For those of you who are not yet familiar with it, I would like to introduce the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale (C-SSRS). The C-SSRS is comprised of a series of simple questions used to assess the severity and immediacy of a suicide risk. One of the many benefits of the scale are that the…
The prevalence of substance use disorders in the LGBTQ+ community is significantly higher than that of the general population. A significant reason for this is that historically, people who identify as LGBTQ+ have experienced more stigma, discrimination, and other familial and societal challenges than those who identify as heterosexual. These factors have also made it…
As many of you may already know, post-traumatic growth (PTG) is a theory that explores the growth and transformation that can happen following trauma. Developed in the mid 1990’s by Richard Tedeschi, PhD, and Lawrence Calhoun, PhD, the theory purports that people who endure psychological struggle following adversity and trauma can often see positive growth afterward. According…
Research indicates that addiction occurs at an approximate rate of 30% in the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender-Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) community. This is primarily due to social stigma that still exists for LGBTQ people in society. Traditionally, gender is defined as either “male” or “female” and is referred to as the binary gender system. There are numerous nonbinary identities that…
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has identified, what they call, eight dimensions of wellness. The thought is that, if individuals focus on these eight dimensions, they can optimize their health. Every aspect of wellness can affect a person’s life so it is important to focus on all eight of them.…
September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to increase awareness and understanding of substance use issues and to acknowledge people in recovery. For individuals facing substance use problems, September is an ideal time to reach out for help. For those who are already on the road to recovery, National Recovery Month can be a…
The Washington Post has reported that suspected overdoses ,not all of them fatal, nationally jumped 18% in March 2020, 29% in April 2020, and 42% in May 2020. These numbers were collected from data gathered from ambulance teams, hospitals, and police. The theory is that the culprit behind the spikes is the Coronavirus pandemic. The…
When we talk about an “epidemic,” we often think of it as something that doesn’t affect all of us. Regarding the heroin epidemic, in particular, it’s tempting to think of it as a problem relegated to specific groups. But the numbers say otherwise. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin…
Common Myths About Drugs There is a great deal of misinformation circulating about drugs and the people who do them. This is due to a variety of reasons. But, regardless of the reasons why there is false information, it is important to know the real facts. Without the truth, people will have a harder time…
It can be difficult to ask hard questions like, am I an alcoholic? But until one asks oneself direct questions about substance use, they will not be ready for help. Honestly answered, though, opens the door to recovery. Moving down a recovery path does not have to be hard when working with us at New…