Treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) In recent years, the mental health profession has refined its diagnosis and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop as a reaction to traumatic events, including: experience in military combat, imprisonment, natural disasters, human-caused accidents, domestic violence and child abuse. Unfortunately, many […]

Grandparents in Need of Help: Addiction and the Elderly

Does Clonidine Work Managing Withdrawal Symptoms?

Grandparents in Need of Help: Addiction and the Elderly We often ignore troubling behavior in older people, letting these behaviors slide as signs of aging. Forgetfulness, falls or an inability to live alone may come with age, but they don’t have to. They can also be symptoms of substance abuse. Many, many of our aging […]

The Potential of Ibogaine in the Treatment of Substance Abuse

Man sitting down talking in therapy about calming the mind and using dialectic behavior therapy.

The Potential of Ibogaine in the Treatment of Substance Abuse   I have a very specific agenda when it comes to addiction treatment research. I believe that any therapy or medication which shows promise in treating addiction should be tested for efficacy and safety. At present, many such treatments are not tested because they do […]

Addiction among Medical Professionals

Addiction among Medical Professionals As seen in the general population, a significant portion of healthcare professionals are impacted by addiction. Yet, it can be hard to spot those struggling with drug addiction, particularly in professional situations. Further, those in recovery from addiction often face discrimination in a number of ways, so getting ongoing support to […]

Alzheimer’s May Be Linked to Benzodiazepine Use

Alzheimer’s May Be Linked to Benzodiazepine Use A study by French and Canadian scientists has found evidence that people who take benzodiazepines have a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease currently affects about 36 million people worldwide and this number is expected to double every 20 years, reaching 115 million by 2015. The […]

Please Don’t Try to Rescue Me

Ocean view

Please Don’t Try to Rescue Me I am going to take a break from my regular blog posts about the latest research and developments in addiction treatment to write about something personal. If you have read the book, “Ending Addiction for Good,” a book that quickly became a #1 Amazon bestseller, you know that I […]

Losing Your Memory: It May be the Drugs You’re Taking

Losing Your Memory: It May be the Drugs You’re Taking Is memory loss interfering with your daily life? Most people are familiar with some of the things that can impair memory, including alcohol and drug abuse, head injuries, stroke, sleep deprivation, severe stress, aging or a symptom of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. What many do […]

Alcohol Causes Difficulty in Later Life

Alcohol Causes Difficulty in Later Life

Alcohol Causes Difficulty in Later Life According to a new study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, people with a history of alcohol use disorder, which can include those drinking within recommended limits, are twice as likely to have severe memory problems in subsequent years. The study adds to the growing body of […]

The Evidence Proving Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture at Cliffside Malibu, an addiction treatment center in Malibu, California.

The Evidence Proving Acupuncture Points  Acupuncture is a method of treating medical and psychological issues based on influencing the body by inserting needles in specific points of human body, called acupoints. It appears that science may finally be able to verify the existence of acupuncture points, meridians (vessels within the body that conduct Qi, or […]

Screening for Substance Abuse in Emergency Departments

Screening for Substance Abuse in Emergency Departments Drug-related emergency department (ED) visits have steadily increased, with substance users relying heavily on the ED for medical care. This is a very expensive practice and a drain on medical resources. In a recently completed study, researchers gathered data from 15,224 adult ED patients across six academic institutions […]