A panel of medical experts recommended in January 2016 that the Food and Drug Administration approve a new way of treating opiate addiction and on May 26, 2016, the FDA announced approval for the first buprenorphine implant for the treatment of opioid dependence. Probuphine is designed to provide a constant, low-level dose of buprenorphine for…
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On June 2, 2016 findings from Prince’s autopsy confirmed that the superstar died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller that is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. In March 2015, Federal Drug Enforcement officials issued a nationwide alert about the dangers…
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Right now, all 50 states have a minimum legal drinking age of 21. Some states, though, have also implemented expanded underage drinking laws. Those additional laws were the focus of research done by a team at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) in Calverton, Maryland, and published in the March 2016 issue of…
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There have been many studies over the years acclaiming the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, particularly when it comes to the heart and longevity. But new research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs indicates that many of these studies are flawed and that many of the purported benefits are likely overestimated. Lead researcher…
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 259 million prescriptions were written for painkillers in 2012, enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills. A national conversation has been taking place as people think about what’s good and what’s bad about this access to medications. On one side of…
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Dextromethorphan (DXM) is one of the main ingredients in many over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications. It’s legal and easily bought from pharmacies and grocery stores, so typical users are teenagers and young adults. In fact, 1 in 11 teens have admitted to getting high on cough medicine. DXM use is referred to by teens as…
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“So, how long should my son stay in treatment?” a worried mother asked me yesterday. For those of us who work in drug and alcohol treatment, this is probably the question we hear the most from anxious husbands, wives, parents, siblings and friends. How long should your loved one stay at alcohol or drug rehab? Despite all…
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Clients at drug and alcohol treatment centers often have more than one issue when they come into rehab including problems with depression, anxiety and food. A lesser known and discussed issue is that of sexual addiction. Although sex addiction isn’t listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-5) it is still a…
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health.” From many studies they’ve conducted, as well as other studies from around the world, we now know that poor mental health is linked to increased risk of death from heart disease, stroke…
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of deaths from drug overdoses has increased 137%, including a 200% increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids (opioid pain relievers and heroin) since 2000. According to new data published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly half a million Americans…
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