The Case for Medication Assisted Recovery

Historically, abstinence-based recovery has sought to establish that recovering addicts abstain from all use of illicit substances including alcohol. This model of treatment was originally rooted in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Program which by design was intended to address alcohol addiction specifically. That program has been extremely popular and effective in helping alcohol dependent
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FDA To Lower Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it intends to lower the allowable level of nicotine contained in cigarettes. The linked article states that approximately 35 million people still smoke in America (a new historical low) although hundreds of thousands die each year in the U.S. from tobacco-related illnesses. The American Heart Association
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Behavioral Health Affects Overall Health

SAMHSA published an article on their website referencing data collected from 40 million Blue Cross Blue Shield subscribers. The article stated that Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders have a negative effect on Americans’ longevity, productivity, and general health. Specifically, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders were cited as having the greatest impact on health. Substance
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Beware of Deadly New Opioid Called Pink

News outlets are reporting the recent influx of a new synthetic opioid referred to on the street as “Pink”. Pink is similar to heroin but much more potent. 80 people have fatally overdosed on this drug in the U.S. during the last 9 months according to this article from NBC news. Because the drug is
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Chronic Marijuana Use Affects Memory and Cognitive Function

The emerging marijuana legalization effort in the U.S. has created growing concerns about the effect that chronic pot use will have on the developing brains of teens and young adults. A recent CNN article highlighted research findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that point to diminished verbal memory, processing speed
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New England Journal of Medicine on Opioid Abuse

A February 4 article in The New England Journal of Medicine addresses the epidemic of opioid abuse that has become the #1 leading cause of injury-related death in the United States now even surpassing vehicle accidents. The Journal reports that approximately 100 million U.S. citizens suffer pain in the course of a year and that
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Study Shows Marijuana Negatively Affects Driving Performance

In the video below, Dr. Marilyn Huestis of NIDA talks about the research conducted around marijuana’s effect on operating a motor vehicle. It was found that marijuana is associated with increased weaving within the lane. The effects were similar to what is found with drivers who have a .08 breath alcohol level – which is
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Beginning Buprenorphine in the Emergency Room

There is an interesting blog post by Dr. Jana Burson in which she discusses a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study occurred in the state of Connecticut, and it centered on providing patients a 3-day supply of buprenorphine when they presented in the ER and were found to
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American Academy of Pediatrics Against Marijuana Legalization

Recently published by DrugFree.org is an article discussing the recent statement distributed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The country’s pediatricians have indicated that they believe the legalization of marijuana presents an unacceptable degree of risk to adolescent health and development. The group identified some medical exceptions for children suffering with a debilitating illness, but
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Addiction and the Brain

Food for thought: As a society, we often think of drug-induced behaviors as simply intentional misdeeds or “bad choices”. We live in a country that prizes personal independence, freedom, and self-determination. It is important to emphasize that drug addiction is a process which hijacks the brain’s neurochemistry and alters normal brain functioning. A drug addicted
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