Most of us who own horses talk about their “therapeutic” value. Being in the barn grooming, feeding, and otherwise caring for our horses reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and improves overall health. Yet, it is the companionship with our equine partners that is the foundation of our growth in relationship to these animals. Being with […]
In response to his drug commission’s recommendation to declare the opioid overdose epidemic a national emergency, Trump demurred. Instead of taking the action his commission suggested, he spoke of ramping up law enforcement, in particular working to keep drugs from coming into the country. Trump blustered in favor what is already known to be a […]
State Autonomy or Federal Negligence? Medicaid Cuts in the Fight Against Opioid Addiction State and federal governments pay deeply for addiction. One study conducted by researchers at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control estimates that the opioid addiction crisis has cost the United States more than $78 billion. The cost is staggering. As […]
The Impact of the Proposed Republican Reforms to the Affordable Care Act Americans have gotten their first glimpse of proposed Republican reforms to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the news is not good for those who suffer from addiction and other vulnerable populations. The changes could make it impossible for many who currently have […]
Why Can’t People Get Healthcare in Rural America? There is a medical crisis in rural America. There aren’t enough physicians to meet the needs of small towns, and the problem is only getting worse. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 6,600 primary care health professional shortage areas […]
The United States’ Greatest Barriers to Improved Mental Health Care Services and What Advocates Can Do to Enhance Care What stops people who need mental health treatment from getting the support they need? While on average one in five American adults experiences some form of mental illness every year, just over 40% of people living […]
How Medicaid’s Addiction Treatment Services Will Change as a Block-Grant Program Last weekend Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway, said in an interview that replacing the Affordable Care Act could include a shift in Medicaid’s financing to block grants. Since it was created in 1965, Medicaid has been a open-ended federal entitlement program, meaning that […]
Opioid Addiction is Predictable and Potentially Avoidable if Physicians Change Screening Habits Most people only use prescription opioids for a short period of time. According to a new study published in PAIN, The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, less than two percent of people prescribed opioid-based pain killers are still […]
We Need Leadership: Here’s How President Trump and Incoming HHS Secretary Tom Price Can End the Nation’s Addiction Crisis With the fate of the Affordable Care Act still up in the air, it’s not clear what health care will look like under President-elect Donald Trump. But as the opioid crisis rages on, Trump’s administration […]
Changing the Brain: The Case for Incorporating Mind-Body Therapies into Addiction Treatment Programs Mind-body therapies like meditation, acupuncture, and yoga have been practiced for thousands of years and offer practical methods to decrease stress levels and improve mood. But there’s more to mind-body therapies than meets the eye. While traditional medicine is slow to acknowledge […]