MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'addiction'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:48:54 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182333&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FTuIBpEDapBQ%2F I would like to add a couple things to my pages about opioid dependence.  For those not familiar with the sites already included, you can find most of them through links at a home page called Addiction Remission.  I have ‘bupe tube’, a collection of educational videos;  bupe news, a site that has news releases related to opioid dependence and buprenorphine, and a page that has items for purchase– including my book, and even underwear with the ‘talk zone’ insignia!  Nobody has purchased a pair yet, for some reason…. Ideally, I would like to drop the ‘subox’ part of the name to the blog and forum, and replace it with ‘bupe’ or with ‘opioid’.  I’m worried about losing readers, of course, and losing the little b... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182333 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:17:50 +0100 5182333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182329&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Faging-and-addiction%2F Addiction among older adults is a hidden and hushed problem. Signs and symptoms of alcohol or medication abuse can easily be mistaken for conditions related to aging. And even when friends or family members recognize signs of addiction, they often discount the need for intervention or treatment. With an estimated three million older Americans struggling with alcohol and drug misuse and abuse, Aging and Addiction is a much-needed resource. The authors, both experts in the field of addiction treatment and intervention, provide a respectful, definitive guide for recognizing and addressing substance abuse among older adults. Key topics include: understanding the relationship between aging and addiction, finding help for a loved one, and recognizing the treatment needs of older adults. ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182329 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:34:53 +0100 5182329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182326&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2FWOVbPESAuRg%2F Drug addiction is a disease. Like any disease, it isn’t subject to the willful control of the individuals who suffer from it. If you have a drug addiction problem, it isn’t because you decided to be sick. And if you’re going to achieve drug addiction recovery, it won’t simply be because you decided to get better. On the contrary, you can only achieve meaningful and lasting wellness by enrolling in a private drug addiction treatment program at an exclusive drug addiction treatment center. You already know what’s at stake in the fight against drug abuse. Now it’s time to seek care from specialists who can help you win it. The day you enroll in a drug addiction rehab program will be the day you start healing from the inside out, in a way that will help you remember the world as y... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182326 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:49:39 +0100 5182326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174866&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fb7cMgoHVGao%2F Discussions about chewing or crushing buprenorphine provide examples of the doublespeak that only confuses people.  My own recent discussion with another Suboxone prescriber went like this: “I don’t want patients to crush or chew the tablet because that will make it get absorbed too quickly.  In fact,  I usually recommend the film, because it dissolves much more quickly than the tablet.”  Say what?  Do we want it to dissolve more quickly or not?  The truth is that it really does not matter.  The dissolving of buprenorphine— or the film– is the LONG part of the process. The veins under the tongue absorb the drug in Suboxone. Actually, buprenorphine passes through all of the surfaces in the mouth, eventually entering capillaries under the surface.  The veins under t... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174866 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:20:49 +0100 5174866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169577&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FxhaaQKoyW30%2F URL: http://www.pale-reflections.com/Pale Reflections is a complete support network for people affected by anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and all eating disorders. We offer information and a caring environment for eating disorder sufferers, their friends and family, and therapists & professionals. For: Anyone, Clinicians, Consumers, ConsumersTopics: Academia, Behaviour Management, Cognitive, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Common Factors, Counselling, Depression, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, General Psychology, Life, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Personality, Personality disorders, Psychology and Technology, Psychology and the Media, Self-help, Abnormal, Addiction, Behaviour Management, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, Life, L... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169577 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:00:39 +0100 5169577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159209&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FWwy5dqGZeRw%2F URL: http://womenforsobriety.org/beta2/Women for Sobriety (WFS) is an organization whose purpose is to help all women find their individual path to recovery through discovery of self, gained by sharing experiences, hopes and encouragement with other women in similar circumstances. We are an abstinence-based self-help program for women facing issues of alcohol or drug addiction. Our “New Life” Program acknowledges the very special needs women have in recovery – the need to nurture feelings of self-value and self-worth and the desire to discard feelings of guilt, shame, and humiliation. For: ConsumersTopics: Abnormal, Addiction, Anxiety, Behaviour Management, Clinical Psychology, General Psychology, Lifestyle, Self-harm and suicide, Substance AbuseFeatures: Advertising, Articles, Chat ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159209 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:00:52 +0100 5159209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159850&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FPpvtbpm-BN0%2F I read in the news this morning that toxicology reports showed no illicit substances in the samples taken from Amy Winehouse several weeks ago.  Alcohol was present, but not in amounts that would typically be fatal. Amy Winehouse By the stories that came out in the days leading up to her death, I consider it likely that substances played a role in her tragic and untimely death.  But the lack of substances in her body should serve as a tribute to her attempt to find sobriety.  I wanted to set that record straight, after my comments about her death several weeks ago. JJ (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone) Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159850 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:57:09 +0100 5159850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140310&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fb4mUXsOZtdk%2F When Suboxone first became an option for treating addiction to pain pills back in 2003, some people were excited about having a cure for opioid dependence. Those people were mistaken. It is true that Suboxone has been a huge benefit for treating opioid dependence, but the medication cannot cause the permanent changes in the brain that would be necessary to prevent relapse. Instead, in order for the medication to work, people must do what they do with other medications—keep taking it. Not all scams are so obvious I recently read an article on another web site that advocated a certain person’s ‘method’ for rapid opioid detox. I went to the primary web site for the developers of that method—pulled to the site in the same way that I am drawn to watch late-night commercials for g... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140310 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:04:56 +0100 5140310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139737&cid=t_99327_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F803342_pills_1.jpg A nurse recently asked a very important question that bears repeating: What effect does long-term use of pain pills have on pregnant women? She was concerned because of the increase in number of pregnant women who are taking pain pills on a long term basis based on previous surgeries, accidents or a history of chronic pain. The most common “pain pills” prescribed are opiates which effectively eliminate or reduce pain but have a great tendency to be abused. Opioids are natural and synthetic type drugs that have the characteristics of morphine. It can only be obtained with a prescription and unfortunately physicians contribute to the problem of dependency and abuse through their lack of scrutiny regarding patient requests. My present home state of Florida has the unsavory distinction of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139737 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:00:46 +0100 5139737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139638&cid=t_99327_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fcommissioning-prison-based-substance-misuse-services-201112%2F Title: Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12 Scan or click to download 'Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12' The Skinny: Dear Collegue letter that recommends the composition of Joint Commissioning Groups for Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12 should comprise of: • Prison governor or member of the prison senior management team (NOMS1) • PCT • DAAT lead • Local Authority representative • Probation (NOMS) • Police Publisher: DH Published: 27/07/11 Size: 3p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Addiction, Addiction units, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol abuse services, Behaviour disorders, Commissioning, Drug Abuse, Drug abuse services, Dual Diagnosis, Grey Literature, Health Services, Management cont... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139638 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:58:20 +0100 5139638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139879&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F16%2Fis-addiction-simply-a-brain-disease-it-is-now%2F Among addiction experts and researchers, there’s been a long-running debate as to whether drug or alcohol addiction, and even “behavioral addictions” such as compulsive gambling, are actual diseases or not. It’s not just a matter of semantics — if researchers can trace addiction’s root causes to an actual medical malfunction in the brain, perhaps that disease could be directly treated. Who am I to disagree with a “four-year process with more than 80 experts actively working on it?” Their result? Addiction is a “chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavioral problem.” I suppose if we wanted, one could argue that all mental disorders can be viewed as “brain disorders” and not “simply behavioral problems.”... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139879 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:39:38 +0100 5139879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5131055&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35804&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.addictionrecoveryblog.com%2Faddiction-recovery-tips%2Fa-great-addiction-treatment-center%2F My girlfriend has dealt with addiction before, she’s tried addiction treatment centers before but with no help. I couldn’t let her walk down this path anymore. I needed to help her, I needed her to be well. After all, I loved her, still do. That’s why it tore me apart to see her tear herself apart. So, I did what anyone who loves someone would do, I did my best. I found Burning Tree. I had heard about other addiction treatment centers around Dallas and Austin, and after doing some research I thought that they were the right place for my love. She knew she needed help, she knew where she was headed but still, I had to press, which was fine. I’d do anything for her. She resisted at first, but we went for a meeting with them at their spacious facilities. Burning Tree h... Addiction Recovery Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5131055 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:27:29 +0100 5131055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130657&cid=t_99327_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fpiloting-payment-by-results-for-drugs-recovery-%25e2%2580%2593-draft-outcome-definitions%2F Title: Piloting Payment by Results for Drugs Recovery – draft outcome definitions Scan or click to download 'Piloting Payment by Results for Drugs Recovery – draft outcome definitions' The Skinny: The Government has set the following high-level outcomes: Free from drug(s) of dependence Offending Employment Health and well-being A Co-design Group has developed proposals to measure these outcomes and set eligibility criteria and now invites comments from the sector on draft proposals. Publisher: DH Published: 13/07/11 Size: 13p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Addiction, Addiction units, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol abuse services, Alcohol and drug consumption, Clinical Governance, Drug Abuse, Drugs of Abuse, Grey Literature, Health Outcomes, Health Services, Outcomes, ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130657 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:04:28 +0100 5130657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130663&cid=t_99327_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fhealthy-lives-healthy-people-a-tobacco-control-plan-for-england%2F Scan or click to download 'Healthy lives, healthy people: a tobacco control plan for England' Title: Healthy lives, healthy people: a tobacco control plan for England The Skinny: Sets out how tobacco control will be delivered in the context of the new public health system, focusing in particular on the action that the Government will take nationally over the next five years to drive down the prevalence of smoking and to support comprehensive tobacco control in local areas. It includes commitments to: implement legislation to end tobacco displays in shops; look at whether the plain packaging of tobacco products could be an effective way to reduce the number of young people who take up smoking and to support adult smokers who want to quit, and consult on options by the end of the ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130663 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:21:03 +0100 5130663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130828&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Finternet-addiction-treatment-a-systematic-review%2F Buffer In previous posts I already expressed my doubt about this phenomenon: Internet Addiction. The biggest problem with studies defining a new syndrome is usually that they don’t use validated diagnostic tools but mostly some severity scale. Internet Addiction is not clearly defined in the recent scientific publications and research. Some researchers have adapted substance use disorder, while others reference pathological gambling, resulting in an inconsistent definition of Internet addiction. Being as it is, therapeutic research was done with such a creaky concept as Internet Addiction is. A recent systematic review according to the CONSORT statement has recently been published. In this review of 8 treatment studies several key limitations were found. inconsistencies in the definit... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130828 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:36:49 +0100 5130828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125896&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F6LuBfLqR9WU%2F Many of us have known women (and men) who seem addicted to tanning—no matter how glaring the health risks, you’ll still find them hitting the tanning beds. Is it just a desire for that bronze (or orange) glow that gets ‘em? Or is there something about the process of tanning itself that keeps folks coming back? New research leans toward the latter, showing that tanning bed users exhibit brain changes during a tanning session that mirror those seen in drug addicts. “Using tanning beds has rewarding effects in the brain so people may feel compelled to persist … even though it’s bad for them,” said Dr. Bryon Adinoff, a psychiatry professor and author of the tanning study, published in the journal Addiction Biology. Tanning bed usage has continued to grow in recent years, desp... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125896 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:01:29 +0100 5125896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118640&cid=t_99327_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fbreastfeeding.jpg Could breastfeeding kill a newborn?  That is the question a California district attorney will ask a jury at the trial of a breastfeeding mother. Most women do not intend to harm their children but substance abuse and addiction comes with a heavy price. Such was the case of Maggie Jean Wortman, who has been charged with second degree murder after medical tests revealed that her newborn son died from methamphetamine intoxication obtained through her breast milk. Wortman’s 19-month-old daughter also tested positive for methamphetamine and was placed in protective custody. How could this happen? The transfer of drugs from the mother’s blood to human milk depends on the chemical composition of the drug. Antibiotics such as penicillin will remain in the mother’s blood for long periods of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118640 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5118640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118711&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2F3-facts-you-might-not-know-about-freud-and-his-biggest-addiction%2F You may know that Sigmund Freud, the famed founder of psychoanalysis, had a fascination with cocaine and abused it for many years. But you might not know these three facts that relate to Freud’s longstanding interest in cocaine. Howard Markel, M.D., Ph.D, professor of medical history at the University of Michigan, documents all this and more in his comprehensive, beautifully written book An Anatomy of Addiction: Sigmund Freud, William Halsted and the Miracle Drug Cocaine. 1. Freud was initially attracted to cocaine because he wanted to help a close friend. One of Freud’s dearest friends, Dr. Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow, was heavily addicted to morphine, and Freud initially believed that cocaine could cure him. A brilliant man and talented doctor, Fleischl-Marxow had an accident while do... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118711 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:18:48 +0100 5118711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107901&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2F12-steps-for-young-women%2F Hazelden Study Signals Importance of Twelve Step Meeting Attendance for Young Women in Early RecoveryThe frequency of attending Twelve Step mutual support meetings following addiction treatment can help predict success in early recovery for young women, according to a data analysis study.Meeting attendance frequency predicted both abstinence from substance use and number of drinking days at six months post-treatment for young women studied, reports Audrey A. Klein.Analysis focused on 139 young women, age 17-23, attending Twelve Step-based residential treatment for a substance use disorder. They were statistically compared to a sample of 237 young men who attended the same treatment program during the same time period. The analysis showed young women were as likely as young men to attend Tw... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107901 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:10:01 +0100 5107901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107902&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2F12-step-and-mutual-help-programs%2F Twelve-Step and Mutual-Help Programs for Addictive DisordersThis important statement was made after an extensive review of outcomes research on addiction treatment. It reflects the conclusions of recent scientific reviews that alcohol and other drug addictions are chronic, relapsing diseases of the brain.The Minnesota Model, which throughout the 1980s featured 28 days of intensive inpatient and residential treatment, has more recently evolved to a longer continuum of care and greater reliance on outpatient treatment. Brief detoxification establishes abstinence, and patients move to successively less intensive levels of care from inpatient, to partial, to intensive outpatient, to less frequent outpatient visits. The model of chronic illness, which O’Brien and McLellan used in comparin... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107902 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:37:18 +0100 5107902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097102&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35822&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatwinnersdo.com%2Famy-winehouse-relapse-or-cold-turkey-alcohol-withdrawal%2F The sad and mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Amy Winehouse have left me baffled. The unfortunate truth is that either account is believable. Her family says it was alcohol withdrawal. A drug dealer has come forward saying that he arranged for Amy to buy some drugs from another drug dealer referred to as “Mr. Big”. He says she purchased 1/2 oz. crack and a 1/2 oz. heroin. Police are saying that there was no evidence of drugs or even paraphernalia in the house. Her family says she had been clean off drugs for years and was trying to quit alcohol. They believe she had a heart attack or seizure from trying to go cold turkey. They did an autopsy but it came up inconclusive; toxicology will take a few more weeks to be done. The family is setting up a fund to set up a reha... What Winners Do blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097102 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:29:27 +0100 5097102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086580&cid=t_99327_177_f&fid=38134&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbabybound.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F01%2Fwoah-where-the-fuck-have-i-been%2F Wow. It’s been almost 2 years. A lot can happen in 2 years. Lives can change, people can grow, horrible tragedies can happen…. …yeah some of that happened but let’s not get crazy here. It’s really not all that exciting. In fact it’s kinda downright boring. So last I posted I was moving to Seattle. Yay for me! Holy crap that was a long time ago. Sorry I just can’t get over that. Yeah I moved to Seattle for 10 months and decided that I would be insane to continue living there. Depressed infertile divorcing people should not move to Seattle. There should be a law about it. The sky is a unique shade of grey. Let’s just leave it at that because there is good and bad up there but overall I had a hard time. (And to be fair to the lovely residents of... B a b y B o u n d blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086580 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:59:57 +0100 5086580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5078045&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fph8VNxNqhAc%2F I recently received a question about stopping Suboxone (buprenorphine)…. I deleted the message but I remember the bulk of it, and I have a copy of my response. I thought that someone else out there may find it useful, so here it is: The question: I have decided to go off Suboxone after that was recommended to me by almost everybody. My doctor told me to taper off by going down to 2 mg per day, and then take 2 mg every other day, then every third day, and stopping after I get to every 4th day. I followed those instructions and I am taking it every other day, but I am now getting sick every other day. Is this a good way to stop Suboxone, or do you recommend another way? My response: I’m not certain who is giving you advice. More and more, the standard of care is to keep people on bu... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5078045 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 04:09:56 +0100 5078045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069533&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F26%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-july-26-2011%2F I call one of my relatives a “bad news bear.” Although he has good intentions, his spewing out the world’s greatest tragedies every few minutes does not help me. In fact, all that worrying and anxiety could hurt. After calling him out on it, he said his main intention was concern. I get that. I think parents today are like him. They just want to protect their children from the onslaught of offenders who are posted up all over the news 24/7. If you love someone, however, how do you best protect them? I think there is a balance between caring and being overprotective. And everyone deals with this in their own way. Some loved ones may minimize your pain because they hurt seeing you upset. That’s why they say things like, “I’m sure you’ll feel better s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069533 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:02:25 +0100 5069533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062422&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FREDMdqdqAGM%2F In just two days, much has been written about Amy Winehouse and her sudden death. The 27-year-old British singer-songwriter made no secret of her battle with drugs, alcohol and depression over the course of her short career. But amidst the speculation of how exactly she died—although many would say an overdose seems like the obvious culprit—some are now asking a bigger question: Who’s to blame? The five-time Grammy winner may be remembered best for her hit song “Rehab” where she sang: They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, ‘No, no, no.’ In a previous interview on the British TV show, The Album Chart Show, Winehouse admitted she had a problem and that song represented a plea from family and friends to seek help: I do drink a lot. I think it’s symp... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062422 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:55:46 +0100 5062422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062363&cid=t_99327_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F1Mn8zmxQWT0%2F Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation 2008 Lecture Ian Hickie presents research on mental health issues in the Australian legal profession. He discusses help-seeking behaviours, productivity, disability, economic burden of illness, suicide and prevention efforts, substance use, neurobiology, treatments, gender and age differences, stigma and discrimination, and more. Extremely well-researched presentation with many statistics and perspectives. The 40 minute lecture is followed by a panel discussion, a Q&A session with the audience, and a brief talk by organization co-founder George Jepson. The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation works to “raise awareness, improve education and build effective models of support which focus on mental health wellbeing” in the legal profession, and... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062363 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:30:04 +0100 5062363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062506&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FYhgvJGg0qI0%2F By now, everyone who knows of Amy Winehouse is aware of her tragic death. I’ve always liked her music. So much music these days has been digitally processed and reprocessed, and assaults the senses– I’m thinking of Lady Gaga, for example, whose ‘Edge of Glory’ would be pretty boring in concert if you took away the flashing lights. But Amy Winehouse’s music had an earthy, sultry style that communicated her emotions in a way that words can’t… which is why we even listen to music, at least in my case. Every now and then I’ll meet a person coming in for help who has an addiction that seems to be almost part of a death wish, as if the person is taking agent after agent with one goal: to eliminate any sense of consciousness or emotion. It is ... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062506 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:16:44 +0100 5062506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050582&cid=t_99327_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-are-humans-so-drawn-to-sunlight-despite-its-negative-consequences%2F2011.07.20 It doesn’t make sense: If sunlight causes cancer, why are human beings so drawn to it, flocking to sunny beaches for vacation time and hoping for sunshine after a rainy spell? One answer, says David Fisher, chief of dermatology at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, may be that humans are literally addicted to sunshine so our skin can make vitamin D. New evidence suggests that we get the same kick out of being in the sun that we get from any addictive substance or behavior. It stimulates the so-called “pleasure center” in the brain and releases a rush of feel-good chemicals like endorphins. So there may be more than a desire to look good in a tan behind the urge to soak up the sun’s rays. This craving may be a survival mechanism that evolved over thousands ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050582 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:00:34 +0100 5050582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036582&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2F5LpSKHRr-d8%2F Each physician who prescribes buprenorphine for opioid dependence can treat only 30 patients at a time during the first year as a certified prescriber. After a year, physicians can apply to have the limit increased to 100 patients. I have been at the 100-patient limit for some time, in part because of the shortage of providers willing to undergo training and go through the paperwork to get certified. At the same time, there are no limits at all on the number of patients who can be treated by doctors with high-potency opioids, and no limits or regulations on the types of conditions that can be treated using narcotics. It is no surprise that I receive several calls per day from people who ask for help, who I am forced to turn away. The 100-patient cap, combined with the shortage of doctors,... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036582 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:23:12 +0100 5036582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036274&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2Funwasted-an-interview-with-sacha-scoblic-on-the-sober-life%2F As a recovering drunk myself, I was especially interested in the new memoir, Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety by Sacha Z. Scoblic, a writer in Washington, DC, and a contributing editor to The New Republic. I thought I’d ask her more about what she thinks about life without booze. 1. If you knew all that you do today, what would you have done differently your first year of sobriety? Sacha: The first year of sobriety is riddled with basic epiphanies most adults have sooner than do addicts (like: Paying bills is not optional and I don’t have to drink just because it’s Arbor Day) as well as turbulent emotions rising to the surface after years of self-medication through alcohol, drugs, and denial. And then there’s this feeling that no one understands your loss, cravings, or anxieties, bec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036274 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:42:51 +0100 5036274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036583&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fy27qU6SzGLQ%2F (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone) Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036583 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 03:13:43 +0100 5036583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028453&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F13%2Fwhy-sugar-is-dangerous-to-depression%2F You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the link between sugar and depression. Anyone who doubts the relationship need only to spend a night in our house and see what type of behavior happens when two kids consume 12-ounce cans of Coke or Sprite — and the demonic demonstrations that happen after a 7-11 slurpee, especially if it’s red or blue, or God forbid, a mix. People who suffer from depression are especially vulnerable to sugar’s evil power. I am so sensitive to white-flour, processed foods that I can practically set an alarm to for three hours after consumption, at which time I will be cursing myself for inhaling the large piece of birthday cake at the party because I am feeling so miserable. That doesn’t stop me from eating dessert at the next gathering, of c... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028453 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:34:30 +0100 5028453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028462&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F10%2Fbetty-ford-dies-at-age-93%2F Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States died Friday at the age of 93. Dr. William Van Ornum gives this succinct summary of her life in a tribute on the website of the American Mental Health Foundation (AMHF): Mrs. Ford was born in Chicago, grew up in modest circumstances, became a dancer, and married Mr. Ford shortly after he returned from the Navy in World War II. She thought she was signing up for a life with a mid-western lawyer; instead he chose politics and she was thrust into the role of a political wife, all the while raising 4 children and trying to keep her own interests as well. Political life became difficult for her and she felt an emptiness inside from which she sought solace in alcohol and prescription pills. She was open about her addiction at a time when othe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028462 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:23:09 +0100 5028462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029226&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fy5ayPpVzbt8%2F Last night I came across a medical student web site that included a link to a post of mine from a couple years ago, that described my feelings about Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, and other benzodiazepines.   The people commenting at that site appreciated my comments, and my comments were ‘seconded’ by other physicians.  Here’s the post again, for those who missed it the first time: Twelve Things I Hate About Benzodiazepines Author: Jeffrey Junig MD PhD Because of several highly publicized deaths from combining Suboxone with benzodiazepines or “benzos”—a class of sedative medications that includes Xanax and Valium—I am frequently asked about the safety of combining Suboxone with those medications. The risk of life-threatening respiratory depression can be mitigate... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029226 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:17:17 +0100 5029226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984501&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FbjbrRmU_AUk%2F URL: http://psychology.vanguard.edu/amoebaweb/Outstanding resource maintained by Douglas Degelman, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California. Features over 2000 categorized links to quality psychology content. For: Anyone, Researchers, StudentsTopics: ADHD, Abnormal, Academia, Addiction, Anxiety, Behaviour Management, Bipolar, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Depression, Eating Disorders, General Psychology, Mental HealthFeatures: Articles, Databases, Information, Links Outstanding resource maintained by Douglas Degelman, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California. Features over 2000 categorized links to quality psychology content. Also, lists monthly featured websites, psychologically related, of cours... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984501 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:00:13 +0100 4984501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960334&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fbetter-treatment-for-women-alcoholics%2F Early treatment for women with alcohol addiction (EWA) reduces mortality: a randomized controlled trial with long-term register follow-up.Gjestad R., Franck J., Lindberg S. et al. Request reprint Alcohol and Alcoholism: 2011, 46(2), p. 170–176.Compared to usual treatment, over the next 27 years introduction of a comprehensively serviced female-only alcohol treatment unit in Sweden substantially extended the lives of its patients – a uniquely convincing demonstration that improving treatment can save lives.Summary Alarmed by rising numbers of alcohol dependent women and their high death rate, in the 1980s Sweden established a female-only unit at a hospital alcohol treatment centre in the capital Stockholm. Compared to ‘treatment as usual’ wards and clinics, the Early Treatme... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960334 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:22:09 +0100 4960334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945208&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FVpNNB4h6x5I%2F I received the following e-mail a couple days ago: Hi I had been on Suboxone for 9 years. I was put on it the week it was approved by FDA. I found your posts in a blog. I was looking for a class action suit against this terrible drug. That man who said he was enjoying a Suboxone was right. I was on it almost 9 years and did get high and stay high all day, just like methadone. It causes depression and brain damage. I have been off it for 2 months now and am very sick with depression, panic attacks, and have not been able to even take care of myself. Please, if people want to get off drugs help them and send to treatment and AA NA. thanks nancy Those of you who have read this blog for a while may remember the posts ‘back in the old days’—a few years ago—when I would get these kinds o... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945208 Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:50:00 +0100 4945208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934329&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F16%2Fwe-need-better-filters-smart-alerts%2F When I review the research and write about the intersection of human behavior and technology, I’m constantly amazed by how far we’ve come. In just 5 years, social networks have become not only “all the rage,” but also a must-have for a significant portion of the U.S. population. In just 10 years, video online went from a mess of different, incompatible formats to YouTube and its competitors, revolutionizing the way many people engage with entertainment online (and to a lesser extent, information). In just 15 years, the Internet and technologies it has enabled has transformed not only many people’s workplaces, but the very connectedness and relationships we have with others. Let that sink in for a few minutes. In just 15 years, a set of technologies has started... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934329 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:48:03 +0100 4934329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893927&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2F8pitPCKr9a4%2F Ah yes…. another post about my book… Over the past few years, I’ve taken posts from this blog, posts from other sources that I’ve written, some sections of a ‘memoir’ that I have not gotten around to writing… and combined them in a book about addiction. The book does not hold together as well as it should, and it is way too long– so instead of a ‘sit and read’ book it is more like a reference, similar to the blog itself. If you like this blog, you’ll like it; I’ve taken the more important posts and cleaned them up and organized them. I’ve added some new material as well, including a section about my own background. If you have a loved one on Suboxone, or have an interest in the medication yourself, you will know... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893927 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:07:39 +0100 4893927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883910&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fiz1T5XSIZzU%2F On May 27th, 2011, actor Jeff Conaway died from complications of opioid dependence. His death has been attributed to several causes—sepsis, pneumonia, and aspiration among them— but there is little debate over the ultimate cause of his death at the age of 60 years, that being addiction to opioid pain medications. Mr. Conaway reportedly struggled with chronic pain and addiction to pain medications for a number of years. His situation was particularly tragic—living with severe pain that was relieved by nothing save for a substance with the power to destroy him. Such situations are, unfortunately, not uncommon. It is easy to take the position that Mr. Conaway should have avoided pain pills; that his addiction essentially disqualified him from even considering them. I will take that atti... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883910 Tue, 31 May 2011 15:57:00 +0100 4883910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883909&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2FlqG-w-uDfGA%2Fsteve-earle-and-ghost-of-hank-williams.html Book Review: I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive Musician Steve Earle made a solo name for himself with Guitar Town and Copperhead Road after playing in legendary country and bluegrass bands as a young prodigy. He was nominated for a Grammy, his reputations soared, he added rock and roll to his range—until 1991, when Earle put out the aptly named live album, Shut Up and Die Like An Aviator. Shortly thereafter, he was dropped by his record label for long-standing drug problems, and landed in prison with a heavy sentence for possession of heroin. He completed rehab successfully, earned his parole in 1994, and has gone on since then to make several highly successful albums, guest star in the TV series The Wire, and write music for the New Orleans-based series Treme. And now he has wr... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883909 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:07 +0100 4883909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862955&cid=t_99327_158_f&fid=38949&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAgingWithGraceCareconnection%2F%7E3%2FqUHPVRO7fdI%2Faddiction-knows-no-age.html The following article appeared in the Wall Street Journal on May 18, 2011 and speaks to the growing problem of drug and alcohol abuse among our older citizens. "I retired, I started drinking more," one man said. "I lost my father, my mother, my dog, and it gave me a good excuse," said another. A remarkable shift in the number of older adults reporting substance abuse problems is making this scene more common. Between 1992 and 2008, treatment admissions for those 50 and older more than doubled in the U.S. That number will continue to grow, experts say, as the massive baby boom generation ages. "There is a level of societal denial around the issue," said Peter Provet, the head of Odyssey House in New York, another center offering specialized substance abuse treatment programs for seniors.... Aging with Grace CareConnection blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862955 Wed, 25 May 2011 20:47:00 +0100 4862955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862634&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FovqaR0_pg1c%2F URL: http://www.mincava.umn.edu/The Minnesota Center against Violence and Abuse (MinCAVA) has information on these subjects: child abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, trafficking, workplace violence, youth violence and more. Most information is in PDF form, but some are in regular text or web pages. For: AnyoneTopics: Abnormal, Academia, Addiction, Anger, Behaviour Management, Child and Adolescent, Clinical Psychology, Common Factors, Depression, Emotional Health, Family Therapy, General Psychology, Life, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Quality of Life, RelationshipsFeatures: Articles, Grants & Funding, Information, Links, Multimedia, Resources We are an online resource community only.  Our services are limited t... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862634 Wed, 25 May 2011 17:00:13 +0100 4862634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853233&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F5hQbXU2Pg08%2Fassortment-of-drug-related-articles.html Misc. Stuff Etc. In this post, I offer up an assortment of links to articles, mostly by me, and other related material, so that I can put checkmarks after a few items on the official Addiction Inbox to-do list, here on the official Addiction Inbox plexiglass clipboard. So let’s see…. * Here’s an article I wrote awhile ago for Brain Blogger, called "Why Do Schizophrenics Smoke Cigarettes?" The comments alone are worth a look. Spoiler: Schizophrenics smoke cigarettes because nicotine helps quell both audio and visual hallucinations. * One of the very early posts here at Addiction Inbox, called "Marijuana Withdrawal," transformed itself into a self-help support board over time, with lengthy and enlightening comments appended to a short original post about the symptoms of marijuana depe... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853233 Sun, 22 May 2011 17:04:22 +0100 4853233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828988&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F14%2Fthe-interventionist-an-interview-with-joani-gammill-about-addiction%25e2%2580%25a8%25e2%2580%25a8%25e2%2580%25a8%2F Today I have the honor of interviewing a friend of mine who has just written a compelling memoir, The Interventionist, about addiction from the perspective of both an addict and an interventionist. You begin your book with the quote from Khaled Hosseini’s book, The Kite Runner: “And that, I believe, is what true redemption is … when guilt leads to good.” Do you believe your work with other addicts is partly what keeps you clean and sober? Why compels you to enter into such hopeless situations and try to fix things? Joani: I think as the quote infers “when guilt leads to good,” my work with addicts and alcoholics assuages my own continued ambivalence about my responsibility about having this disease. It is not at all logical. There is no “choice” about having this ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828988 Sat, 14 May 2011 10:29:48 +0100 4828988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821167&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FVK6RlKDSs8c%2F I have a few interesting books to recommend– the first mostly just for people interested in history and science, and the second two out of the ‘self help’ section.  I’ve read the latter two books and think they are valuable for people in recovery, to help grow into a new life of sobriety.  I receive a buck if you purchase through the links, and the proceeds help to support the site– so if you check them out, thanks! More and more addicts presenting to my practice are reporting addictions to heroin.  I wrote a post a month or two ago, wondering if the change in the Oxycontin formulation would have the unintended consequence of increased use of heroin– and with it, the increased use of needles.  I’m sorry to say that my concerns were justified. ... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821167 Sat, 14 May 2011 02:00:05 +0100 4821167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803537&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2FwQvw3PQc9_Y%2Ffalling-down-and-getting-up-nic-sheffs.html  Sheff jumps back on the carousel, lives to tell about it. What would it be like to have written a drug memoir and an autobiography before you turned 30? Would it seem like the end or the beginning? Are there any worlds left to conquer? The last decade has brought us fleshed-out young examples by Augusten Burroughs, age 37 (Dry); Joshua Lyons, 35 (Pill Head); and Benoit Denizet-Lewis, 33 (America Anonymous). This more or less fits the pattern established by the doyenne of the genre, Elizabeth Wurtzel, who, at age 35, wrote the addiction memoir More, Now, Again. And now along comes Nic Sheff to put them all to shame, making geezers out of every one of them.  Sheff wrote Tweak at 24, telling the world about addiction and how he’d conquered it. Well, as it turns out, not really. B... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803537 Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:37 +0100 4803537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829166&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FfqBcrr6erTs%2F Do you know Seth Jaffe? I didn’t, but now I kind of do, which makes me lucky. Seth is a sober coach for drug addicts who appears on the A&E docu-reality show Relapse. A few weeks ago, I wrote a Blisstree post called 6 Reasons to Watch A&E’s Relapse Even If You’ve Never Met a Junkie, and in it I said some positive things about Seth regarding his sober coaching techniques and the very affecting presence he projects on the show. Seth saw my post and liked it. He found my email and contacted me. I was both surprised and thrilled: I knew I had a million questions for him about drug addiction and being a sober coach that I’d want to get answered for Blisstree readers. Also, I respect Seth, and it’s always fun to interview someone you hold in high regard. Bei... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829166 Fri, 06 May 2011 15:15:45 +0100 4829166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794993&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FfqBcrr6erTs%2F Do you know Seth Jaffe? I didn’t, but now I kind of do, which makes me lucky. Seth is a sober coach for drug addicts who appears on the A&E docu-reality show Relapse. A few weeks ago, I wrote a Blisstree post called 6 Reasons to Watch A&E’s Relapse Even If You’ve Never Met a Junkie, and in it I said some positive things about Seth regarding his sober coaching techniques and the very affecting presence he projects on the show. Seth saw my post and liked it. He found my email and contacted me. I was both surprised and thrilled: I knew I had a million questions for him about drug addiction and being a sober coach that I’d want to get answered for Blisstree readers. Also, I respect Seth, and it’s always fun to interview someone you hold in high regard. Bei... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794993 Fri, 06 May 2011 15:15:45 +0100 4794993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789245&cid=t_99327_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnational-strategy-to-reduce-prescription-drug-abuse-is-playing-big-brother-ok-in-an-emergency%2F2011.05.05 The White House released its plan last week entitled “Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis” [LINK to pdf of this 10-page plan]. Below are some of the elements in this plan that is part of the National Drug Control Strategy (like that has worked so well :-/). The areas of this plan involve education of prescribers and users, monitoring programs, making it easy to dispose of controlled dangerous substances (CDS for short), and enhancing enforcement. The plan establishes thirteen goals for the next five years, and also creates a coordinating body, the Federal Council on Prescription Drug Abuse, to oversee and coordinate it all. If any of our readers have comments on specific items (I’ve numbered them for ease of reference), including uninte... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789245 Thu, 05 May 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4789245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789647&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2FQqGfwCMh66Q%2Faddiction-in-courtroom-guest-post.html Forensic psychology and the paradox of addiction. Allison Gamble writes for PsychologyDegree.net. The paradox of addiction presents a legal conundrum when it comes to determining the extent of a defendant’s guilt in criminal court. Although addiction is generally considered a mental health condition, it does not lie within the parameters that typically define mental illness in the courts. Though defense lawyers may present addiction as a mitigating factor--in some cases influencing the jury to vote for a lesser conviction--addiction does not excuse the defendant from being legally responsible for the crime. Forensic psychology is a field that weaves together psychology and the criminal justice system. Oftentimes these insights prove useful for determining legal guilt or innocence. For... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789647 Thu, 05 May 2011 16:27:06 +0100 4789647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789495&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FD6pzjwl-BEw%2F I don’t smoke pot. (It just makes me sleepy. Plus, I’m 35 weeks pregnant, so it’s probably not the best time to be taking up weed as a hobby.) But when it comes to marijuana, I’ve always adopted kind of a live-and-let-live mentality. Oh, I know full well that it’s illegal in all but 15 U.S. states, but like a lot of people I know (and Willie Nelson, who I don’t know), I don’t think pot should be illegal in any of them. I even know someone who knows someone who knows someone who’s related to someone who may be (or may not be ) a full-time, professional ganja dealer to rich people who like to have their drug of choice delivered to them directly and regularly in a civilized manner. And near where my husband and I own a weekend country home, ther... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789495 Wed, 04 May 2011 21:00:40 +0100 4789495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775485&cid=t_99327_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FEF6Z_0wVPOU%2F The Downward Spiral of Upward Social Comparison Comparisons among peers, acted out as situations around a fashion photo shoot and party, mixed with narrated citations. An unusual video format, with lots of good research info about media and peer comparisons affecting body image, drinking, eating disorders, identity, racism, individuality, suicide, and more. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775485 Mon, 02 May 2011 22:38:22 +0100 4775485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771349&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FCXOtxFUDhh8%2F I’ll often joke with others who have histories of addiction over the ingenuity of addicts when it comes to finding or using drugs.  If that amount of creativity and work ethic were ever harnessed for legitimate reasons, the opportunities would be limitless! I have similar thoughts when I read the story about several county inmates at a New Jersey jail, who smuggled Suboxone into jail disguised as watercolor paint on cartoon images! Dope Smugglers The story has a humorous side, of course– but after we stop laughing, we are all sobered by the memories of the living hell created by opioids, detox, and withdrawal.  I’ve met many, many people who went through detox in jail or prison, and I realize that being in such a state is no laughing matter.  I assume that the exp... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771349 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:02:55 +0100 4771349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762938&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35804&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.addictionrecoveryblog.com%2Faddiction-recovery-tips%2Fus-shifts-drug-policy-towards-substance-prevention%2F America seems to be shifting its overall approach on drugs these days. Ever since the 1970’s when Nixon popularized the term, “War on Drugs”, and the issue came into sharp focus. Ever since the approach on drugs in America has continuously been mired in controversy. Many opponents of this battle-like approach have argued that the funding for enforcement has been vastly disproportionate to the inadequate attention that drug prevention programs have received. This attitude has been sifting in recent years and has finally come to fruition with the latest administration announcing a direct policy change towards the issue of drugs in America. The Washington Informer reported in July of last year that President Obama’s chief advisor on the nation’s drug policy, Richard Gil Kerlikowske,... Addiction Recovery Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762938 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:15:22 +0100 4762938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758786&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fnominate-someone-for-the-samhsa-voice-awards%2F I pass this news release along, in case anyone knows of someone (or themselves!) who might be a good candidate for nomination for this year’s SAMHSA Voice Awards. Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in recognizing consumer/peer leaders and TV and film professionals who have given a voice to individuals with behavioral health problems (mental health and/or addiction issues). This year, SAMHSA is putting special emphasis on the impact of trauma and the significant effects it can have on individuals, families and friends, communities, and our Nation. Consideration is being given to consumer/peer leaders who have successfully advocated for the rights of trauma survivors and promoted the importance of trauma-informed care. Additional considerat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758786 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:01:13 +0100 4758786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753888&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FZreb6XEhRCA%2F I think the thing that scared me the most about Kelly on last night’s episode of Relapse on A&E was that she looked so normal. Okay, well, maybe not normal, exactly. (Poor thing wears waaay too much makeup, tacky jewelry, and maybe applies too much self-tanner. Oh, and the color of her dyed blonde hair could electrically power a small city.) But to me, overall Kelly looked like a fit and healthy young woman who gets enough sleep and cares about her appearance. Turns out, she’s a serious meth addict who has already lost custody of her young daughter and is facing a year in jail. Now, I know perfectly well that, in life, appearances can be deceiving, but I guess I never really thought that cliché applied to hardcore drug users; I always naively thought that addicts were easy... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753888 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:00:04 +0100 4753888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753976&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fg_ZUm4xRsCc%2F Yesterday I received the following e-mail: Hi Dr. Junig, Please let me first say – Suboxone SAVED MY LIFE. I was down and out until 2 years ago, when I began using Suboxone. Now, having completed all the pre-req’s for medical school with nothing less than straight A’s, I find myself on track to apply to medical school. But here’s the problem. I’m still taking Suboxone and have no desire to stop. I will quit if absolutely necessary, but I’m wondering if you’ve heard anything new regarding the legalities of health care providers taking buprenorphine. I would love to enter a field like psychiatry or family medicine, as these are the doc’s I’ve grown fond of over the past two years. I haven’t told my doctors of my med school plans, as... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753976 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:18:42 +0100 4753976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747653&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FHvGYjMfFee4%2F URL: http://www.samhsa.gov/SAMHSA was established in 1992 and directed by Congress to target effectively substance abuse and mental health services to the people most in need and to translate research in these areas more effectively and more rapidly into the general health care system. For: Anyone, Consumers, AnyoneTopics: Behaviour Management, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Fitness, Cognitive Training, Common Factors, Depression, General Psychology, Health Promotion, Health Psychology, Health and Social Services, Life, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Quality of Life, Addiction, Attachment, Behaviour Management, Diagnosis, Emotional Health, Health Promotion, Health Psychology, Health and Social Services, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Self-help, Social S... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747653 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 17:00:46 +0100 4747653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734206&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F20%2Fdigital-detox-week-on-sort-of-staying-away-from-technology%2F Photo Credit: .:AR:. (Flickr) Happy Digital Detox Week! This week, I’m joining Adbusters in celebrating seven days away from technology — television, video games, and internet included. Wait. What was that last one? Did I just say “internet”? Yeah, internet. That internet thing…that thing that I’m on right now. Did I just out myself as a failure at my own little project? It’s only the third day of my week-long experiment and already I’m a hypocrite — but with good reason. Computers and the internet have invaded my life to such a great extent that I can’t completely disconnect. Not even if I wanted to. Here’s why: I work in an office. Every aspect of my day job, unfortunately, is performed in front of the big bright computer ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734206 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:51:34 +0100 4734206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734436&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FEt3Aiz6TdDc%2F We’ve listened to the soothing audio of yoga instructors; we’ve heard the dulcet tones of chilled-out painters in our earbuds, and we’ve even included Alec Baldwin on our list of special people whose voices have the power to lull us into a pleasantly calm catatonic state – if only for a few brief minutes. This week’s installment of Kind Coma pays homage to Earth Week 2011 by featuring four eco-friendly raw food chefs with relaxing voices that will have you blissing out and praising Mother Earth in no time. Be sure to put away all sharp kitchen implements well before you dim the lights and hit “play.” Happy Earth Week, hippies! Just don’t get so chillaxed that you actually sleep through Earth Day. Blisstree’s raw, vegan chef Douglas McNish (... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734436 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:45:20 +0100 4734436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734437&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F5QvZKe6pbmc%2F My reasons for watching TV are manifold: Escapism, boredom, I-can’t-sleep-ism, it’s like having company over, (which I think was my grandma’s reason), to make myself feel better about myself, and just out of plain old (mostly bad) habit. But sometimes I watch TV simply to terrify myself to the core. Not by watching anything in the horror genre, but by catching a show like Relapse on A&E. This network is king of docu-reality series that focus on serious mental and physical health issues (Heavy, Hoarders, and Intervention are also very well done, though Intervention is a little too “Dateline NBC” for my tastes.) Relapse makes tough-love weight-loss reality TV shows like Heavy and The Biggest Loser look like springtime picnics in the park. You don’t hav... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734437 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:23:16 +0100 4734437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723754&cid=t_99327_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F17%2Fsunday-news-round-up-not-intended-to-be-a-factual-statement-edition%2F Actually, the round-up is not a joke – but I have been cracking up at Stephen Colbert’s response (and the resulting tweets) to Republican John Kyl’s way, way off statement on the Senate floor that >90% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortion (it’s more like 3%), and his spokesperson’s response, when Kyl was called on the error, that it “was not intended to be a factual statement.” [more via Know Your Meme] At Our Bodies Our Blog, some discussion of “opiate babies” as the new “crack babies,” with all of the problematic media coverage and decentering of women’s stories and experiences that implies. Also, OBOS is looking for individuals who might want to be on the cover of the 40th anniversary edition of the book,... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723754 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:12:13 +0100 4723754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723946&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F16%2Fcan-drug-rehabs-treat-mood-disorders%2F Awhile back the Washington Post ran an excellent article by Maia Szalavitz entited, “So, What Made Me an Addict? Experts Debate Whether Disease or Defect Is to Blame.” This question is so crucial to how we treat persons suffering from both addiction and mental disorders, and especially how we deal with those with dual-diagnoses. Just after I was discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital, a friend of mine strongly encouraged me to go away to a halfway house of sorts for three or more months … where they treat addicts primarily, and some persons battling mental illness … in order to allow time to heal. I ran it by my doctor. Did she think three months of AA meetings and yoga and group therapy would pull me out of my depression? Her response was interesting, and one I re... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723946 Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:10:54 +0100 4723946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4720083&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Falcohol-withdrawal-during-hospitalization-ajn-the-american-journal-of-nursing%2F This article discusses the effects on the body of chronic alcohol intake, the potential symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, and ways to recognize and treat these symptoms through early assessment and consistent intervention.Alcohol Detox During Hospitalisation - Free downloadRelated articlesHelp an Alcoholic 8 (recoveryissexy.com)Alcohol use by healthcare professionals. (twelvestepfacilitation.com)Alcoholic Liver Disease (twelvestepfacilitation.com)Physical Effects of Alcohol on Women (recoveryissexy.com)Enabling of Alcoholism / Addiction Questionnaire (recoveryissexy.com)NEWYou Can Help an AlcoholicRandom ArticlesGender and Alcohol Rehabilitation over 8 yearsAlcohol Misuse Among the ElderlyDepression in Former DrinkersAlcohol Reduces Breast MilkPainkiller abuse (Source: Twelve Step Facilitati... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4720083 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:20:27 +0100 4720083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709247&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F14%2Ffomo-addiction-the-fear-of-missing-out%2F As serendipity often strikes randomly, I was reading an article in The New York Times by Jenna Wortham the other day at the same time I was reading the chapter in Sherry Turkle’s new book, Alone Together about people who fear they are missing out. Teens and adults text while driving, because the possibility of a social connection is more important than their own lives (and the lives of others). They interrupt one call to take another, even when they don’t know who’s on the other line (but to be honest, we’ve been doing this for years before caller ID). They check their Twitter stream while on a date, because something more interesting or entertaining just might be happening. It’s not “interruption,” it’s connection. But wait a minute… ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709247 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:15:24 +0100 4709247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696685&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F10%2Fgetting-the-love-you-want-over-and-over-again%2F In his New York Times bestseller, Getting the Love Your Want, psychologist Harville Hendrix explains why people who grew up in homes — well, a little like the one in the 2006 flick Little Miss Sunshine — without proper emotional nurturing seek dysfunctional relationships as adults. He explains the low brain — our more reptilian thought process that can’t handle anything different than what it already knows and reverts to fear as its primary gear — and the new brain, the cerebral cortex that is conscious, alert, able to reason and think logically. He writes: What we are doing, I have discovered from years of theoretical research and clinical observation, is looking for someone who has the predominant character traits of the people who raised us. Our old brain, trapped in t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696685 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:05:02 +0100 4696685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696686&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F10%2Fvirginia-heffernan-on-internet-addiction%2F I’ve been saying it for as long as it’s been around — “Internet addiction” is an unhealthy focus and fascination on the technology, as though it caused people to enjoy spending time interacting with it. If people are using the Internet to socialize — on Facebook, Twitter, etc. — how can we turn around and characterize that as a bad thing? Would we engage in the same negative characterization if we were referring to someone who simply did this over the telephone? Or face-to-face? Of course not. And that’s the disconnect that happens when psychologists throw out these not-well-thought-out terms to describe something they are concerned about. They turn it into a dysfunction through inadequate and poorly theorized labels, that then get picked up ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696686 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:29:57 +0100 4696686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696959&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FuA9yORq3fi8%2F I have written about the sleazy actions of health insurer Humana.  Today I filed a formal complaint with the Wisconsin Commisioner of Insurance regarding their practices.  I’ll copy my letter below, rather than take the time to write everything over again.  If there is an attorney willing to work the case on contingency, please contact me.  Likewise, if other patients or physicians are having similar problems with Humana, send me an e-mail through my website at www.fdlpsych.com. The complaint: My patient, XXXXXX, has been treated for opioid dependence for two years, using maintenance treatment with Suboxone.  He has maintained sobriety from opioids.  He also suffers from panic attacks and takes Effexor daily.  He uses lorazepam, a sedative, several times per month, and takes a... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696959 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:00:18 +0100 4696959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4677120&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fl3Km47ZfZRo%2F Sorry about the re-run—I wrote this several years ago, and I still agree with the concept of ‘dynamic character defects.’ As I read it now, I recognize how things have changed; buprenorphine (Suboxone) has been incorporated into many of the major treatment centers, and even the smallest programs have at least become familiar with the medication. There still exist some programs where the staff remain ‘anti-Suboxone’, but those places are becoming the exception, and are essentially marginalizing themselves out of the treatment industry. You may note that I had an attitude of cooperation when I wrote this post, years ago. I suggested that those who prescribe buprenorphine work WITH those treatment centers that were ‘anti-Suboxone;’ that they recognize each others’ strengths. ... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4677120 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:42:45 +0100 4677120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4677118&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsecret-scars-of-self-injury%2F Secret Scars; A Recovery Book What is self-injury? Why would people deliberately hurt themselves? Why can’t they stop? What can I do to help?These questions are asked and answered in Secret Scars, a revealing look at the addiction of self-injury. Self-injury is one of the fastest growing health problems among teenage girls today. Despite its prevalence, however, self-injury remains a behavior shrouded in mystery and misconceptions. Secret Scars is a groundbreaking book that demystifies self-injury by explaining it as an addiction. The author takes both an engaging and scholarly approach to help the reader understand the dynamics involved in self-injury. Not only does Turner share case histories and her personal struggle as a former self-injurer, she backs it up by citing studies, res... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4677118 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:45:21 +0100 4677118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664482&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35804&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.addictionrecoveryblog.com%2Faddiction-recovery-tips%2Fassociative-behaviors-separating-the-beverage-from-the-cigarette%2F Drinking, whether coffee or alcohol, and cigarettes are two things that have always gone together. Regardless if you’re a smoker or not, if you’ve ever been to a coffee shop or bar, you’ve noticed the prevalence of this associative behavior. The two activities seem to be inextricably linked and have shared a close relationship for centuries, yet recent legislation passed in many countries has placed restrictions on this benchmark pastime. Smokers are finding it increasingly difficult to partake in smoking due to many bans put in places. In America, the federal government has yet to enact a nationwide ban on the practice but has rather left its future, at least for now, up to the determination of each state. As of March this year, 27 states have currently passed legislation and have e... Addiction Recovery Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664482 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:27:02 +0100 4664482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643002&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fsetting-the-standard-for-recovery%2F Image via WikipediaSetting the standard for recovery: physicians’ health programs.US physician health programmes demonstrate that long-term intensive monitoring of substance use allied with swift and certain sanctions and abstinence-based mutual aid and treatment can enable seriously dependent individuals to stop using psychoactive substances.Original abstract; Physician health programmes offer drug- and alcohol-using physicians the opportunity, motivation, and support to achieve long-term recovery, using monitoring through drug and alcohol testing, treatment, and 12-step programmes. In return, physicians sign contracts, typically for five years, to adhere to the programme, including completing treatment and submitting to frequent random drug testing to ensure abstinence. Each workin... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643002 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:24:00 +0100 4643002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636480&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F25%2Fare-gambling-problems-more-common-than-drinking-problems-maybe-not%2F Research out of the University at Buffalo by John Welte and colleagues suggests that gambling problems — pathological gambling, to be specific — are more problematic than alcohol dependence in older adults. Some of the findings are interesting. But one finding stood out for me as being a bit sensationalistic. That finding was that pathological gambling — something other studies have consistently pegged in the 0.8% to 2.0% range of adults (see Stucki & Rihs-Middel, 2007) — is more common than alcohol dependence (which studies put in the 3.8% range, see Keyes et al., 2009). Past research has shown that alcohol dependence (also known as alcoholism) is something that occurs in the adult population at twice the rate of pathological gambling. In Welte’s (2011) s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636480 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:45:42 +0100 4636480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631650&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fmedical-marijuana%2F American Society of Addiction MedicinePublic Policy Statement on Medical MarijuanaBackgroundIn the last twenty years, both the scientific community and the public have become interested in the therapeutic potential of cannabis and cannabinoids. Scientific interest has been based in large part on the discovery and elucidation of the endocannabinoid receptor system. Popular interest has focused on state initiatives and other legislation decriminalizing the use of smoked cannabis for personal medical use.  Because of this legislation, herbal cannabis in various forms is now being distributed by dispensaries to large numbers of individuals with a wide variety of medical conditions. This cannabis is not, in most cases, standardized or quality-controlled; the dosage forms (smoked, vaporized, ba... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631650 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:20:22 +0100 4631650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4627006&cid=t_99327_140_f&fid=35443&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheSplinteredMind%2F%7E3%2FxvJpTZODnZM%2Fchasing-rainbows-for-information-pot-of.html Yesterday was a day filled with addiction. Ah, the sweet glow of the screen. The endless stream of information just a tap away in my iPad. Twitter. Facebook. Links, links, links!I woke up very under the weather. Perhaps it was because Mother Nature had a bad case of Psuedo ADHD this month—not sure which season it was."Ooh! I want Spring!Ooh! Ooh! I want more snow!Ooh! I'll do both!Ooh! Ooh! A rainbow!"She's been like a newborn puppy frolicking about after butterflies, though truth be told, the butterflies have had the good sense to wait for Mother Nature to make her mind up this year before making an appearance. Yes, I realize that the caterpillars have to arrive first. Don't mess with my metaphor.At any rate, yesterday I was not as frolicsome as a puppy or as flittery as a butterfly. In... The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4627006 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:00:02 +0100 4627006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622509&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FJUCM1S6JwUs%2F I recently resumed writing for the expert forum on addiction at MedHelp.Org. One result of writing for MedHelp is that I receive a number of e-mails from people with questions about specific issues related to buprenorphine. The most common questions are from people on buprenorphine undergoing surgery, asking about the safety of anesthesia and about postoperative pain control. There are very significant problems with medical coverage for patients on buprenorphine undergoing surgery. Patients on buprenorphine will occasionally need surgery, and in such cases there are often no doctors willing and/or competent to manage postoperative pain. Psychiatrists, frankly, have little knowledge or experience in this area. Before psychiatry residency, medical school graduates generally complete a medica... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622509 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:35:08 +0100 4622509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4611006&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fhierarchy-of-recovery%2F According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, clients progress through a hierarchy of needs that begins with physiological needs and ends with self-actualization. According to author Robert Helgoe, the process of recovery from alcoholism and addiction follows the same hierarchy. Clients enter recovery because they need to survive. When they maintain recovery because they wish to thrive, they have taken an important step toward self-actualization.Hierarchy of Recovery explores these principles in an engaging discussion. Tools such as personal inventories and checklists help you pinpoint where your clients are within the hierarchy. By knowing this, you know how to help them achieve the next level.In this age of accountability, measuring progress scientifically instead of subjectively is essentia... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4611006 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:19:00 +0100 4611006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600609&cid=t_99327_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FTl43_02SqrE%2F photo: Thinkstock If you live anywhere around New York City, or have visited the area recently, you may have seen these new anti-smoking commercials that are part of the New York City Health Department’s campaign called: NYC Quits! Obviously, the ads are meant to shock and disturb us (and our loved ones) into never touching another cigarette again. And they sure as hell are shocking and disturbing. (Watch videos of both below.) So much so, that as soon as these emphysema sufferers and stroke victims come on the air, both my husband and I reach for the remote to hit the mute button or change the channel. Not because we’re callous human beings, but because we’re both lifelong non-smokers, so we’re not the target audience anyway. (Doubtless the NYC Health Department an... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600609 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:17:20 +0100 4600609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592699&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fharm-reduction-and-the-12-steps%2F Conclusion: Complementary conceptualizations of harm reduction and 12-step approaches have the potential to broaden the range of options available to people experiencing substance use problems.Posted online on March 11, 2011. (doi:10.3109/10826084.2010.548435) Heather Sophia Lee, Malitta Engstrom, and Scott R. PetersenRelated articlesAA & 12-Step Treatment (twelvestepfacilitation.com)12-Step Treatment More Effective than Alternative (recoveryissexy.com)Women & the 12 Steps of AA (recoveryissexy.com)The 12 Steps and Catholicism (recoveryissexy.com)Alcohol Use and Unsafe Sex by People with HIV (Source: Twelve Step Facilitation.com) Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592699 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4592699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4578020&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fmedication-in-recovery%2F Image via WikipediaWhat medications are safe to use in recovery?If there is one question that I am asked regularly by alcoholics and addicts, it is “What medications are safe to use in recovery?”The answer is this: All medications have the potential to be abused, some much more than others.The first thing you should do is be upfront with your physician/nurse practitioner and pharmacist about your addiction. Although some “addictive” medications (stimulants in cold medications, short term opiates, etc.) may be appropriate for you, medical professionals may have other suggestions that would work just as well and put your recovery at much less risk.Recently, I was able to attend a seminar at which Dr. Marv Seppala, was speaking. He shared a story of a person who did notify his physici... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4578020 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:57:40 +0100 4578020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570692&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FV4C8Pa1qQGs%2F photo: WENN.com via "Daybreak" Dear Charlie Sheen: We read an excerpt from your new exclusive interview with Life&Style magazine in which you make the following claims: “I’m really starting to lose my mind,” and “I’m ready to call anyone to help.” Well, Chuckles, look no further. Blisstree, your friendly health and wellness website (for men, too, not just for goddesses!) is here for you. We are anyone. To prove it, we’d like to offer you some health advice based on the stuff you spouted in that Life&Style article. Now, we’re not medical doctors or psychiatrists or bitchin’ rock stars, but you don’t seem to hold the former two in very high regard anyway, so this relationship could work out nicely for both of us. N... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570692 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:45:28 +0100 4570692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4566344&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2F10-things-known-about-addiction-2%2F Image via WikipediaThe 10 Most Important Things Known About AddictionIf you were asked: ‘What are the most important things we know about addiction?’ what would you say? This paper brings together a body of knowledge across multiple domains and arranged as a list of 10 things known about addiction, as a response to such a question.The 10 things are: (1) addiction is fundamentally about compulsive behaviour;(2) compulsive drug seeking is initiated outside of consciousness;(3) addiction is about 50% heritable and complexity abounds;(4) most people with addictions who present for help have other psychiatric problems as well;(5) addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder in the majority of people who present for help;(6) different psychotherapies appear to produce similar treatment outc... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4566344 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:15:34 +0100 4566344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4566271&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FLwNz2AoXBeY%2F Vh1’s show Celebrity Rehab may attempt to help those suffering from addiction, but increasingly the show is making a mockery of its patients mental health. The most recent debacle? Real Housewife Michaele Salahi has been booted from Dr. Drew’s rehabilitation facility because she doesn’t exhibit any actual addictions. But that never stopped the show’s casting agents before. So it’s time for VH1’s hit show to get its own rehab. Or maybe the network just needs to drop it cold turkey. The show was initially created to treat celebrities with major drug and alcohol addictions. Coincidentally, such people make for great TV. Not that there ever was a purity to the program, but increasingly, people who have questionable addictions are being cast. One patient from last season... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4566271 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:37:29 +0100 4566271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560487&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FfhXrmYlIW7Y%2F photo of Hoarders courtesy of A&E TV I was judgmental and lost a good friend, but it was worth it. I did that thing you’re not really supposed to do to a friend, as a friend, which is to judge a friend and tell them that the way they’re living their life is wrong. And this fellow, let’s call him Theo, was a really good, close, longtime friend of mine. He was fun, funny, smart, creative, and entertaining. He had an interesting job and tons of even more interesting hobbies. We loved to eat and drink together, watch movies, and generally just crack each other up. We’d even traveled together quite a bit. We’d text, call, or email each other multiple times a day, just to tell each other really stupid and trivial things that we happened to find hilarious. But ev... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560487 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:36:40 +0100 4560487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560272&cid=t_99327_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fteens-who-smoke-pot-at-risk-for-mental-illness-later%2F2011.03.08 Teenagers and young adults who use marijuana may be messing with their heads in ways they don’t intend. Evidence is mounting that regular marijuana use increases the chance that a teenager will develop psychosis, a pattern of unusual thoughts or perceptions, such as believing the television is transmitting secret messages. It also increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, a disabling brain disorder that not only causes psychosis, but also problems concentrating and loss of emotional expression. In one recent study that followed nearly 2,000 teenagers as they became young adults, young people who smoked marijuana at least five times were twice as likely to have developed psychosis over the next 10 years as those who didn’t smoke pot. Another new paper concluded that early marijuan... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560272 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:00:56 +0100 4560272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4554798&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FmTdMT0NjS9A%2F I am finally getting around to putting our old VHS tapes onto DVDs, and thought people might enjoy this video of my son and wife circa 1988.  Jon is now 22;  I’ll let my wife keep her’s a secret.  Share the vid with your friends– JJ (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone) Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4554798 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:37:31 +0100 4554798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4552072&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F05%2F7-reasons-charlie-sheen-may-hate-alcoholics-anonymous%2F In one of the myriad interviews he gave over the last week, Charlie Sheen said clearly that he hates AA. A lot of people have trouble with Alcoholics Anonymous. AA is full of people and people can be messy and flawed. The human train wreck formally known as Charlie Sheen is a common sight in the AA meeting halls. The only difference between Mr. Sheen and other self-absorbed, delusional, frantic addicts is the size of the audience to which they rant. These people do not last long in AA. They mock the Fellowship and the 12 Steps (PDF) as too religious or simplistic. AA is beneath them. Here are a few possible reasons why Charlie Sheen might hate AA so much. Reasons Why Charlie Sheen May Hate AA He would have to admit he is powerless. He would need to embrace Humility. Deep tissue Change wo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4552072 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:13:27 +0100 4552072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549875&cid=t_99327_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FOhvRkM0JHPY%2F photo: Thinkstock I didn’t mean to become a junkie. It just kind of happened. My addiction to the prescription drug Ambien occurred back in 2001. There I was, in my late 20s, happily traveling to a lot of cool domestic and international locations thanks to my job as an editor at a travel magazine. But I’d planned to cut back on my usual 10-day-a-month work jaunts just for the summer, so I could do some serious hanging out at a pretty house I’d rented with a few other friends in New York’s Hudson Valley. It was going to rule: Long weekends, bike rides, nightly barbecues, cold beers, fireflies, picnics on the grounds of historic mansions, inordinate amounts of time logged at local swimming holes, and plenty of nights of good sleep in our sprawling, 19th-century careta... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549875 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:14 +0100 4549875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549790&cid=t_99327_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F47MSsq47ErA%2F photo: Thinkstock The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered more than 500 prescription cough, cold and allergy products off the market Wednesday, saying its office had not evaluated the medication for safety, effectiveness and quality. “Removing these unapproved products from the market will reduce potential risks to consumers,” said Deborah Autor, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a news release from the agency. The FDA said removing the products from the market poses no harm to consumers, but taking the unapproved drugs may put the health of people at risk. “There are many FDA-approved prescription products, as well as appropriately marketed over-the-counter products, available to treat cough, cold, a... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549790 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:31:54 +0100 4549790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536136&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FEm0llE1r6X0%2F URL: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/The Association for Psychological Science (previously the American Psychological Society) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific psychology and its representation at the national and international level. For: Anyone, ResearchersTopics: ADHD, Academia, Addiction, Anxiety, Attachment, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Educational Psychology, General Psychology, General Science, Health and Social Services, Psycho-educationFeatures: Articles, Careers, Collaborative News, Group Management, Journals, Links, Networking, Resources, Societal or Organizational Membership The Association for Psychological Science (previously the American Psychological Society) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the adva... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536136 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:00:29 +0100 4536136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532577&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fall-about-addiction%2F Image via WikipediaSpecial issue of Neuron examines the new neuroscience of substance abuseAddiction is a brain disease that destroys lives, devastates families and tears at the very fabric of society. Effective prevention and treatment of addiction requires a clear understanding of the complex brain mechanisms that underlie addictive behaviors, and research has provided a fascinating view of how substance abuse hijacks neuronal circuits involved in reward and motivation and causes profound and persistent changes in behavior. Now, a special issue of the journal Neuron, published on February 24th by Cell Press, provides new insight into to the most recent advances in addiction research and highlights the complexities associated with the neurobiological and societal impacts of addiction, as ... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532577 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:06:00 +0100 4532577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4528018&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FHjXRDxrC72U%2F Since I began using buprenorphine to treat opioid dependence in my psychiatry practice, I’ve learned quite a bit about what works and what doesn’t work. Buprenorphine is an amazing medication when used properly, and undoubtedly saves thousands of lives each year. Even when used improperly, buprenorphine has life-saving properties. Addicts who take buprenorphine illicitly, but above a threshold dose and frequency, will become tolerant to the effects of the drug, and will be largely protected from overdose. There is little appreciation for this part of the story, which is understandable. We cannot expect society to embrace the illicit use of a substance. Buprenorphine is, after all, an opioid, with some abuse potential. There are appropriate efforts underway to reduce the diversion of b... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4528018 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:02:02 +0100 4528018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4528017&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhat-is-relapse-video%2F Image via WikipediaRelapse is a cardinal feature of alcoholism and addiction, and one of the most painful.Most people who struggle with addiction will have one or more relapses – the return to drug use after a drug-free period – during their ongoing attempts to recover. This can be extremely frustrating for patients and for families, as they have already experienced great pain.What leads to relapse?Multiple – and often interactive – factors can increase the likelihood of relapse. These are some of the commonly cited precursors:drug-related "reminder" cues (sights, sounds, smells, drug thoughts or drug dreams) tightly linked to use of the preferred drug(s) can trigger craving and drug seekingnegative mood states or stresspositive mood states or celebrations... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4528017 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:39:00 +0100 4528017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512619&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Ffacilitating-mutual-support-group-participation%2F If a healthcare or social service provider suspects that a patient or client has a substance use disorder (SUD), the provider should ensure that the client receives formal treatment. Once the client receives formal treatment—or if he or she refuses or cannot afford treatment— the provider’s next step is to facilitate involvement in a mutual support group.Matching clients to treatment based solely on gender, motivation, cognitive impairment, or other such characteristics has not been proved to be effective.Clients who are “philosophically well matched” to a mutual support group are more likely to actively participate in that group. Thus, the best way to help a client benefit from mutual support groups is to encourage increased participation in his or her chosen group.Professional ... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512619 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:43:00 +0100 4512619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507587&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FhjYF8cI3ZEA%2F Depression symptoms increase over time for addiction-prone womenWhile alcohol problems and antisocial behavior tend to decrease in women as they age, depression does not, U-M study findsUnlike alcohol problems and antisocial behavior, depression doesn’t decline with age in addiction-prone women in their 30s and 40s – it continues to increase, a new study led by University of Michigan Health System researchers found.The analysis examined the influences of the women’s histories, family life and neighborhood instability on their alcoholism symptoms, antisocial behavior and depression over a 12-year period covering the earlier years of marriage and motherhood.The research, published in Development and Psychopathology, is part of an ongoing project focusing on families at high risk for su... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507587 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:20:00 +0100 4507587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501639&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F20%2F12-steps-to-break-your-addiction-to-a-person%2F In his book, How to Break Your Addiction to a Person, Howard Halpern first explains what an addictive relationship is, then gives guidelines for recognizing if you’re involved in one. Then, he offers several techniques on how to end an unhealthy relationship (or an emotional affair). I’ve compiled and adapted all of his suggestions into the following dozen techniques, excerpting what I found to be the most important passages for each. 1. Keep a Relationship Log Keep track of the events and happenings of the relationship, but above all, and in as honest detail as you can, set down your feelings about the contacts with your partner. The reasons this can be extraordinarily helpful are (a) It compels you to notice what is going on and how you feel about it, (b) It can help you to l... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501639 Sun, 20 Feb 2011 11:45:41 +0100 4501639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495438&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Faddictability-of-drugs%2F Popularity and “Addictability” of Drugs Among U.S. AdultsAmong drugs used by U.S. adults, alcohol ranks first, by far, in popularity and seventh in “addictability,” according to a nationwide survey of 43,000 adults.More than 6 in 10 U .S. adults reported past-year use of alcohol and, of them, about 6 percent were dependent. Though far less addictive than some other drugs, alcohol’s popularity boosts the number of dependent users to 8 million per year, nearly five times the number of people dependent on all illicit drugs combined.Tobacco is second in popularity and by far the most addictive drug, with nearly half of past-year users being dependent.After tobacco, heroin is most addictive (27 percent of past-year users), followed by cocaine (24 percent) and amphetamines (14 percent)... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495438 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:57:00 +0100 4495438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489989&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FMqjEhG0FKVE%2F Another chapter from my untitled book, ‘Clean Enough,’ begins with comments from a reader of my blog.  The picture has nothing to do with anything, except that the Packer win was pretty awesome.  The view is from my seat at Lambeau during a game this season. Lambeau I have been using various opiates for the past 2 years.  I’m sure it has affected my life in numerous destructive ways, but at the same time I feel that it has given me hope.  As a lifelong sufferer of anxiety and depression I have always looked for solace, and found it in books, art, music etc. But as I got older I got into drugs, in my case a path leading straight to opiates. As soon as   found them they were solution to all of my problems; I felt secure, safe, confident, sociable, and adventurous.  I fo... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489989 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:38:37 +0100 4489989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464541&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F11%2Fthe-science-of-romance-the-love-drug%2F On the comment box of my post “The Emotional Affair,” Beyond Blue reader Michael wrote: I’m totally confused and caught up in this person. Some years go by without us speaking, but we always come back to each other. Convenience, you say, or possibly hoping for the best. I don’t now. The problem is that I’m hopelessly in love with this person and willing to give up all in every way there needs. But relationships are severely limited. You can justify anything in this world, especially the things you want most. The feeling of love is exceedingly strong and seductive, as is the feeling to be needed and to be loved. So I search spiritually, mentally … If you read all the comments on the affair post and others like “12 Ways to End Addictive Relationships... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464541 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:40:09 +0100 4464541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455489&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Falcohol-drug-long-term-brain-damage%2F This study demonstrates an innovative technique that allows for a glimpse of these cellular changes within the brain regions implicated in drug reward, providing an important tool in our understanding and treatment of addiction," Volkow concluded.The study was published online Jan. 16 in the journal Nature Medicine.From Join TogetherRelated articlesScience of Addiction (twelvestepfacilitation.com)Alcoholic Liver Disease (twelvestepfacilitation.com)Huffing Inhalants by Kids (recoveryissexy.com)Treatment Resources for providersRandom ArticlesRecovery through the Twelve Steps50 Most Read Articles January ‘08Spirituality Valuable Asset on Road to SobrietyAdjunctive therapy with AAStricter Sobriety Standards for California Health Professionals (Source: Twelve Step Facilitation.com) Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455489 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:19:36 +0100 4455489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4446038&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Finternet-porn-or-cybersex-addiction%2F This article may help identify a form of ‘stinking thinking’ that may result.The Internet is a wonderful tool for communication. However, it can become an escape from reality that has the appearance of safety, intimacy and anonymity. Use of the Internet for games, gambling, messages, porn or cybersex can become as addictive as any other drug.What is Internet or Computer Addiction?A student has difficulty getting his/her homework done because computer games occupy all after-school time.Someone connects to the Internet at 9:00pm and suddenly discovers it is dawn and he/she has not left the computer.A wife is distraught because her husband has replaced their sexual relationship with Internet porn and online sex.Searching for information, skimming news headlines, downloading your f... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4446038 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:15:12 +0100 4446038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4439025&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fprevalence-of-addictions%2F Opium Poppies – Image via WikipediaPrevalence of the Addictions: A Problem of the Majority or the Minority?An increasing number of research studies over the last three decades suggest that a wide range of substance and process addictions may serve similar functions.The current article considers 11 such potential addictions tobacco,alcohol,illicit drugs,eating,gambling,Internet,love,sex,exercise,work, andshopping,Their prevalence, and co-occurrence, based on a systematic review of the literature. Data from 83 studies (each study n = at least 500 subjects) were presented and supplemented with small-scale data.Depending on which assumptions are made, overall;12-month prevalence of an addiction among U.S. adults varies from 15% to 61%.The authors assert that it is most plausible that 47%... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4439025 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 16:46:00 +0100 4439025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419141&cid=t_99327_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-cocaine-vaccine%2F2011.01.30 Although cocaine use has declined steadily since its peak in the early 1980s, public health officials estimate that about 7 million Americans used the drug at least once last year. Many of these folks are addicted to the drug, and its intense, short-lived euphoric effects mean the addiction is terribly difficult to overcome. Addiction specialists believe existing treatment paradigms for cocaine addiction can be enhanced by a vaccine that prevents the drug from crossing the blood-brain barrier, thus blunting its euphoric effects. Scientists have worked hard to develop such a vaccine, but have had limited success so far.  About a year ago for example, Thomas Kosten and colleagues at Baylor reported partial success in a human trial of a cocaine vaccine. In that trial, 38 percent of subjects... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419141 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:00:04 +0100 4419141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411728&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fyour-loved-ones-addiction%2F Educating Yourself About Your Loved One’s AddictionRegardless of the status of your loved one’s recovery program or lack thereof, I recommend to clients that they educate themselves about substance abuse to discover as much as they can on a personal level.We all know knowledge is power, therefore the more you learn, the calmer your state of mind will be.Concepts to ExploreHere are some concepts to consider which may help when furthering your education of your loved ones addiction issues (they are expanded upon in the original article, see below): Do Your Own Research on AddictionBe Wary of Well-Meaning AdviceBe Mindful of Who You Talk ToAttend Open Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings (meetings open to anyone with or without an addiction issue)Attend Al-Anon meetings (meetings for the... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411728 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:09:00 +0100 4411728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4406038&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsafe-use-of-medicines%2F Image via WikipediaPrescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines can help cure diseases and make you feel better. But it is important to use medicines carefully.RisksAll medicines carry some risk. Your body can have a mild reaction to a medicine, like a minor rash, or a serious allergic reaction. Often, these reactions are unexpected. It is important that you are aware of the risks of each medicine and weigh them against the benefits before you decide to take it.The Risks of Taking MedicineSome of the risks of using medicine include:adverse reactions when the medicine is combined with certain foods, beverages, vitamins, and herbal or other medicines – the more of these you combine, the greater the chance of a reactionthe medicine not working as prescribedthe medicine causing more... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4406038 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:40:00 +0100 4406038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411730&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsuboxonetalkzone.com%2Fbupe.pain.pdf Humana Health Insurance recently revised their guidelines to ultimately reduce the number of scripts for Suboxone that they will cover.  I am in the process of writing the Humana Grievance Department a letter to regain coverage for a patient who was doing very well on the medication.  To provide context, last week I learned of a former patient who had stopped buprenorphine for his own reasons, who passed away a few months later from on overdose of heroin.  And then this morning a patient told me about her nephew, who at the age of 16 is in a coma after an overdose yesterday. Buprenorphine has the power to prevent these and other deaths from opioid dependence.  But patients must have access to the medication.  Many barriers exist;  doctors are reluctant to prescribe, afraid of their p... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411730 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:35:23 +0100 4411730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394589&cid=t_99327_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FD-TFY3APhXU%2F Peter Whybrow Cultural shifts in perceptions about the human body and brain, how the brain reacts to scarcity, abundance and social situations, and how modern Western society and market economics are straining our body’s limits and making us sick physically and mentally. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394589 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:30:36 +0100 4394589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394530&cid=t_99327_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F24%2Feugenics-the-story-of-carrie-buck%2F Psychology has a fascinating and rich history, filled with amazing advances. But it wasn’t all progress. Psychology has a painful past — with many victims. One of the most devastating times in psychology was a movement called eugenics, a name coined by Sir Francis Galton in 1883. The goal of eugenics was to improve the genetic composition of the population: to encourage healthy, smart individuals to reproduce (called positive eugenics) and to discourage the poor, who were considered unintelligent and unfit, from reproducing (negative eugenics). One of the main methods to discourage reproduction was through sterilization. While it seems ludicrous now, many people, both abroad and in the U.S., agreed with the principles of eugenics. In fact, state governments soon started establishing st... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394530 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:52:48 +0100 4394530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4389368&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FiaTTH8R6dbU%2F NFC Division Champions 2011 The last time the Packers were in the Super Bowl, in the mid-1990′s, I didn’t go;  I was in my30′s and I figured I’d go another time.  Now I’m in my 50′s.  The way things go, the Pack may never get there again in my lifetime. On the other hand, I don’t have a couple grand laying around.  And we are talking about a 3-hour game.  I don’t drink or use drugs, so I won’t have any drug-fueled, strobe-lit parties to try to remember (or headaches to try to forget!). I suppose I could start a fund– send Junig to the SuperBowl to fight addiction!  Think it would fly? I don”t have any ideas for twisting this around to a lesson about addiction… except to encourage everyone to find something in li... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4389368 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:47:28 +0100 4389368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361312&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2F2fUYjz31s-8%2F Every now and then I receive an e-mail  or comment that is sufficiently long to warrant a post of it’s own.  Below is the comment without interruption;  a bit lower I repeat parts of the comment, interspersed with my own responses.  I hope you find it interesting. The comment: I am a strange case: vegetarian, healthy, Pilates instructor, good-looking– NEVER A DRUG ADDICT — but i had a secret-  I was badly depressed for years- treatment resistant to over 30 meds, only some helped to a point… I did extensive research into the brain and opiate systems and i wondered if it was possible my endorphin system may be the culprit ( check this primer: http://www.prohibitionkills.blogspot.com/)  I was desperate enough to try out opiates as a final solution ( and I monitored m... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361312 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:53:49 +0100 4361312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377228&cid=t_99327_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Ftraffic.libsyn.com%2Ftwiv%2FTWiV116.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit On episode #116 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Dickson, Alan, and Rich review an adenovirus-based vaccine strategy against drug addiction, a field trial of RNAi to prevent Israeli acute paralysis virus infection in honeybees, and suppression of avian influenza transmission in transgenic chickens. Right click to download TWiV #116 (64 MB .mp3, 89 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: Cocaine analog coupled to disrupted adenovirus Field application of RNAi in honeybees Suppression of avian influenza transmission in GM chickens (EurekAlert) Phage tailspike protein therapy Use... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377228 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:02:43 +0100 4377228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349704&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FdL7cjorvk4M%2F I am always impressed by how similar addiction progresses in one individual versus the next.  The next reader’s comments and my comments afterward demonstrate a pattern that I have observed in one opioid addict after another.  Throughout the book, comments that I receive from others will be italicized. I started on Suboxone in Feb 08 to get off opioids. It worked very well for me, I lost 20 pounds while on it, got very active, and above all was the happiest I had been in a long time. After 7 months of taking 32 mgs a day I had to wean off it because I had no more insurance and it was very expensive. I tried to wean the best I could and the end of Oct was it for me. I was down to taking 2 mgs a day then completely stopped because I ran out of Suboxone. About 3 days after I stopped takin... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349704 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 23:52:13 +0100 4349704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338248&cid=t_99327_140_f&fid=35772&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshutah.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F12%2Fand-at-no-10%2F http://www.thelawyer.com/top-20-cases-of-2011/1006498.article 10 The Seroxat litigation: Sandra Bailey & Ors v GlaxoSmithKline UK A group action against GlaxoSmithKline UK where claimants are alleged to have suffered withdrawal effects when reducing, discontinuing or attempting to discontinue use of the anti-depressant Seroxat, and that such effects amount to personal injury. Claimant lawyers: Hugh James partner partner Mark Harvey [...] (Source: SEROXAT WEBLOG) SEROXAT WEBLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338248 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:00:37 +0100 4338248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338238&cid=t_99327_137_f&fid=39091&url=http%3A%2F%2Falzheimmers.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fhello.html Hi Doc,Thought I stop by and wish all of your followers and your family, I am not sure about you though, a very happy new year.For me it will get worse, last year things progressed, this year maybe I will forget all and have no resentments because I cannnt remember ther.God Bless & Keep You,joe (Source: Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers) Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338238 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:30:00 +0100 4338238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331245&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Flawyers-and-addiction%2F A Lawyer’s Guide to Healing A recovery bookStress, power, and high expectations of the legal profession can leave lawyers especially vulnerable to addiction. What’s more, personality traits that contribute to a lawyer’s success can impede recovery.Don Carroll, the director of the North Carolina Lawyers Assistance Program (NCLAP), has written the definitive guide on addiction and depression in the legal profession.In A Lawyer’s Guide to Healing, Carroll discusses the disease of addiction, how it affects addicted lawyers in every aspect of their lives, and how recovery can help lawyers reclaim their personal lives and professions.Order today >> A Lawyer’s Guide to Healing  Share, print or e-mail this articleRandom ArticlesEasy Does ItBill W on Humilit... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331245 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:07:00 +0100 4331245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331248&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FF3ViFJlIPxg%2F I’m not sure about the make-up of readers of this blog.  I know that there are about 20,000 page views each month, but I don’t know how many are by people addicted to opioids, people taking buprenorphine, family members of addicts, or physicians who prescribe buprenorphine.  If you fall into that latter category– i.e. if you prescribe buprenorphine, or if you prescribe other medications to treat opioid dependence such as Vivitrol or methadone– consider joining the group at linkedin.com called ‘Buprenorphine and other medication-assisted treatment of opiate dependence.’  If you already belong to LinkedIn, you can simply follow this link to join: http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2710529 I have always resisted separating those who prescribe ... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331248 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:18:52 +0100 4331248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4327070&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=39304&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.recoveryhelpdesk.com%2F2011%2F01%2F09%2Fpregnant-inmate-on-methadone-asks-to-be-released-early-to-get-suboxone%2F Pregnant inmate Ashley Michelle Sligh says that the methadone treatment provided by the Duval County (FL) jail will cause harm to her unborn child.  She wants to be released early so that she can switch from methadone to buprenorphine. Medical experts have long recommended methadone treatment for pregnant women who are opiate dependent.  But a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health and recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that buprenorphine (brand names Suboxone and Subutex) may be a better choice. “Methadone, which is the standard of care, works fine, but buprenorphine works better” “Methadone, which is the standard of care, works fine, but buprenorphine works better,” says study co-author Dr. Peter Martin of the Van... Recovery Helpdesk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4327070 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:53:01 +0100 4327070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4327069&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FJ4apMGYAZbQ%2F While I’m on the subject of rip-offs, I’ll mention an extreme form of ‘detox capitalism’; a process called rapid opioid withdrawal, rapid detox, or ‘the Waismann Method.’ The name of the process supposedly comes from a certain ‘Dr. Waismann’ who helped Israeli soldiers get off opioids after they were treated for various injuries.  It sounds like a pretty exciting history, but to be honest there is nothing in the technique that takes a rocket scientist to figure out.  The basic idea is to precipitate withdrawal using an opioid antagonist— something that is done many times over every day in emergency rooms across the U.S.—but to do it while the person is sedated with non-opioid medications. Put me out, Doc! I never expected to admit this back when it occurred, ... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4327069 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:45:32 +0100 4327069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4324904&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fprivate-sexual-addiction%2F Sexual addiction can be a devastating disease and carries a high rate of stigma.Alcoholics and addicts can easily ‘switch’ addictions in recovery.Recovery Zone has three questionnaires that you can use to anonymously assess your own sexual behaviour. Additionally there is one for partners or ex-partners of sex addicts.Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST)The SAST is designed to assist in the assessment of sexually compulsive behavior which may indicate the presence of sex addiction.More information about the Sexual Addiction Risk Assessment (SAST)Sexual Addiction Risk Assessment (SARA)SARA is an anonymous and private sex addiction self-assessment; it compares your answers with thousands of other sex addicts who have preceded you in treatment. Thus, you have the benefit of comp... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4324904 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:30:00 +0100 4324904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322699&cid=t_99327_151_f&fid=35819&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamblingwatchglobal.com%2Farchives%2Fontario-class-action-moves-forward-and-more%2F Here are three quick links to some movement in the courts and in public education on problem gambling. From NoSlots: This Sunday, January 9 at 7:00 PM, CBS’ 60 Minutes will broadcast a feature segment on electronic gambling machines (i.e., video slots). Up to now, this topic has been subject of very little national media scrutiny. How 60 Minutes will [...] (Source: Gambling Watch Global) Gambling Watch Global blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322699 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:37:56 +0100 4322699