Alcohol use disorder is the current accepted term for the diagnosis of two drinking-related conditions: alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Excessive alcohol consumption is widely acknowledged as an important factor in a number of damaging changes in human mental and physical health. In a study slated for publication in 2014 in The American Journal of Geriatric …
In recent years, the terms “addict” and “alcoholic” have been gradually falling out of favor as ways to refer to people with substance use disorders. Many people have begun to publicly advocate against these terms, including the current acting director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli. Those who want …
Naloxone is a medication that temporarily stops heroin and other opioid substances from reaching the brain. When used promptly, it can help stop a person from dying from an opioid overdose. In recent years, public health officials and researchers have sought to increase the availability of naloxone and make the drug easier to administer in …
Intranasal Naloxone on Fast Track for Opioid Overdose Read More »
From the brilliant color of turning leaves to the enticing aroma of pumpkin muffins, there’s a lot to love about fall. Yet the season brings its share of health challenges as well. Some — such as those bags of mini candy bars that never make it to Halloween — are obvious. Others are a bit …
By Edie Weinstein, MSW If you or someone you know is considering treatment for addiction, it may be because you or the person is faced with the undeniable evidence that, as a result of substance abuse or another behavioral addiction, your life or theirs has become unmanageable in one or more ways. Or you or …
While there are mental disorders that carry an increased risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, there has been little understanding of how to determine when a patient is most at risk. Understanding the risk factors for suicide and developing prevention strategies could be effective in reducing suicide attempts by those with bipolar and major …
Factors That Influence Suicide in People With Depression and Bipolar Disorder Read More »
Ischemic stroke is a type of stroke that occurs when something blocks the flow of blood in a blood vessel leading to the brain. It differs from another form of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when one of the brain’s blood vessels weakens and breaks open. More than 80 percent of all strokes are …
When I was 5 years old, I changed my name to Susan Cinderella and invented a world where a cat was my mother and all the other grown-ups were animals, too. I loved climbing trees, wearing my brother’s too-big Levis overalls and running in soybean fields without shoes. I sniffed the roadside buttercups. I wanted …
September Is Recovery Month: Telling Our Stories to Heal Read More »
The beheading by terrorists of a third hostage over the weekend with threats to kill other captives prompted psychological experts to warn the public that viewing the ghastly videos can cause trauma. The slaying of British aid worker David Cawthorne Haines – which Prime Minister David Cameron called “evil” – was seen in a video …
In July 2014, a new District of Columbia law came into effect that made possession of marijuana a civil offense rather than a criminal offense. The law was approved by the D.C. council in the spring, but it had to pass a 60-day congressional review period before becoming active.