Keeping you in-the-know about addiction and recovery.
Suboxone Demystified: Answering Common Provider & Patient Questions
Suboxone is a medication that is FDA-approved to treat opioid use disorder. Providers and patients often misunderstand it. Despite being on the market since 2002 and being listed on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, questions still swirl around its role in addiction treatment. Suboxone falls under a
Alcohol’s Rising Toll on Health
Alcohol consumption in the U.S., increasing before 2020, surged during the pandemic, likely serving as a coping mechanism for many. Per capita alcohol sales saw their most significant increase from 2019 to 2021 since 1969, as reported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). This rise in
New Research Describes Challenges Women Face When Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
A new study from Penn State, published in the journal Women’s Health, looks at the many challenges facing women seeking treatment for opioid use disorder – particularly as it relates to parenting and pregnancy. Previous research has shown that while treatment challenges exist for all genders, women seeking treatment for
Why Isn’t Narcan Covered Under the Affordable Care Act?
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 expanded access to health insurance and preventative healthcare services for millions of Americans. Two of the bill’s most popular and most utilized aspects include extending healthcare coverage to dependent children (through the age of 26) and complete coverage of 22 key preventative healthcare services
New Drugs Offer Promise for Addiction Treatment
There is a lot of well-deserved excitement around the arrival of GLP-1 drugs. Introduction to GLP-1 drugs These newest players on the block have the potential to treat both obesity and addiction. The GLP-1s, which is short for “glucagon-like peptide-1,” are composed of a new class of medications that lower
Find Your In-Home Path to Recovery
At Aware Recovery Care, we understand that getting away from real life for addiction treatment is not always possible – or comfortable. Challenges Faced by the LGBTQ+ Community And as we celebrate Pride Month, we are mindful of the unique challenges this community faces, including addiction and suicidal thoughts at
Is Alcohol As Dangerous As Cigarettes? The Answer Might Surprise You.
You probably know that smoking causes cancer. But what about alcohol? The answer might surprise you. WHO’s Alarming Report on Alcohol In 2023, the World Health Organization released a bluntly but succinctly titled report called “No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” In the report, the WHO
Moderate Drinking and Birth Abnormalities
Researchers at the University of New Mexico (UNM) have found that even low to moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy can impact prenatal development. Study Overview and Lead Researcher The study, published in Alcohol Clinical & Experimental Research, was led by Dr. Ludmila Bakhireva, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and assistant dean
Understanding Alcohol Detox
Alcohol detox typically refers to physical withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced when cutting down or stopping regular heavy alcohol intake, as well as the accompanying medical treatment process. Alcohol detox is the first step in the journey of long-term recovery. Today, we will review A) why physical withdrawal symptoms
Emerging Stronger: How Addiction Teaches Us Five Core Strengths of the Human Condition
When I tell people that I’m an Addiction Psychiatrist, the usual response is, “Oh man. That must be tough.” I’ve had a front-row view into this complex and often misunderstood disease for many years. Along the way, I’ve learned that the journey of addiction often reveals unexpected, undervalued core strengths
Treating Co-Occurring Disorders And Acute Suicidality in the LGBTQ+ Community
The LGBTQ+ community struggles with Addiction and Suicidal thoughts at rates 5-6 times higher than the general population. How can we, as providers, help? Here is a close-up snapshot of a recent encounter. “I’m losing more battles than I’m winning,” he said quietly. His dull eyes gazed out of the
Unveiling Parallels: Exploring the Shared Lessons of the Opioid and Stimulant Epidemics
“You medical people will have more lives to answer for in the other world than even we generals.” -Napoleon Bonaparte. Imagine this: a highly addictive drug comes to market as a prescription. Representatives from the drug maker infiltrate physician offices, touting the drug as safe and effective. The drug reps