This isn’t a riddle, so let’s be clear right from the start. There is no difference between a dual diagnosis and a co-occurring disorder (COD). They are two different terms for the same condition. Instead of comparing apples and oranges, it’s more like comparing apples […]
So, here’s a complicated conundrum: many divisions of the federal government, including the Department of Health and Human Services, consider substance abuse and dependency a “public health problem.” After all, it’s widely advocated in the medical community and many U.S. government departments that addiction is […]
Pot has come a long way in the last 30 years, and to coin a phrase, not all of it has been “totally chill, man.” For instance, as the science of growing marijuana has evolved, levels of THC, its primary psychoactive ingredient, have also dramatically […]
Though there’s been a lot of discussion about the issue, let’s take a moment and review the facts about addiction. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease. Substance abuse actually alters the chemical structure of the brain. The result can be long-term changes, […]
First, let’s thank those ancient geniuses for coming up with an alphabet. While they might not have realized it at the time (it was only an experiment after all), writing can be a powerful therapeutic tool to help us examine our feelings, change our behavior […]
Thanks to the digital age of the Internet and the online posting of drinking game videos, binge drinking has turned into an accepted form of social entertainment by many participants. Video franchises such as “I’m Shmacked” are even making big money by touring college campuses, […]
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition that may develop in people who have experienced a traumatic event. While it’s widely associated with veterans returning from war, victims of sexual abuse and assault, domestic violence, or robbery, any serious physical or psychological injury can be affected […]
Here’s a little bit of truth, a person with good mental health might occasionally experience bouts of mental illness. On the flip side of the coin, a person who is diagnosed with a mental illness can live a happy and fulfilling life. Is There a […]
Imagine you’re at work, sitting at your desk, struggling to meet an unrealistic deadline. Before you can deal with the matter in front of you, a text arrives from your husband or wife about an unfolding drama at home. You sit up straight and try […]
One of the most stigmatized mental disorders in the United States is Schizophrenia. Much of the population associates this severe, chronic and disabling illness with violence, drug abuse and even homelessness. It’s then startling to find out that the National Institute of Mental Health estimates […]
