Research

Marijuana comes from the plant cannabis sativa. For most of human history, cannabis was cultivated as a rich source of plant fiber called hemp, which is used to make products like rope, cloth and paper.[1] It began its relationship with humans as a camp follower. Humans would gather the plants to use and throw away … Read more

Africa, B., and Schwartz, S.R. Schizophrenic disorders. In: Goldman, H.H., ed. Review of General Psychiatry, Third Edition. Norwalk, Connecticut: Appleton & Lange, 1992. pp. 226-241. American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1987. American Psychiatric Association.DSM-IV Draft Criteria, 3/1/93. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1993. … Read more

Alcohol breathalyzers used by individuals are becoming more and more common as people take responsibility for their health. It’s no secret that alcohol is a toxin; moderate drinking is defined as one drink of alcohol per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and those who drink more than this may be putting their … Read more

Chapter 2 — Dual Disorders: Concepts and Definitions The Relationships Between AOD Use and Psychiatric Symptoms and Disorders Establishing an accurate diagnosis for patients in addiction and mental health settings is an important and multifaceted aspect of the treatment process. Clinicians must discriminate between acute primary psychiatric disorders and psychiatric symptoms caused by alcohol and other drugs … Read more

Obesity, a nationwide epidemic, occurs when someone has accumulated so much extra body fat that it may have a detrimental effect on the person’s overall health. A common problem that arises because of the high caloric, sugar and carbohydrate intake that is prevalent in today’s Western diet, someone is considered obese if his or her … Read more

Developed from the work of B.F. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning, behavioral modification seeks to change or shape behavior through a set of stimuli and response actions. Operant conditioning works under the premise that the best way to understand a person’s behavior is to look at the reason for action and the consequences of said action. … Read more

Chapter 9 — Pharmacologic Management Pharmacologic Risk Factors Addiction is not a fixed and rigid event. Like psychiatric disorders, addiction is a dynamic process, with fluctuations in severity, rate of progression, and symptom manifestation and with differences in the speed of onset. Both disorders are greatly influenced by several factors, including genetic susceptibility, environment, and pharmacologic … Read more

It’s through advocacy and public awareness that we reduce the stigma that is associated with co-occurring disorders. At the Dual Diagnosis Recovery Network, we participate in advocating for better treatment standards for individuals with co-occurring disorders. We work with chemical dependency, mental health, consumer and family advocacy organizations to educate and publicize the need for … Read more

We hear so much about drugs – their negative effects, how much they cost, all the myriad and bizarre names they have – that sometimes, the most basic questions get lost in the shuffle. What are the origins of drugs? Where do they come from? Who is responsible for the many layers of production and … Read more

Dual Diagnosis occurs when a person has an alcohol or substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder. Also called comorbidity, the instances of having two or more co-occurring disorders is far more common than one might believe. It’s estimated that nearly 50 percent of all persons diagnosed with mental health disorders have a substance abuse problem. … Read more

A drug test is a simple process; however, the steps leading up to it can be extremely challenging for concerned individuals who want a suspected substance abuser to take a test. In order for a loved one to accurately evaluate her suspicion, she will need to know the signs of drug abuse. Although side effects of … Read more

They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and, sadly, the road of addiction often is as well. Many concerned family members make choices when their loved one is struggling with drug dependence that inadvertently support his ability to continue drinking and getting high while being shielded from the repercussions of his addiction. … Read more

While some sober living communities provide private apartments, most use a communal system in which residents share both bedrooms and living spaces. Recreational areas might be shared, as might kitchens and even bathrooms. As a result, it’s not surprising that most sober living communities offer services to the members of just one gender. Mixing and matching the genders within … Read more

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is a test that was designed to assess the intelligence of adults and older adolescents in order to provide them with a more directed recovery plan. In its fourth edition, it has been in use for this purpose since its original incarnation was developed in 1955. The WAIS, and a host of … Read more

Recovery from addiction is often described as a journey. People who make the decision to set down the bottle or walk away from drugs have made the first step on that journey, but they may spend years working before they really feel as though they’ve arrived at their destination. We decided to interview several people … Read more

Video games may have once been the domain of the stereotypical introverted young male gamer, but today they’ve become one of America’s most popular forms of entertainment. Fifty-nine percent of Americans now play video games.[1] Almost half of them are girls and women – in fact, adult female gamers (36 percent) now substantially outnumber male gamers … Read more

Leaving a rehabilitation center can be a momentous occasion for an individual. Regardless of the reason for enrollment, an individual leaves a treatment program with newly acquired coping and management skills for mental health and/or substance abuse recovery. One aspect included in many treatment plans is vocational guidance. Someone leaving rehab may be without a … Read more

From time to time, just about everyone has an issue with sleep. Either we suffer from fatigue and we sleep “too much,” or we have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. When these types of problems persist, there may be medical issues involved that require professional help. Understanding sleep disorders and how they can affect our … Read more

Crime and drug use are almost inexorably linked. In fact, about 80 percent of people who are arrested and placed in prison abuse either drugs or alcohol.[1] Of those who are in prison, about half are clinically addicted to one substance or another.[2] Placing someone in prison for addiction can seem, on the one hand, like an … Read more