In the webinar posted below, Dr. Michael Miller, a board-certified addiction psychiatrist and renowned expert, dove into the complexities of addiction, breaking down misconceptions and explaining its multidimensional impact. Dr. Miller’s insights underscore addiction as a biopsychosocial-spiritual disease, moving beyond the view of addiction as merely “bad behavior” to a comprehensive understanding of its effects…
Schizophrenia is a relatively rare, potentially debilitating brain disorder characterized by disrupted thoughts, perception, emotions, and social interactions. These usually appear as psychosis (loss of touch with reality), delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and unusual or inappropriate behavior. Schizophrenia usually presents and is diagnosed among people in their teens and twenties. While males tend to have…
South Carolina lawmakers, agencies, and health providers are working to improve behavioral health across the state. Here are some of the biggest concerns and stories from across the state. Mental Health School Counselors Increase in South Carolina, but Other Professionals Still Needed South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in January reported that…
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) recently updated its criteria for assessing and treating substance use disorders. The ASAM Criteria is the most widely used framework for the placement, continued service, and transfer of patients with addiction. ASAM provides these standards to help promote individualized treatment, helping clinicians and care managers make objective decisions…
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex behavioral health condition that is difficult to treat. Fortunately, new research has shed light on possible future treatments. Substance Use Could Be Reduced With Ketamine Although nearly one of every five drug overdose deaths in the United States involves cocaine, the FDA has not approved a treatment for…
From the bustling metropolis to the rural areas, New York is facing challenges in funding, addiction treatment, and serving vulnerable communities. Here are some specific behavioral health stories emerging from the Empire State. New York State Health Commissioner Expands Naloxone Availability Like other parts of the nation, New York is seeing a rise in substance-use…
Residents of Florida face both benefits and difficulties when it comes to behavioral health. Sunny weather and outdoor activities, as well as economic growth, can encourage better mental health. At the same time, the state also has issues with opioid overdoses and limited behavioral health resources. Here is an overview of some of these stories.…
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has received its first published revision since it was published in 2013. This update is referred to as the DSM-5 Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). DSM-5-TR mainly focuses on updates to the descriptions of each disorder listed in the manual, including some changes to diagnostic codes.…
Nevada has had a shortage of behavioral health providers as the state attempts to curb rising rates of mental health needs. This has stressed many state resources, prompting lawmakers and experts to seek new options and funding. Here’s a roundup of recent stories reflecting these challenges. Nevada Teens Can Text for Mental Health Help The…
Cancer can be a devastating, life-changing diagnosis that can cause mental and emotional distress. In fact, about one-third of cancer patients experience mental health disorders, including mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. Let’s look at some connections between cancer and mental health that behavioral health providers should be aware of. This can help prepare behavioral health…