DJ Mac highlights a recent study of 302 18-24 year olds entering residential treatment and their opinions of 12 step groups. The study also included follow-up at 3, 6 and 9 months.He pulls a few quotes from the paper and one, in particular, leapt out to me.Clinicians can highlight that 12-step specific content was rarely cited as … Continue reading Young people’s experiences of 12 step groups

On the heels of Robin Williams' death, some writers are sharing their experiences with depression.The theme I find interesting are the themes around sufferer's thoughts and beliefs. Therapists almost universally discuss cognitive distortions. I've been wondering if, in the case of very severe depression, framing these thoughts as distortions fails to capture the power of … Continue reading contradictory, pointless, bearing very little relationship to reality

Award winning author and editor (Also, a cousin of mine.) Kelley Clink shares an interesting insight about the effects of suicide on those left behind and on the victim's legacy. [emphasis mine] Here's the thing about suicide: it can seep backward and stain an entire life. For years after my brother's suicide, I could only think about him … Continue reading a beautiful life

A recent study finds that 43.7% of disability recipients are taking prescription opioids. Many are on very high doses.The researchers analyzed trends in use of prescription opioids (morphine-related drugs) among disabled Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 between 2007 and 2011. Nearly all under-65 Medicare beneficiaries are SSDI recipients; patients who go on SSDI are eligible … Continue reading High prevalence of opioid use by social security disability recipients

I'm not the type to get into speculation about the circumstances around Robin Williams' suicide--his recovery, his mental health diagnosis, the care he received, etc. However, I read a few pieces that picked up on a theme of aloneness in suicide.From the New Yorker [emphasis mine]:Robin Williams’s suicide was not the self-indulgent act of someone without enough … Continue reading Suicide and aloneness

Here's an interesting abstract from looking at relapse patterns for alcoholics taking medication for their alcoholism--they increased their drinking before discontinuing their medication. Aims We use intensive longitudinal data methods to illuminate processes affecting patients’ drinking in relation to the discontinuation of medications within an alcohol treatment study. Although previous work has focused on broad … Continue reading What Happens When People Discontinue Taking Alcoholism Medications?

Bill White puts his finger on an important question in the midst of our marijuana policy changes. The issue of concern is not simply the legal availability of drugs, but the larger visibility and status of these drugs within American communal life.  A problem with the legalization of any drug in a free-market economy is … Continue reading How much cultural space will we give to marijuana?