Risks of Using Marijuana and Spice
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 to Look for in a Drug Rehab Center
If you, or a loved one, are struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse or an eating disorder, and need help to untangle the mess that life has become, drug and alcohol rehab centers can offer a way out. If this is the case for you, it is very important to do some research first, because the […]
Managing Depression and Anxiety
Each year, up to 20 percent of the population in the U.S., or more than 115 million people, present to their doctor with symptoms of anxiety disorder, depression, or both. Approximately 45 percent of these (52 million people), also suffer from an additional mental illness or substance use disorder (SUD). While anxiety and depression often […]
What is an Intervention?
An intervention is a pre-planned meeting between concerned individuals, often family members or close friends, and a loved one or friend struggling with addiction. The goal of an intervention is to motivate the loved one to seek help in overcoming addictive behavior. This article will go over what is an intervention and additional aspects around […]
What’s Driving the Increase in Adolescent Substance Use Disorder?
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 […]
Florida Legislative Roundup For January 2021
On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2021 into law. The CAA combines the federal budget for the fiscal year 2021 with a COVID-19 relief package, which includes increased funding for substance abuse and mental health services. The increases are in addition to funding previously approved for the […]
Substance Use Disorder and Eating Disorder as a Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis, also called a co-occurring disorder, means a person suffers from both a substance use disorder (SUD) and mental disorder simultaneously. Although one or the other may have developed first, both disorders are now present. Either disorder can mask or worsen the symptoms of the other disorder. Eating disorders (ED) are one form of […]
Working in Substance Use Disorder Treatment During COVID-19
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) warns the current COVID-19 crisis presents special challenges for those with a substance use disorder (SUD). Increased anxiety coupled with social isolation increases risks for relapse. For treatment providers, maintaining both inpatient and outpatient treatment services, as well as support services, is critical for their clients and communities. […]
Homelessness and Substance Use Disorder
On a single night in 2018, approximately 552,830 people were identified as homeless in the United States, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Report on Hunger and Homelessness. A large percentage of these individuals also struggled with drug or alcohol use. The U.S Conference of Mayors asked 25 mayors to name the main reason […]
Understanding the Risks of Alcohol and Drug Use During Pregnancy
There is no amount or type of alcohol, including beer and wine, that is safe to consume at any time during pregnancy. Drinking during pregnancy can damage the developing fetus, increase the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), and possibly cause a miscarriage or stillbirth. What are FASDs? FASDs refer to a group of […]
Understanding Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Serving as an alternative or follow-up treatment program to inpatient residential services, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) treat substance use disorders, eating disorders and co-occurring mental disorders. IOPs allow clients to live at home during recovery; and provide a more highly structured program than standard outpatient programs, which have minimum attendance requirements. This allows patients to […]
Getting to Know the Staff at Turning Point: Beverly Womack, Assessment Therapist, Residential Treatment Program
I sat down with Beverly, between her usual morning appointments and the unscheduled pep talks with the new clients, to find out exactly what an Assessment Therapist does. It wasn’t easy to catch up with her; she is continually adjusting her schedule to accommodate her clients, many of whom need assistance and guidance in their […]
Getting to Know the Staff at Turning Point: Danny Van Bomel, Intensive Outpatient Program Therapist
Danny Van Bomel is a tough New Yorker, having worked as a corrections officer at Rikers Island in The Bronx, New York for 2 to 3 years. Also on his list of past jobs, was driving a taxi (sometimes while in a blackout) for a company that dabbled in “waste management”; the same way Tony […]
Psychological vs. Physical Addiction
In the first part of our series on addiction, we broke down what the definition of addiction really means. The two types of addiction, psychological and physical, carry very different symptoms and effects. Read on to learn about what makes psychological addiction and physical addiction different from one another. Psychological Addictions A psychological addiction stems […]
The Definition of Addiction
The topic of addiction is one that is often misunderstood not only by the general public, but by the addicted person, their family, and even some medical and psychological professionals. Read on to learn what defines an addiction, and ways to find help. Short Definition of Addiction Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain […]
Tennessee’s Fight to Make Substance Abuse Marketing More Transparent
Tennessee recently passed a law, HB 2068, to protect consumers of substance abuse treatment from false or manipulative marketing tactics. This is a stride in the right direction because there have been many complaints about the lack of transparency for those seeking treatment. Now all providers of substance abuse treatment, facilities and third-party marketers in […]
