The high-profile Jodi Arias trial has mental health and treatment professionals taking notice. As the proceedings wrap up, there has been much discussion about the DSM. Its formal name is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The latest version of this “mental health bible,” the DSM-IV-TR (fourth edition, text revision), is used by
Keep ReadingIt’s clear that celebrity branding is big business, but with a member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony partnering to create his own strain of medical marijuana, has the trend gone too far? Michigan Live recently reported that Stanley “Flesh-N-Bone” Howse has partnered with a medical marijuana facility in Otisville, Michigan, to create a new strain for patients
Keep ReadingThe type of drugs a teen chooses to try may have a connection to the music he or she listens to. A substance’s mention in songs can pique curiosity, and that has been the case with “sizzurp.” The term has popped up in tracks by Three Six Mafia (“Sippin On Some Syrup”) and Lil Wayne
Keep ReadingWhen someone takes their own life, we are left wondering if there was something we could have done. When addiction or abuse plays a role, it is twice as sad, because the tragedy seems preventable with the right treatment. Country singer Mindy McCready died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her Arkansas home on a
Keep ReadingLance Armstrong’s two-night interview with Oprah Winfrey was about two specific topics: Is he being honest now and is he sorry. After the cameras were turned off, other players in the story weighed in with their responses and shared additional details that made it even harder to determine the truth. As much as we speculate,
Keep ReadingMental illness is a topic that makes many people uncomfortable. We don’t know how to react to someone with mental health problems, we don’t know the right questions to ask and we worry about what not to say. This tip-toeing around, while well-intentioned, means the issue goes unaddressed, and misconceptions and stigma remain. A new
Keep ReadingWhat does MDPV have to do with Internet pioneer John McAfee, and could this dangerous psychoactive drug have played a role in a murder in Belize? Police in the tropical locale are eager to talk to the billionaire after his neighbor, US national Gregory Faull, was found shot in the head. Officials insist McAfee is
Keep ReadingBeing diagnosed with an illness or disorder can be life-changing, and determining who to share that information with is a personal decision. There may be fears that disclosure will negatively affect career opportunities or cause others to view you differently. This same thinking and reluctance to speak openly leads to the stigmatization of certain health
Keep ReadingThe sudsy new ABC nighttime soap Nashville may not be a completely realistic take on the music biz – or life in Music City (locals would never hang out at the riverfront!) – but its portrayal of addiction is hitting home. Troubled young country star Juliette (played by Hayden Panettiere) doesn’t know what to do
Keep ReadingThe 2012 election has brought many issues to the forefront, but what about those related to addiction? One topic that hasn’t been given much attention is our country’s drug problem and the role our southern neighbor plays in meeting our demand for illegal substances. In the past six years, an estimated 60,000 people have died
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