A confluence of topics dealing with mental health, substance abuse, health, public health, Social Work, education, politics, the humanities, and spirituality at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. In short, this blog is devoted to the improvement of the quality of life of human beings in the universe.
Monday, November 29, 2021
Meth addiction and treatment
Friday, November 19, 2021
Lethal drug overdoses in the year ending in April 2021 killed 100,000 people.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Do 12 Step Programs Really Work?
From So Alcoholics Anonymous Is "Proven" to Work After All? Not So Fast by Stanton Peele on Filter on 03/08/20. For more click here.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
The problems with Benzodiazapine drugs.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Should cannibis be used as harm reduction treatment for opioid addiction?
Saturday, January 26, 2019
What does the devastation of the opioid epidemic look like on the ground?
Huntington is a county of 95,000 people which, in 2017, experienced 1831 overdoses, and 183 deaths.
Rader describes some innovative programming in her community to deal with substance use disorder which as reached epidemic proportions not only in her county but across the U.S.
Editor's note:
I was the executive director of GCASA, the Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Subtance abuse in Genesee and Orleans Counties in Western New York state from 2000 - 2011. I continue to consult with counselors at GCASA who are obtaining psychotherapy superivision hours for their licensure.
The opioid crisis has hit Western New York hard as it has in Huntington. As Chief Rader describes, the deaths and crisis nature of the phenomenon are very difficult for people suffering from substance use disorder as well as their families, friends, and communities.
The opioid epidemic in 2018 created more deaths in the U.S. than car fatalities. It takes a whole community working together with people from multiple sectors to restore our communities back to an acceptable level of public health.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Fentanyl is a killer drug in 50% of opioid overdoses.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Benzodiazepines Continue to be Prescribed Without Psychotherapy to Older Adults
"A new study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, finds that older adults continue to be prescribed benzodiazepines without being offered psychotherapy. This practice persists despite decades of research warning of safety concerns with these drugs and demonstrating the effectiveness of alternative treatments."
I have a few "geriatric" clients in my practice. When they get off the benzos which is difficult because of the withdrawal which exaggerates the symptoms, such as anxiety, for which they were prescribed to begin with, they usually report that they feel better. I usually suggest they only take them if absolutely needed, and don't take them on a regular basis to avoid the development of physical tolerance.
Listening to older people's complaints takes time, time the primary care physician is not reimbursed for in our mercenary system of health care. There are many barriers and obstacles to the PCP referral to mental health professionals, but when done and psychotherapy is engaged in, benefits are worth in the cost in most cases.
Friday, January 13, 2017
New York State 37th in opiod-involved overdose deaths in 2015

Source: Centers for disease control and prevention. For more click here.
Friday, September 16, 2016
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Mixing Pot and Tobacco Increases Dependence Risk
Monday, June 27, 2016
Risk factors in later adolescent alcohol abuse
As former Executive Director of GCASA, the Genesee Council On Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, I am proud of the fact that we won the Drug Free Communities coalition of the year in 2006 out of 711 coalitions in the United States. I have continued to follow the prevention research and noticed today a study reported by Science Daily entitled, "Understanding Risk Factors Involved In The Initiation of Adolescent Alcohol Abuse" which was based on information provided by the Research Society On Alcoholism.
The article highlights the findings that adolescent alcohol abusers tend to be male from higher socioeconomic groups, have poorer executive functioning, and who have begun dating at earlier ages under 14.
For more information click here.