The opioid epidemic has been hitting Americans hard for the last few years. Past drug epidemics have included heroin of the 19070s and the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s. But the current epidemic, which has its roots in the 1990s, has taken on a different tone. In particular, areas throughout the “rust belt” region […]
Substance Use Disorders: What to Know
Substance use disorders describe a specific set of disorders—including the abuse of alcohol, opioids, sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics—which impair the individual in some way. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5), “The essential feature of a substance use disorder is a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the […]
Aaron Beck and Cognitive Therapy: An Evidenced-Based Approach to Depression
Born in 1921 in Providence, Rhode Island, Aaron Beck would go on to develop one of the most effective approaches to treating depression. Depression is a mental health condition which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “ . . . is one of the leading causes of disease or injury worldwide for both […]
Treatment Options for Those who Struggle with Insomnia
Insomnia is more than just not sleeping well. It remains a mental health disorder that is classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, and it is also a problem that many Americans suffer from. In order to meet the criteria for insomnia, Haynes, et al. (2011), describes: “Insomnia complaints must last [at least] […]