An Interview with Dr. Craig FrankeStaff StoriesBy Promises AustinFebruary 2, 2015“My ideal day consists of seeing hope in others,” says Dr. Craig Franke, medical director at Promises P.A.T.H. “That’s all I need. I gladly accept more.” Born in Uvalde, Texas, as the youngest of three siblings, Dr. Franke lived in Leakey as a child before moving to Houston with his mother. He went to grade… Details
Stay Out of Your Loved One’s RecoveryRecoveryBy Promises AustinJanuary 31, 2015When you love an addict or alcoholic, you have probably watched him or her deteriorate in front of your eyes into a shell of a person. He went downhill, slowly at first, and then more rapidly until he gradually became a shadow of his former self. As you witnessed what drugs or alcohol did to… Details
Abuse-Deterrent Labeling for Opioid Drug Embeda Gets FDA NodPrescription DrugsBy Promises AustinJanuary 28, 2015The FDA has announced that the opioid drug Embeda will now have an acknowledgement of its abuse-deterrent properties on its label. According to the new label, Embeda has properties expected to reduce abuse of the drug when it’s crushed, but the protection against abuse is far from perfect. Finding out more about the drug, the… Details
How Do People With Dual Diagnosis Avoid Relapsing?Relapse PreventionBy Promises AustinJanuary 27, 2015Dual diagnosis is the term used to describe the overlapping combination of diagnosable substance use disorder (substance abuse/addiction) and separately diagnosable mental illness. In the U.S., millions of people have some form of this condition, which can present tremendous challenges during treatment and recovery. In a study published in September 2014 in the Journal of… Details
Should You Hide Your Mental Illness at Work?Mental HealthBy Promises AustinJanuary 25, 2015If you have a mental illness, you’re far from alone. According to statistics from the National Institutes of Health, 26.2 percent of American adults, or one in four, have a diagnosable mental health condition. This means you are just one among nearly 58 million Americans struggling with mental illness. Statistically, you likely work with people… Details
How Does Drug Craving Manifest in People Addicted to Prescription Opioids?Prescription DrugsBy Promises AustinJanuary 22, 2015Drug cravings are prominent urges to consume more of a mind-altering drug or medication. The presence of these urges is one of the symptoms that doctors look for when diagnosing various forms of substance use disorder (substance abuse/substance addiction). In a study published in September/October 2014 in The American Journal on Addictions, a team of… Details
Are You Addicted to Your Smartphone? Watch For These 15 SignsOther AddictionsBy Promises AustinJanuary 22, 2015Smartphones are becoming an increasingly ubiquitous part of daily life, but how do we draw the distinction between ordinary use and addiction? Dr. David Greenfield, an expert in technology and Internet addictions, suggests that as many as 90 percent of Americans overuse, abuse or misuse their smartphones, and he has developed a diagnostic quiz to… Details
The Dangers of Going Home After RehabRecoveryBy Promises AustinJanuary 21, 2015After spending months or years revolving your life around drinking and drugging, spending time in a rehabilitation facility has helped you get a fresh start. You are probably beginning to understand the nature of alcoholism and addiction. Treatment has separated you from your drug of choice and allowed you to start to get used to… Details
Depression Treatment Not Limited to Medication and Talk TherapyDepressionBy Promises AustinJanuary 20, 2015Depression manifests in so many different ways for different patients that alternative remedies may provide genuine results for some patients.
Marijuana Use Increases Risk for Nicotine AddictionMarijuanaBy Promises AustinJanuary 20, 2015Current scientific evidence suggests that people who smoke cigarettes and nicotine-containing tobacco products have an unusually high chance of becoming consumers of marijuana. However, relatively few researchers have considered a reverse scenario in which the use of marijuana increases the odds of nicotine addiction. In a study published in September 2014 in the journal Substance… Details
