First Person: A Change Has Come

Eventually their iron control failed and problems re-emerged, usually far worse than before.

Apparently, they are. Many, at least. They may not realize that, however. Or understand the implications for treatment and recovery.

Here's a recent piece from Psychology Today on the subject. It's by Timmen Cermak MD, a noted expert in addictions:

The High Rate of Dependence Among Medical Cannabis Users

I'll admit the news did not come as a surprise. For the simplest of reasons-- as Dr. Cermak puts it, “The brain does not differentiate between medicinal and recreational cannabis.” Either can lead to dependence, or to a Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD).

This seems logical. If indeed there was a dramatic difference between cannabis sold for medical and recreational purposes, then we wouldn’t see so many users abandon their medical marijuana cards in favor of purchasing their supplies at the neighborhood pot shop.

"It's just cheaper," one explained. "Besides, it's the same stuff, you know."

From a treatment perspective, the problem with continuing use of cannabis...

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The Bill Comes Due

ALD (alcohol-related liver disease) in the United States is projected to cost $355 billion in direct healthcare-related costs and $525 billion in lost labor and economic consumption.

The Power of Drug Company Marketing

...a number of years ago, the Institute of Medicine set forth guidelines intended to reduce the influence of advertising on how physicians prescribed medications... to date, relatively few physicians have actually adopted those guidelines.

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Are Medical Marijuana Patients Drug-Dependent?

It just makes sense for addiction treatment to include helpful information about cannabis dependence, especially if your patient census includes persons who are already enrolled in, or are considering enrolling in, medical marijuana programs.

Are Medical Marijuana Patients Drug-Dependent?

It just makes sense for addiction treatment to include helpful information about cannabis dependence, especially if your patient census includes persons who are already enrolled in, or are considering enrolling in, medical marijuana programs.

Pink Cocaine, it isn’t

When I've seen people attempt to explain their motives, they usually blame it on the trust they had in their source -- whoever gave or sold it to them at the time. That trust was misplaced, they complain.

No, Recovery Isn’t Easy

The reality is, there are significant barriers to overcome. One of the more common ones is that pesky internal debate over whether or not one is really, truly, addicted.

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Exercising for Chronic Pain Relief

We've known for several decades that regular exercise, even the mild sort, helps lessen symptoms of depression. It comes as no surprise that it may also help with CPS and the mood problems that accompany it.

Borderline, Revisited

The term was invented in the 1930’s to describe someone prone to becoming psychotic or severely disturbed under stress, but who otherwise was capable of functioning normally.

Self-Diagnosis

Most of the time, there’s an extended period in which the drinker is engaged in something called ‘comparing out’. That's when they're focused on what isn't wrong with their drinking, and ignoring or minimizing what is.

Exercising for Chronic Pain Relief

We've known for several decades that regular exercise, even the mild sort, helps lessen symptoms of depression. It comes as no surprise that it may also help with CPS and the mood problems that accompany it.

Drugs in Jail

If 70% or more of a jail population has been identified as having a drug or alcohol problem – that does happen – then what you’re really operating is a treatment center that happens to have bars on the windows and guards at the entrance.

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