Mindful meditation is a type of meditation (which is an exercise of deep, prolonged concentration) during which any feelings, emotions or thoughts are experienced as and when they arise during the exercise, opposed to after the meditation finishes. This practice teaches us about our unresolved issues that prick us when we are busy, and we […]
In 1960, two promising young psychologists at Harvard, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, began to explore the effects of psychotropic substances on the human mind. They believed that psilocybin, the active chemical in “magic” mushrooms, had the power to change people’s brains for the better. They reasoned that psychology is the study of the mind, including […]
Today, I am in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I am here to attend the Global Addiction conference, to present on some of the reasons why addicts around the world are denied access to care and to give a call to action that researchers do what we can to change that. It has been an exciting […]
A recent poll from The Huffington Post and YouGov claimed that more respondents were in favor of legalizing marijuana than were opposed to it. Results showed a favorable public bias, with 70% of respondents supporting the legalization of medical marijuana compared to 17% that opposed it. Legalizing marijuana as a whole saw a slightly tighter […]
Why has heroin abuse skyrocketed, who is using it, and what can be done about the problem? Prescription opioids abuse data suggests the reason for a resurgence of heroin use in America. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): “Today’s typical heroin addict starts using at 23, is more likely to live […]
We often ignore troubling behavior in older people, letting these behaviors slide as signs of aging. Forgetfulness, falls or an inability to live alone may come with age, but they don’t have to. They can also be symptoms of substance abuse. Many, many of our aging and elderly family members and friends need help with […]
I have a very specific agenda when it comes to addiction treatment research. I believe that any therapy or medication which shows promise in treating addiction should be tested for efficacy and safety. At present, many such treatments are not tested because they do not have the potential to make anyone a great deal of […]
Friends of mine who are mothers and addicts in recovery say that one of the most horrifying experiences of their lives was using during pregnancy. They knew what they were doing might hurt their unborn children, but they could not stop. Addicts are who and what they are, and an addict will not just stop […]
I am going to take a break from my regular blog posts about the latest research and developments in addiction treatment to write about something personal. If you have read the book, “Ending Addiction for Good,” which I coauthored with Richard Taite, a book that quickly became a #1 Amazon bestseller, you know that I […]
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is also known as “ecstasy” because of the ecstatic feelings it produces in those who use it. While many dismiss the drug as a dangerous substance, some scientists claim it may have positive therapeutic uses with little risk of harm when used under proper supervision. According to researchers, in the early 1970s a […]