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Risks of Using Marijuana and Spice

Marijuana and Spice Risks | Turning Point of Tampa

As you can tell from the title, the purpose of this article is to outline the very serious risks people take when they use synthetic cannabinoids. If you don’t know this already, there are real and immediate risks to an individual’s mental as well as physical health from the use/abuse of fake weed, also known […]

What is the Baker Act Meaning?

what is the baker act meaning

The Baker Act is a law in Florida that was created in 1972 to establish legal procedures for the involuntary examination and treatment of individuals with mental illness. This law was put in place to prevent the indiscriminate admission of individuals to mental health institutions and to ensure that people are only admitted to such […]

How to Do an Intervention

How to do an Intervention | Turning Point of Tampa

Addiction to drugs and alcohol affect family members as well as the person afflicted with alcohol or drug addiction. It is usually best to have an outside party do the actual intervention but on rare occasions a family member approaches their loved one’s addiction and the ties of a family first intervention becomes a successful […]

Family Recovery from the Point of View of a Parent in Recovery

colorful painting of happy family

As a parent in recovery, you have taken the courageous step to stop using drugs or alcohol and to commit to long-term sobriety. You understand that addiction is a family disease and that your loved ones need support and guidance as they work to recover from the effects of addiction in the family. Why We […]

How Overdose Increases During COVID-19 Are Impacting Local Emergency Rooms

emergency room

Although emergency room (ER) visits have declined by about 40 percent since the start of the pandemic, visits related to overdose, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health and addiction-related challenges have increased. Tragically, many ER staff do not have the training or the tools necessary to help those with addiction and other mental health problems. […]

Understanding Marijuana Legislation: What is Legal and What’s Not?

marijuana legislation word collage

Ready to Take the Next Step? We are Ready to Help, Call Now! Turning Point of Tampa has helped thousands find recovery. As an in-network facility, we are able and committed to helping you find the life you deserve. Although marijuana is illegal under federal law, 15 states and the District of Columbia allow adults […]

Treatment vs. Incarceration

man in jail holding bars

We know that addiction is a disease, so does it make sense to put people with a disease in jail and expect them to get better? Although prison sentences may be appropriate for those trafficking in the sale of illegal drugs, countless studies agree that jail time does not deter drug or alcohol use and […]

The Latest on the Decriminalization of Drugs

drug decriminalization and legalization word cloud

While many U.S. citizens expressed outrage at talk of decriminalizing all drugs just a few years ago, over half the population now favors such a proposal. Most states have already legalized medical marijuana, and 15 states have legalized possession and use of limited amounts of recreational marijuana. Recreational marijuana is still illegal in Florida. Possession […]

What are Personality Disorders?

two faces depicting personality disorders

The Mayo Clinic describes personality as “the combination of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that makes you unique. It’s the way you view, understand, and relate to the outside world, as well as how you see yourself.” Although your personality evolves throughout your life, your core personality forms during childhood, influenced by the environment you grew […]

What are Mood Disorders?

Mood Disorders | Turning Point of Tampa

In addition to interacting with our environment, we humans are chemical reactors, as well. The various moods we experience throughout the day are caused by a variety of factors such as the neurotransmitters and hormones circulating in our bodies (chemicals), our nature (genetics) and our nurture (upbringing, our environment and belief systems). It not well […]

What’s Driving the Increase in Adolescent Substance Use Disorder?

light bulb with drug abuse bubble depicting adolescent substance use

Most people begin using addictive substances like alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs, and tobacco during adolescence and young adulthood, according to National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) statistics. By the time students are seniors in high school, NIDA statistics find: Almost 70 percent have tried alcohol About 50 percent have taken an illegal drug Almost […]

Family Support Through Process Addiction

Process addictions are behavioral addictions rather than drug or alcohol addictions. Individuals who have an overwhelming impulse to engage in a specific behavior even when it results in negative consequences may have a process addiction. Examples of process addictions include compulsive behavior related to gambling, sex, shopping, gaming, pornography, exercise, work, and eating issues. As […]

Update on Overdose Increases During COVID-19

coronavirus news headline with effects listed

Current data shows that more than 1.9 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19, including almost 370,000 Americans. While these are shocking numbers, they do not include the many people who have died from COVID-related mental health challenges. Experts believe the virus continues to contribute to drug and alcohol overdose deaths, suicide, and the exacerbation […]

The Dangers of Over Exercising and Supplement Use

over exercising and training word cloud

Regular exercise provides a wide range of benefits, including physical fitness, improved mental health, and a reduced risk of some serious diseases. However, too much exercise can cause physical and mental harm. This is also true for supplements. Reasonable doses of certain vitamins and other supplements support good health, but what you take and how […]

Understanding Sugar Addiction

addiction written on sugar cubes

Many foods and drinks contain sugars, some that are naturally occurring and some that are added. Regular consumption of foods that contain added sugar can lead to cravings similar to those caused by drug addiction, and, according to many health experts, can pose a significant health threat. Manufacturers add sugars to some foods during processing […]

Addiction in Sports

defeated athlete depicting addiction in sports

Athletes face tremendous pressure to perform and win, sometimes at any cost. Some athletes turn to performance-enhancing drugs like steroids or amphetamines to gain a competitive edge. Others rely on illegal or prescription drugs to manage pain from injuries. Some seek to relieve pressure-induced stress through the use of alcohol, marijuana, or other addictive substances. […]

Process Addictions: Shopping, Gambling, Internet and More

teens on a laptop depicting internet as a process addiction

Process addiction, also called behavioral addiction, is characterized by an overwhelming impulse to engage in a certain behavior despite negative consequences. While involved in the behavior, the individual experiences an elevated mood often followed by a sense of shame or guilt once the behavior ends. Common process addictions include shopping, gambling, sexual activity, pornography, eating […]

Has the PDMP Helped Curb the Opioid Crisis in Florida?

Rx prescription pad depicting the opioid crisis

The opioid crisis began in the 1990s and has since reached epidemic proportions. A 2018 U.S. government report found prescription or illegal opioid use contributed to most of the 67,367 drug overdose deaths in the United States in the surveyed period. Drug overdose death is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. One […]

Cultural Differences in Seeking Help for Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health

cultural difference written on chalkboard

The culture of a specific group often dictates which beliefs and behaviors they view as acceptable and which they do not. When an individual within that culture behaves in a way that conflicts with the general beliefs of the group, they may face ostracism or scorn. Multiple studies agree cultural beliefs impact a person’s willingness […]

Being a Veteran in Recovery

army veteran saluting

Veterans, especially those who experienced combat, have a higher rate of substance use disorder (SUD) than the general population. A 2013 report by the National Academy of Sciences found 44 percent of veterans returning from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan experienced SUD, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other challenges. Homelessness, incarceration, and suicide are […]

Understanding Caffeine Addiction

man drinking coffee depicting caffeine addiction

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, increasing metabolism, elevating mood, and sharpening focus. Surveys find that over 90 percent of U.S. adults consume caffeine daily, many of whom find it difficult to start their day without a caffeine boost. While many caffeine users state they are “addicted” to caffeine, experts disagree on whether excessive caffeine […]

Understanding Shopping Addiction

people compulsively shopping depicting addiction

Those with a shopping addiction exhibit a pattern of compulsive shopping that consumes much of their time, negatively impacts their personal relationships, and often causes financial problems. They cannot stop the addictive behavior, even when they want to do so. Compulsive shopping may be used to block feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, or other negative […]

How Does Sex and Love Addiction Impact Families?

broken heart and family depicting the impact of sex and love addiction

The American Society of Addiction Medicine states that “people with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.” A person can have an addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, love, or another behavior that is compulsive and harmful. Any form of addictive behavior endangers the individual’s physical […]

What is a Sex and Love Addiction?

Couple with tied together hands depicting sex and love addiction

Both sex addiction and love addiction are mental disorders characterized by an impaired ability to engage in healthy emotional intimacy. Men or women suffering from either disorder typically have obsessive thoughts and compulsions leading to unhealthy behaviors. A sex or love addiction may negatively impact a person’s health, personal relationships, job, and ability to function […]