Synthetic Marijuana Use Common Among Young Adults, Study Finds AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 10, 2014Synthetic marijuana products are drugs that contain a combination of mind-altering substances called synthetic cannabinoids and some type of inactive plant material. Most of the well-known main ingredients in these drugs are banned under federal law; however, illicit drug manufacturers commonly use chemical tricks to technically avoid legal liability for their actions. In a study…
Philadelphia Decriminalizes Marijuana AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthNovember 5, 2014Decriminalizing pot is an action that many municipal governments have taken, but the term is confusing. Despite how it sounds, decriminalization is not the same as legalization. Attitudes toward marijuana are constantly shifting, as well as the laws that parallel them, and it becomes more and more important to understand what it all means. Decriminalization…
Players and League Agree to New NFL Drug Policies AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthOctober 18, 2014The player’s association of the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to the revised drug policy proposed by the league. The revisions include the introduction of testing for human growth hormone (HGH), changes to the league’s DUI policy, as well as changes to the threshold for marijuana testing.
Words to Avoid When Talking About Addiction AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthOctober 10, 2014There are some common words that we all associate with addiction. Whether you have a connection to addiction or not, you probably recognize words like junkie, clean, dirty, sober, abuse and addict. Words like junkie and dirty carry obviously derogatory connotations and can be stigmatizing, but experts say that even some of the other common…
More Sensible Sentencing for Drug Offenders AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthSeptember 27, 2014When it comes to sentencing drug offenders, research indicates that addiction treatment is often a better option than jail time, both in effectiveness and cost. But is court-ordered treatment and forced rehab the answer?
New National Drug Control Strategy Puts Emphasis on Treatment AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthSeptember 23, 2014On July 9, 2014, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released its strategy for the upcoming year. Michael Botticelli, the current drug czar who assumed his position in March, released the official National Drug Control Strategy at an event in Roanoke, Va.
District of Columbia Downgrades Marijuana Penalties AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthSeptember 16, 2014In July 2014, a new District of Columbia law came into effect that made possession of marijuana a civil offense rather than a criminal offense. The law was approved by the D.C. council in the spring, but it had to pass a 60-day congressional review period before becoming active.
Through the Darkness of Sex Addiction and Into the Light of Healing AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthSeptember 15, 2014A.D. Burks is a renaissance man with many talents and a diverse background that includes singing at Carnegie Hall and a career in business. That was the public persona that he was proud to showcase. The face he didn’t show to the world was that of a sex addict. The powerful allure of high-risk sexual…
Elderly Addicts Suffering in Silence AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthSeptember 9, 2014There are many assumptions we make about addiction and the sorts of people who suffer from it, and in many cases we’re wrong. We may think that young people and adults suffer the most from addiction, but healthcare professionals are growing increasingly concerned about addiction among the elderly. The problem is that our assumptions lead…
New Law Lets Pharmacies Take Back Unused Prescription Drugs AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthSeptember 9, 2014Starting next month, it will be easier to rid your home of unwanted narcotic painkillers. Calling prescription drug abuse “an urgent and growing threat to our nation and its citizens,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced this week that the Drug Enforcement Agency is loosening its rules to allow neighborhood pharmacies, hospitals and drug treatment…
