Medicare/Medicaid & Addiction

by

Medicare and Medicaid provide vital coverage for addiction treatment, including counseling, inpatient and outpatient care, and medication-assisted treatment. Still, barriers such as limited services, provider shortages, and administrative hurdles remain, along with ethical dilemmas regarding autonomy, confidentiality, and equitable access. When coverage falls short, alternatives such as state programs, nonprofits, sliding-scale clinics, telehealth, and peer … Read more

Signs It’s Time to Quit Drinking

by

Alcohol use is everyday, but can pose serious health and social risks. Knowing when to stop drinking is essential, especially if it harms your health, relationships, or daily life. Abstinence is recommended for those at risk of addiction, while moderate drinking may be possible for low-risk individuals. Successfully quitting or reducing alcohol involves self-assessment, goal … Read more

Whole-Person Addiction Care

by

Coordinated, whole-person care in addiction integrates medical, mental health, and social support to address all aspects of recovery. Its advantages include better outcomes and reduced relapse, but challenges such as high costs, complex implementation, and provider burnout exist. Ethical dilemmas can arise around autonomy, confidentiality, and equitable access. Success relies on self-management strategies like medication … Read more

Reliability of Urine Drug Testing

by

Urine Drug Screens (UDS) are commonly used in probation and parole. However, UDS can be unreliable due to false positives, false negatives, and short detection windows. Confirmatory tests—GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, hair, blood, and lab-based oral fluid analysis—offer more accurate evidence. Combining initial screening with confirmatory testing and behavioral monitoring allows probation systems to assess compliance fairly … Read more

Addiction Telemedicine Barriers

by

Telemedicine has expanded access to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, but barriers remain, including technology gaps, regulatory hurdles, and stigma. Pharmacies pose challenges, including reluctance to dispense medications, limited stocking of buprenorphine, and insurance restrictions. Solutions like pharmacist training, stronger provider–pharmacy collaboration, and patient support networks can ease these barriers. Government efforts—through regulatory reforms, funding, … Read more

Increasing Female Drug Overdoses

by

Overdose deaths among women have risen sharply, driven by factors like opioid use, mental health struggles, trauma, and stigma. In response, governments have expanded naloxone access, funded gender-focused treatment, and promoted trauma-informed care. Women can reduce risk through self-management strategies such as safe medication use and relapse prevention. Families support recovery by fostering open communication … Read more

Spotting Addiction in Family

by

Addiction can be a tricky thing to spot, especially when it’s happening to someone you care about. It’s easy to miss the early warning signs, thinking they’re having a rough patch or going through a stressful time. The reality is, catching addiction early makes a big difference in how quickly that person can get support … Read more

Cold Turkey: Quitting Alcohol

by

Deciding to quit drinking cold turkey is a big step that can come with a lot of changes, both physically and emotionally. The idea of stopping suddenly, without weaning off, sounds simple on paper, but the real experience is often more complicated than expected. I know the process can be challenging, especially if you’ve been … Read more

Alcohol and Medications: Risks

by

Mixing medications and alcohol is often overlooked until a problem arises, but the consequences can be severe. While having a drink while taking certain medications might seem harmless, the interactions can be unpredictable, sometimes leading to severe side effects or dangerous reactions. Even everyday combinations, like common over-the-counter drugs and alcohol, can catch people off … Read more

Stem Cells in Addiction Recovery

by

Stem cell research has long captured attention, especially in areas like injury repair, degenerative diseases, and regenerative medicine. Recently, the potential for stem cells to support addiction recovery is gaining traction among scientists, clinicians, and the general public. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a complex challenge, and researchers are constantly exploring new ways to … Read more