Written by Zachary Siegel Published on WIRED l BackChannel l 04.01.18 My time in rehab for an opioid addiction left me humiliated and desperate to know why my friends were dying. Now a wave of app developers are trying to do things differently. MY DAD’S COMPANY had season tickets to the White Sox. On muggy Midwest summer days we’d go as a family—always sitting in the same seats, 25 rows above first base. I told this to a counselor I’ll call Bill, when he asked me to remember

Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally –it’s important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery. This May is Mental Health Month and RecoveryTrek is raising awareness about the connection between physical health and mental health, through t

Written by AMANDA MACMILLAN Health l April 24, 2018 Some of the effects, like slurred speech and loss of balance, can be very obvious. Others, like cell death, not so much. A glass of wine with dinner, a happy-hour beer after work, a cocktail (or three) on vacation: Alcohol is deeply ingrained in American culture, and, for many of us, it’s a normal part of our daily lives. Studies suggest that alcohol, when consumed at low to moderate levels, may have some health benefits. It

By Tim Newman, February 21, 2018 Medical News Today - medicalnewstoday. com A recent study scrutinized the relationship between alcohol and dementia. The researchers found that alcohol use disorders are a major risk factor for all types of dementia. Dementia is characterized by steady cognitive decline and affects 5–7 percent of those over 60. This makes it a leading cause of disability. Though there are a number of dementia types — including Alzheimer's disease, which is th

By Amy Ellis Nutt, February 8, 2018 [The Washington Post] Certain patterns of genetic activity appear to be common among five distinct psychiatric disorders — autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and alcoholism — according to a new study. The paper, appearing in the journal Science, was released Thursday. Scientists analyzed data from 700 human brains, all donated either from patients who suffered one of these major psychiatric disorders or from people who had

By Ana Sandoiu / January 18, 2018 [Medical New Today] New research has revealed altered brain activity in young adults with cannabis addiction. The findings suggest a mechanism that may explain why the risk of depression and other mental health issues is higher among those who use the drug. Heavy cannabis use may lead to changes in brain function, suggests a new study. The study was carried out by Dr. Peter Manza, Dr. Dardo Tomasi, and Dr. Nora Volkow, of the National Institu

By Laurie McGinley and Katie Zezima February 10, 2018 [Washington Post ] Andrew Turner’s years in the military left him suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, back pain and the effects of an injury that mangled his hand. “I was a broken toy,” he said. Tossed aside. Barely able to get off the couch. Then he started using an herbal supplement that he says saved his life: kratom. Nancy Knoebel’s 27-year-old son, Daniel Teichman, began using kratom after he stop