ADDICTIONS - SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Finding a Community Mental Health Center

Are you looking for a Community Mental Health Center? Although the broad network of community mental health centers established decades ago has been replaced by other locally based helping organizations, it’s often still possible to locate mental health programs and services in your area. A community mental health center may be able to help you […]

What is Suboxone?

What is Suboxone® and what is it used for? Taken as a film placed under the tongue (“sublingual”), Suboxone® is the brand name for buprenorphine and naloxone, used to treat modern to severe chronic pain. Since its FDA approval in 2002, Suboxone® has also been prescribed for treatment of opoid addiction. It acts by suppressing […]

Intervention Programs

Intervention programs are designed to force someone to recognize self-destructive, damaging behaviors while surrounded by supportive loved ones, including friends and family. Many intervention programs are focused on stopping addictive behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction or eating disorders. Intervention programs are generally a group or collaborative effort, including therapists, family members and possibly close […]

Getting the Help You Need – Fast

One of the challenges of living with a mental health issue – either yours or that of someone whose life you’re involved in – is that sometimes an incident quickly escalates from “under control” to crisis level. If you need help immediately, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) lists several resources on […]

Courage

Courage By Michael H. LeBlond, PhD, MBA Licensed Psychologist How often have you heard “just feel the fear and do it anyway.” This actually is not far from the definition of courage. What courage is not is the absence of fear. When most people think of courage they think of it in one […]

Should Parents Worry? Video Games and Their Impact on Children

When I started my practice almost thirty years ago, Sesame Street and the benign Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood captured our children’s attention. Disney movies proliferated throughout the video market and they followed a similar fairy tale pattern in which a hero or heroine is pursued by a villain but triumphs in the end. Children learned which […]

The Fine Art of Focusing

Just as you were starting to read this, did you suddenly stop, deciding to quickly check for that email you were expecting? No, it wasn’t there. So you’re back to the article. Then a text message calls for your attention. You send off a quick reply. And now, it’s time to focus. But, it’s not […]

Addiction: How Can It Be Treated

Can drug addiction be treated? Yes, but it’s not simple. Because addiction is a chronic disease, people can’t simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives. Addiction treatment must help the person do the following: stop using […]

Addiction: What Causes It

Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good […]

Addictions: Signs and Symptoms

The physical signs of abuse or addiction can vary depending on the person and the drug being abused. For example, someone who abuses marijuana may have a chronic cough or worsening of asthmatic symptoms. Each drug has short-term and long-term physical effects. Stimulants like cocaine increase heart rate and blood pressure, whereas opioids like heroin […]