General News

Obama Administration Announces Actions to Escalate Fight Against Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic

The President has made clear that addressing this epidemic is a priority for his Administration, and today’s actions represent further steps to expand access to treatment, prevent overdose deaths and increase community prevention strategies. (See full article)...
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A Solution for America’s Heroin Epidemic?

This is treading on very dangerous territory! Are more drugs really the solution? Tell us what you think. Read more here....
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Help Your Team Manage Stress, Anxiety and Burnout

Workplace stress, anxiety and burnout can sometimes cause employees to self-medicate leading to possible problems down the road.  Find out how you can help your team create a happy, healthy and productive work environment. Help Your Team Manage Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout, by Rich Fernandez, hbr.org...
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Chasing Heroin – A 2 hour investigation into America’s heroin crisis.

A searing, two-hour investigation places America’s heroin crisis in a fresh and provocative light — telling the stories of individual addicts, but also illuminating the epidemic’s years-in-the-making social context, deeply examining shifts in U.S. drug policy, and exploring what happens when addiction is treated like a public health issue, not a crime.  Watch Film Here...
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A Living Nightmare: 5 Things Doctors Don’t Tell You About Benzos

It’s no secret that prescription drugs can work miracles when obtained legally and taken as directed. But do you know that some prescription meds can also make your life a living hell, even if you follow your doctor’s instructions? Such is the case with Benzodiazepines, or “benzos†for short. These drugs, which include popular brands like Klonopin, Xanax, Ativan, Valium, and Halcion, are used to treat conditions like anxiety, i...
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Govenor Christie’s Plea to Change How America Handles Drug Addicts

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Intervention: Help a loved one overcome addiction

It’s challenging to help a loved one struggling with any type of addiction. Sometimes a direct, heart-to-heart conversation can start the road to recovery. But when it comes to addiction, the person with the problem often struggles to see it and acknowledge it. A more focused approach is often needed. You may need to join forces with others and take action through a formal intervention. Examples of addictions that may warrant an intervention include: Alcoholism Prescription drug abuse Stre...
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Is ‘Nurse Jackie’ a good portrait of addiction in the medical profession?

‘Nurse Jackie’ returned for a final season on Showtime on Sunday night and once again received praise for its realistic portrayal of addiction. At the start of last season, I asked an expert about the chances that I’d ever receive care from an addicted medical professional and if I did, would she still be able to handle the job. The answer, from Lisa J. Merlo, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Florida who has studied the prevalenc...
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Doctors, medical staff on drugs put patients at risk

Anita Bertrand doesn’t remember much about the first time she stole narcotics she was supposed to administer to surgical patients. She doesn’t remember exactly when she installed the intravenous port in her ankle so she could inject the drugs more efficiently. And she doesn’t remember how many patients she may have put at risk before getting into treatment. But she remembers how easy it was to get away with it. “I was absolutely impaired, using narcotics while working. &a...
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Drug addiction among nurses: Confronting a quiet epidemic

Your colleague on the night shift is a stellar nurse. Her background, experience, and demonstrated skills are top-notch. She is working extra shifts to help cover expenses while her husband is between jobs. While raising three young children, she also cares for her severely disabled father. You wonder how she does it all. This description fit Patricia Holloran, RN, whom friends and colleagues regarded as a “super nurse”—until hospital administration and the Connect...
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