By Angus Whyte In many 12-step addiction recovery programs, the practice of a musical instrument is considered to be a top-line behavior. In this article, I’ll discuss the relationship between music and mindfulness, and describe how I incorporate the mindful practice of guitar scales into my addiction recovery program.
Drugged driving is the equivalent of drunk driving; instead of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a person who participates in this activity operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of a mind-altering drug or medication. In a study published in July/August 2014 in the journal Public Health Reports, researchers…
As researchers continue to uncover the secrets of addiction, we are beginning to learn more about how to treat this terrible disease. One of the biggest advancements in addiction research and treatment in recent years is the use of medications. Addiction has too long been treated without being informed by research. Today we know that…
One of the many dangers associated with purchasing and using illegal street drugs is that it is difficult to know for certain what is in them. Many drugs have unintentional impurities acquired during the manufacturing process, which can lead to a var
Young adults in the U.S. have an unusually high level of participation in a dangerous, intoxication-producing drinking behavior called binge drinking. Unfortunately, a substantial number of binge drinkers end up requiring treatment in an emergency room. In a study published in July 2014 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, researchers from two U.S. universities investigated…
SallyAnn Cross, LCSW, joins Professionals Treatment at Promises as executive director.
Would you pound 25 cups of coffee back to back just to get amped up for the day, curb your appetite or power you through an all-nighter? Youths and adults are getting the equivalent buzz from pure powdered caffeine, and as little as one teaspoon can be fatal.
Primary care doctors have a range of screening tools at their disposal for the detection of diagnosable cases of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism and alcohol abuse). However, they may not have the time to administer such a screening to every patient they see over the course of a day or week. In a study published…
In the wake of an Ohio teen’s overdose on powdered caffeine, the federal Food and Drug Administration has been ringing alarm bells about the product’s dangers, urging consumers to avoid it. Logan Stiner, 18, a Cleveland-area high school senior, wrestler and prom king on the verge of graduating, took what proved to be a fatal…
Sometimes one illness transitions into another. Such is the case for some people with psychotic depression who start out with a form of unipolar depression and ultimately struggle with bipolar disorder. This is called conversion. A study looked for ways that clinicians can predict which patients with psychotic depression would convert to bipolar disorder.