Lawmakers in Kentucky will soon be evaluating a bill that, if passed, will accomplish several important milestones in support of people trying to cope with heroin addiction. The first element would be to fund opioid addiction treatment services through Medicaid. Medicaid already funds methadone in North Carolina and has been vital in helping opioid-addicted persons

The world is one huge adventure for most kids in the 13-19 age range. As adults, we must remember that teenagers are only a few years beyond childhood. Many teens have not yet acquired good internal controls or a reality-based view of the world around them. Yes, some teens are mature beyond their years, but

Methadone has been used successfully in the United States for over 40 years as a primary treatment for opiate addiction. Many thousands of patients across the country are now stable and have restored their lives by utilizing methadone medication to manage opioid withdrawal. SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has identified methadone

Marijuana is addictive. Regular users often defend pot as “not that big of a deal”. However, the reality is that 9% of users become dependent on marijuana (source DrugFree.org) and will experience persistent memory, thinking, and behavioral problems as well as significant lifestyle disruption while their use of pot continues over time. These individuals will

The end of the year is approaching. With that, comes a variety of holidays and celebrations that can sometimes leave us feeling stressed, even sad. Each person is different in how they feel during the holidays. When striving to live alcohol & drug free, feelings play an important role in what people choose to do

Some people live a long time displaying the obvious signs of an alcohol or drug problem. The negative consequences of substance abuse can pile up over the years: reprimands at work, job loss, legal charges, family arguments, broken promises, a wrecked car, unpaid bills. Yet, many people with a clear problem act as if nothing

Today’s technology is a valuable tool for recovering people, their families, treatment professionals, and most all organizations that serve our local community. From desktop PC’s, to laptops and tablets, to smartphones with internet access, we are all finding new ways to communicate with one another and to obtain the information that we need as quickly

Most people with a substance abuse problem hold off on getting help until they are in an unmistakably tough spot. This is human nature and also a big piece of the illness of addiction. Denial, and putting off the inevitable, keep many people out of treatment. Addiction is a patient problem. While it sometimes escalates

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the governing body that publishes the DSM which is commonly used in diagnosing various mental health problems. DSM stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In this manual, there are various addiction-related disorders which are outlined with associated criteria which must be met in order for an