a man looks at a prescription bottle and wonders what can you expect when quitting adderall

New Breakthrough in Non-addictive Pain Medication

About 72,000 Americans died of a drug overdose in 2017, and at least two thirds of those deaths were opioid related. The opioid crisis has been driven by overprescription of opioid painkillers over the past 30 years. Opioid manufacturers convinced doctors that pain was being undertreated and that opioid medications were non-addictive and safe for… Continue Reading New Breakthrough in Non-addictive Pain Medication

a man has his teeth examined as he wonders can wisdom tooth extraction lead to addiction

Can Wisdom Tooth Extraction Lead to Opioid Addiction?

The opioid epidemic in the US continues to get worse. In 2017, the number of opioid-related deaths in the US increased by about 16 percent–an acceleration in a decades-long trend. The opioid epidemic has been driven by the excessive prescription of opioid medication starting in the mid 1990s with a marketing campaign to convince doctors… Continue Reading Can Wisdom Tooth Extraction Lead to Opioid Addiction?

a doctor taps a medical interface and thinks about how brain scans may diagnose bipolar disorder

Brain Scans May Diagnose Bipolar Disorder

A recent study suggests that brain scans may someday be able to more accurately distinguish bipolar disorder from major depression. The researchers used an MRI machine to study how patients’ brains reacted to seeing various kinds of facial expressions. They were particularly interested in the amygdala, an area of the brain–technically two areas–which is responsible… Continue Reading Brain Scans May Diagnose Bipolar Disorder

a man thinks about myths about addiction and recovery

7 Myths About Addiction and Recovery

We’ve come a long way in our understanding of addiction and addiction treatment and we’re still learning more all the time. Unfortunately, many myths and misconceptions still persist. These can create all kinds of problems for people struggling with addiction and the families of those people. These myths may lead people to take unnecessary risks… Continue Reading 7 Myths About Addiction and Recovery

a group of people talk about the dangers of untreated depression

The Dangers of Untreated Depression

Depression is a serious mental and emotional health issue that is often considered a co-occurring disorder alongside addiction. When our depression is left untreated and unaddressed, there can be a wide range of dangerous effects. Untreated depression can increase our chances of turning to addictions, or worsen them if we’re already addicted. Depression can make… Continue Reading The Dangers of Untreated Depression