April 23rd 2024
"In the face of such a pervasive crisis, being present for those with addiction can ignite hope and foster healing."
Kurt Cobain: A Modern Tragedy From a Mental Health Perspective
June 9th 2014Clinicians will be drawn in by author Charles R. Cross's personal experience documenting, Here We Are Now: The Lasting Impact of Kurt Cobain. Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, committed suicide 20 years ago this month.
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Society’s Chemical Noose: A Look at Substance Abuse and Suicide
May 8th 2014Substance abuse and addiction are commonly associated with an increased risk of suicide. Alcohol abuse plays a key role in suicide attempts and completions; prescription drugs are a close second. The causes of suicide for men and women are different but the suicide rates are equally staggering.
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Tipsheet: Physician Substance Abuse in the Workplace
March 28th 2014Many barriers can prevent physicians who have a substance use disorder from obtaining the help they need. However, in many states, all is not lost for physicians who willingly participate in treatment. Here, signs, symptoms, and intervention steps.
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The Role of Electronic Cigarettes for Tobacco Dependence Treatment
November 20th 2013Stopping smoking affects the metabolism of a number of drugs used in the management of mental illness. Here, a summary of the author's published study on whether e-cigarettes with nicotine were more effective for smoking cessation than nicotine patches.
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Smoking Cessation: What’s Next?
November 20th 2013Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the US. The majority of smokers want to quit, but only a fraction achieve this annually. New evidence shows it is possible to teach patients to weaken the link between craving and smoking until they are able to ride out any craving–and consequently quit.
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A Risk Stratification Approach to Alcohol Detoxification
November 5th 2013The challenges of identifying patients at risk for alcohol withdrawal have been found to be mitigated by the development of a Risk Stratification Questionnaire, now being adopted by the VA regionally throughout New England. More in this video.
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From the Streets to the Rx Pad: Do Party Drugs Have a Place in the Medical Office?
October 3rd 2013Can drugs be categorized as good (eg, medicinal), bad (eg, recreational with deleterious side effects and addiction issues), or is there a middle ground? That was the underlying theme in a lecture at PsychCongress, “Perils and Promise of Psychoactive Drugs: A Focus on Harm Reduction Psychiatry.”
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Treating the “Mind” Versus the “Brain” in Substance Dependence
June 25th 2013As we accumulate a greater war chest of patient experiences, we can better apply our skills as physicians to fill a space once occupied with alcohol-lubricated decision-making with smooth yet sober coping strategies.
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A New Report on Pain in America: Like Déjà Vu All Over Again
December 2nd 2011The report notes that pain is a significant public health problem that affects more than 100 million Americans, costs our society at least $560 to $659 billion annually, and can be severely detrimental to the lives of sufferers.
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Familial Influences on Adolescent Substance Use
October 8th 2011Substance use disorders are associated with significant morbidity and mortality that affects individuals and their families. Preventing the onset of an SUD in adolescence remains a critical area of clinical and public health significance.
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