By: Kathryn Millán, LPC/MHSP Sexual harassment and assault have come to the forefront of American culture this year, as allegations against politicians, actors, employers and cultural leaders emerge. Simply watching the evening news can feel overwhelming for people who have experienced sexual assault firsthand. Sexual harassment can be traumatic — but there is hope. A…
By Jenni Deming If you’re considered medically obese — or have been at some point in your life — you know firsthand how cruel such a small word can be. At times, it feels like you’re no longer a person at all. You’re a health condition. But obesity isn’t a medical classification to you. It’s…
By Christa Banister If it’s truly insanity to try something the same way again and again and again and hope for a different result, it appears that a handful of drug courts are determined to buck that cliché with how they respond to the opioid crisis. Recently declared a national public health emergency under federal…
By: Taylor Davis The opioid epidemic is one of the hottest topics in the healthcare industry today. With more than two million Americans addicted to prescription painkillers and more than 90 dying from opioid overdoses each day, healthcare organizations of all types are asking, What can we do to treat this addiction and prevent this…
By Patti Richards Most American parents work hard to make sure their kids excel in every way. From sports travel teams and private tutoring to advanced placement classes and community volunteering, parents know the doors high achievement can open for their children. But the pressure to achieve in college at the same level as secondary…
By Martha McLaughlin There is a strong relationship between addiction and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An article in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism notes that studies have found the lifetime risk of addictive illness among ADHD patients to be double that of those without the condition.1 Although the correlation is clear, the reasons for…
For most mothers, holding a newborn baby for the first time is an experience like no other. The immediate bonding as baby lies close to mom’s heart is typically the beginning of life outside the womb. But for new mothers struggling with opioid addiction, these precious first moments may be very different. Babies born addicted…
It seems like a futuristic world where artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are part of revolutionizing mental health care. However, that future has arrived. Technology and AI are on such a rapid course in development that what seemed like science fiction just a few years ago has now become reality. AI technology is impacting nearly…
By Jenni Deming Opioid addiction has a familiar face. It has the eyes of the retired grandmother next door. It has the smile of the bag boy at your local grocery store. And it has the ears, nose and skin of the lawyer, nurse and social worker you’ve known since childhood. Maybe it even has…
As addiction continues to be a growing epidemic in our country, it is important that we learn more about how to offer help and hope to the millions of people who are affected, both directly and indirectly. One of the most simple, yet powerful, ways people can help is by carefully choosing words around the…
