Physician Impairment Focus of JAMA Article Co-Authored by Director of Professionals Treatment at Promises Promises NewsBy Promises AustinMay 2, 2013Greg Skipper, MD, the Director of Professional Health Services at Promises Treatment Centers, co-authored an article on physician impairment that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 2, 2013 – Greg Skipper, MD, the Director of Professional Health Services at Promises Treatment Centers, co-authored an article on…
Why Is Rehab So Important? Addiction TreatmentBy Promises AustinMay 2, 2013For those struggling with weight loss or addiction, a pill that could cure drug dependency overnight or magically melt 100 pounds away seems like the goal: an impossible, yet endlessly desirable gift. Our bodies, however, have the right idea. Going through the difficult and taxing work of detox and then the long, grueling journey of…
Family Rules: Don’t Talk, Don’t Feel, Don’t Trust Family ResourcesBy Promises AustinApril 30, 2013As an addict’s use spins out of control, what happens to the rest of the family? In families where one or both parents develop an addiction, certain “rules” about how to behave and how to survive develop alongside the addiction. In addition to these rules, family members take on roles that shore up the rules…
Is Nicotine a ‘Gateway Drug’ for Cocaine? CocaineBy Promises AustinApril 29, 2013Despite the differences in their legal status, both nicotine and cocaine are known for their ability to cause physical dependence and addiction. The path to dependence and addiction typically begins when use of a given substance makes changes in the way the brain produces or breaks down dopamine, a naturally occurring chemical that plays several…
New Electric Current Brain Stimulation Alleviates Depression DepressionBy Promises AustinApril 28, 2013Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a brain-stimulating technique that uses very low levels of electrical current to change the amount of activity taking place in the brain’s main nerve cells, called neurons. This technique differs from another similarly named form of brain stimulation called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Current evidence indicates that tDCS can…
What Lies Beneath the Fear of Choking? Mental HealthBy Promises AustinApril 25, 2013Many people suffer from an irrational and unreasonable fear of becoming ill or dying that is so strong it can actually bring on terrifying medical symptoms that seem entirely real. These fears, which come in a variety of forms, are often grouped under the catchall term “hypochondria,” and give a clear indication of just how…
The Usual Suspects: Breaking Down Roadblocks to Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinApril 24, 2013The road to recovery is a unique journey that each newcomer takes once the commitment to sobriety has been made. How many times has someone new to the clean and sober state wished for a guide to living in sobriety, one that could prove useful in avoiding the common mistakes and setbacks – or just…
‘Scared Straight’ Programs Are Harmful, Studies Find Teen IssuesBy Promises AustinApril 22, 2013It behooves society and parents to do anything possible to keep kids off drugs. Preventing teens from trying drugs or from drinking means saving many of them from the disease of addiction, avoiding astronomical costs in health care and legal issues, and saving lives. Educational programs are not uncommon in schools, but their benefits seem…
Why Do Only Some People Become Addicted to Alcohol? Alcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinApril 21, 2013The fact that some people are able to take substances without becoming addicted has long been a hot topic of research. This difference between individuals could suggest a biological or genetic marker for the development of addiction, which could therefore lead to a much more effective approach to treatment. A new study has looked at…
Coping Mechanisms to Aid Your Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinApril 19, 2013Life is filled with challenges, interpersonal conflict, physical and emotional pain, loss, and stress. It doesn’t matter who you are – no one goes through life unscathed. Some people also experience significant trauma, be it a childhood scarred by abuse, neglect or the tragic loss of one or both parents; a near-death experience as an…