Stigmas: the false beliefs about a sect of society that stand in the way of improving quality of life and social standing. We’ve covered stigmas when it comes to substance abuse and addiction, but we are still seeing the impact of it in the recovery community. People who are in...

The most the general public knows about addiction recovery comes from movie scenes where characters go to long, boring AA or NA meetings, sit in a miserable little circle, and talk in dreary voices about their feelings. With that kind of representation in the media, it’s no wonder people don’t...

The opioid abuse epidemic in the United States has reached critical levels, claiming lives and affecting communities across the country. While we have ventured to spread awareness and provide educational material regarding opioid abuse, it’s difficult to address the issue without also recognizing that these powerful painkillers are, for some,...

The controversy surrounding Kratom and the pros and cons of its use is nothing new: some praise it as a viable solution to chronic pain and the current opioid abuse epidemic, while others warn that the risks of overdose and new dependency are real and significant enough to justify a...

This is the reality of the decades long war on drugs: The U.S. prison system is overflowing with people serving extreme sentences for drug-related crimes. Fear of judicial punishments leads to tragic and preventable deaths. In 2015, more people were arrested for possession of small amounts of marijuana than violent...

In an act that clearly shows federal authorities are finally getting serious about the heroin overdose epidemic, a bill was just introduced to the House of Representatives which would allow prosecutors to seek capital punishment or life imprisonment for drug dealers found guilty of selling Fentanyl-laced heroin. This bill comes...

As August comes to an end and we prepare for September, most of the country is thinking of weather changing and all the things that come with Fall like Pumpkin-Spice everything, Halloween, and the slow encroachment of winter holidays on the autumn months. Seriously, one day we’ll start decorating for...

There’s a thousand reasons one should watch their drinking habits or cut them out completely: packing on the calories, terrible hangovers, loss of memories due to “black out drinking,” and damaged reputation are just a few. But since drinking is America’s greatest pastime- even beyond baseball- we often overlook the...

Opioid abuse in the United States has reached overwhelming levels in recent years, leading for demands for federal intervention, new legislation, and changes in pharmaceutical regulations. Unfortunately, while these actions can help save thousands of lives, it has an unfortunate side effect: those who suffer from chronic pain find it...

Pranic Healing & Reiki, Do They Actually Help? St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center’s ER sees hundreds of accidental overdose victims cycle in and out of their medical facility weekly. Dr. LePietra’s personal mission is to reduce the use of addictive opiate drugs by ER doctors and nurses for pain. She...