The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as “a treatable, chronic medical disease,” explaining that “people with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.” Many addiction professionals regard the loss of control over substance use as an important aspect of the disease. While many people…
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of anguish for many Americans. Lockdowns and social distancing can make people feel isolated and lonely, increasing stress and anxiety. More than 460,000 Americans have now died from the disease. As we reported previously on this blog, the number of people reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression…
By Jaime W. Vinck, MC, LPC, NCC Chief Executive Officer CPF Recovery Ways Since early 2020 we have been in the midst of a triple pandemic; COVID19, mental health, and social/racial injustice. Last March when the depth and magnitude of COVID 19 was still unknown, (and from where we are today quite unimaginable), I…
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on American’s’ mental health. According to a recent Boston University study, the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adults in the US increased more than three-fold in the spring during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared with before the pandemic. The study found 27.8 percent of US adults had…
Addiction is a complex biopsychosocial disorder frequently driven by co-occurring mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Severe substance use disorder (SUD) often requires clinical treatment for an extended period to include different levels of care to support sobriety. At Recovery Ways, an individualized treatment plan for a new patient starts with intensive…