In February 2020, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) made a public policy statement addressing medical doctors and other healthcare workers with substance use disorders (SUDs, a.k.a. chemical dependency or addiction). By pointing out both a) physicians and healthcare professionals are as prone to becoming addicted to alcohol and/or drugs as anyone, and b)…
Addiction is a disease that can affect anyone, including healthcare professionals like nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, and clinicians. More and more addiction treatment centers have begun offering programs designed just for healthcare professionals. One of the most promising programs is IOP for professionals or an intensive outpatient program. IOP for healthcare professionals is a unique form…
When I first found my way into recovery, I had a shudder go through me every time I heard someone say (or holler in a 12 Steps meeting), “Keep coming back!” You see, while I had hit bottom after abusing alcohol and drugs for over 30 years, I nonetheless had a very difficult time “staying…
Based on factors a person encounters in the course of doing their job—such as stress level, how hazardous or labor-intensive it is, the amount of pressure is involved or the ease of access to alcohol or drugs—one profession may have greater risk factors for substance abuse than another. Construction workers and miners, as well as…
Anxiety disorders as a group are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that people with an anxiety disorder suffer from a simultaneous substance abuse disorder at twice the general population’s rate. This co-occurrence is, at times, due to self-medication. Other factors like genetics, environmental…
Dual diagnosis treatment centers specialize in treating a mental health disorder and a substance abuse disorder simultaneously. Many rehab programs exclusively treat addiction and consider mental health concerns secondary to recovery. Dual diagnosis treatment programs instead focus on the importance of dealing with both issues simultaneously. This method offers the best chances at mental and…
If our nation’s frontline healthcare workers continue to be driven by the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic to the point of high levels of mental health and substance use/abuse issues, who will the general public turn to for healthcare support? Unfortunately, this is already a valid question our country’s leaders need to be asking themselves,…
Alcohol addiction is a severe substance abuse disorder that millions of people across the country deal with regularly. Finding the right level of support and care is key to a successful recovery. Not all alcohol detox centers offer the same treatments and programs. In addition, the location of an alcohol detox program can influence outcomes…
As reported in articles published in Pediatrics Review (“Common Substances of Abuse,”) and NCBI’s StatPearls (“Marijuana Toxicity”),[1] adults, youth and children alike are increasingly susceptible to acute cannabinoid intoxication: “overdosing” on cannabis (marijuana) or cannabis-based products (edibles, gummies, etc.). And lest you think, “How can something like smoking weed or eating a pot brownie be…
Alcohol abuse disorder affects millions of Americans every year. Generally, the proper treatment for alcohol addiction is through an alcohol rehab program. Three broad types of alcohol rehab programs exist. They are detoxification, residential, and outpatient. Many alcohol rehab centers offer the full suite of these programs as they share multiple elements and can at…