Pigs
Designer Drugs Make Users Human Guinea Pigs Designer drugs are synthetic chemicals that are created to be “legal” (at least temporarily) alternatives to popular drugs like cocaine or MDMA. The very questionable content of most of these “party” drugs is a growing danger. Due to the frequently changing chemical makeup and unknown substances used by […]
Creating Narcissism: How Your Parenting Could Lead Your Child to Addiction
Creating Narcissism: How Your Parenting Could Lead Your Child to Addiction It’s a complaint that many people make about the younger generation(s) – that they are self-obsessed and entitled to the point of being narcissistic. Certainly it is not true of every young person, but it is a troubling trend. However, recent research has suggested […]
Why AA is Bad Science…and What It Means for Your Addiction Treatment Options
Why AA is Bad Science…and What It Means for Your Addiction Treatment Options In an excellent piece in The Atlantic, writer Gabrielle Glaser gives an exposé on the lack of scientific evidence on the efficacy of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the preponderance of evidence that shows that not only does the lauded program fail to […]
Repairing Broken Women and Men
Repairing Broken Women and Men Frederick Douglass is reported to have said, “It is easier to build strong children than to fix broken men.” It is something I think about often in my work as a person with substance use disorderion researcher. When I hear the life stories of those who seek treatment for their […]
How OxyContin Was Allowed to Kill so Many
How OxyContin Was Allowed to Kill so Many In a well-written article in The Week, reprinted from the Pacific Standard, Mike Mariani outlines how OxyContin, which was allegedly known to be addictive by its manufacturers, was pawned off on the public as a safe and effective, and decidedly non-addictive, painkiller. Now, the State of Kentucky […]