Drug crime arrests are declining. The complex issue of incarcerating those charged with drug possession is slowly evolving into an effort to allow low-level drug offenders to seek treatment and find hope in recovery. State-appointed treatment options are offering help, not handcuffs, as policymakers around the United States are slowly coming around to agreeing with
Recovery from addiction is a difficult process that can leave one feeling alienated from friends, family, and loved ones. It is a real problem that deserves compassion, treatment, and help. Substance use disorder often includes: Feeling the need to use drugs or drink alcohol often or regularly Having frequent, strong urges to use the substance
While the focus of public health officials, much of the news media, and the general public has been on the opioid epidemic in recent years, the meth use epidemic has quietly been on the rise. The use of methamphetamine is surging in the United States, as those reported to have a methamphetamine use disorder increased
Alcohol use during pregnancy is the leading known preventable cause of birth defects that can range from mild to severe physical abnormalities and a wide array of cognitive, behavioral, and social deficits. An estimated 40,000 newborns are affected every year by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), an umbrella term that includes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
A new study has found that cannabidiol, the naturally-occurring, non-psychoactive, and non-addictive compound found in the cannabis plant usually referred to as CBD, can reduce key features of addiction in drug-abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder. Led by Dr. Yasmin Hurd of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published last month in
Growing up with a parent suffering from substance use disorder is a difficult process that can affect the behavior and emotional development of that child later in life. It is estimated that 25% of American kids grow up in households where alcohol dependence is present, and children of alcohol-dependent parents are the highest risk of
Addiction is a disease. We study it, we treat it… so why can’t we cure it? Much like any disease, addiction is a product of heredity and environment, and its effects are amplified and complicated by the introduction of drugs to the body (and subsequently the mind). For centuries, we have been focused on changing
A number of different spiritual practices have been found to help with addiction recovery—ranging from practicing gratitude to rewiring your brain with mindfulness meditation. The Lakota Tribe has found the same healing powers in their traditions. Creating a spiritual home Re-connecting to Lakota culture is, for those in the midst of recovery, a chance to
