On August 12, 2014, legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams committed suicide. The next morning, the New York Daily News published the news with a single-word headline, "Hanged," in reference to the way Williams chose to take his own life. Over the next five months, the number of suicides rose by nearly ... Read More
Overdose Deaths Are Down in the Land of 10,000 Lakes – How Minnesota’s Approach May Be Working
Following a broad range of efforts designed to combat soaring drug overdose deaths, Minnesota's approach may be working. In 2017, 422 Minnesota residents died from an opioid overdose. Recognizing that these numbers were only continuing to rise from year to year, Minnesota decided to take action. The results thus far ... Read More
Drug Testing at Festivals Stokes Controversy in Tennessee’s Addiction Epidemic
Fentanyl is worsening Tennessee's already severe drug addiction and overdose epidemic. In fact, 2018 proved to be Tennessee's deadliest year for drug overdose deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports nearly 1840 people died from overdosing on opioids in 2018. That represents an increase of at least ... Read More
How CBT Therapy Can Change Your Brain: The Latest Findings from Neuroscience
When it comes to substance abuse and addiction issues, each person's treatment program is going to be different to take into account their specific histories and future goals. However, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most-used components and can help with everything from anxiety and depression to ... Read More
How to Write An Impact Letter: A Step Toward Recovery
Updated May 31, 2023 When you have a loved one facing addiction, it's not always easy to vocalize your feelings. The pain, stress and pressure that come with watching someone you care about slowly spiral out of control are agonizing, and there's no good way to reveal your feelings without being met with anger or ... Read More
One Truth About Addiction That Everyone in Rehab Should Know
Since the turn of the century, society has made huge strides in our understanding of addiction. The number of people brushing it off as a "moral failure" or something that a person can just "get over on their own" has dropped considerably, and more and more people see addiction as the serious concern that it ... Read More
Mental Illness in America: How Law Enforcement Is Facing the Epidemic
Police officers expect to face challenges. They frequently encounter individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, people who may be dealing with alcoholism, addiction, delusions and hopelessness. Sometimes people are vulnerable and lack access to traditional social services. In other cases, it's a cry for ... Read More
The Role of Parents in Supporting a Child with Addiction
There are few things more difficult than supporting someone in rehab for drugs or alcohol, and that goes tenfold when the case involves a close family member. But when it's your child who's struggling? Arguably, this is the toughest situation of all, and it can take tremendous emotional strength to overcome the ... Read More