The truth turned out to be more shocking. Dr. Stidham’s partner, Dr. Bradley Schwartz, had hired a hit man to murder him. Police said that Dr. Schwartz was jealous and angry with Dr. Stidham, who was leaving their practice and taking many patients with him. Dr. Stidham had testified about Dr. Schwartz’ addiction to Vicodin after his federal indictment on drug charges.

Dr. Schwartz is one of many physicians who have harmed themselves, their families, their colleagues and their patients because of untreated drug addictions. The rate of prescription drug abuse among doctors is five times higher than the national average, and some are practicing medicine while under the influence of drugs, usually painkillers. At any given time, between 10% to 15% of all physicians have substance abuse problems.

Some of their stories are truly horrific:

Dr. Brian West, a doctor struggling with substance abuse, botched the reconstruction breast surgery of a cancer patient so badly that she had to forego chemotherapy and other treatments, which in turn contributed to her death.

In 2007, a dermatologist addicted to hydrocodone did not stitch a nose properly on to a patient’s face, leaving it dangling after surgery.

In 2006, a St. Louis surgeon operating under the influence of drugs put a hole in a patient’s colon.

A young medical professional in Denver repeatedly replaced drugs in syringes with a saline solution so she could inject herself with them. By neglecting to sterilize needles, she exposed 6,000 patients to Hepatitis C.

Another health professional, this time in Minneapolis, is facing charges of stealing painkillers from a patient undergoing kidney surgery. This addict told the patient to "man up and take on some of the pain yourself."

"The American public has accepted the idea that a physician works in their patients’ best interests," said Dr. Lucian Leape, a professor of public health at Harvard University, "but in the past 20 years, there’s more and more evidence that we have definite problems."

The main reason for physicians’ high rate of drug abuse is that they are in an extremely stressful profession is extremely stressful and have easy accessibility to drugs. As one expert put it, those two factors plus a genetic propensity toward drug abuse means a doctor with an addiction.

Another factor is that doctors have trouble identifying and diagnosing behavior-based diseases, such as obesity, alcoholism and drug addiction because medical education is slanted toward the use of procedures and medications to treat conditions. One panel of experts concluded in 1996 that primary care doctors are inadequately trained to diagnose and help people who have substance abuse problems, which makes it harder for them to identify the problem among their colleagues.

Because of their superior intellects, doctors can be extraordinarily talented and creative at hiding their addictions from their colleagues and patients. Since they know the symptoms of addiction, they also know how to mask them and how to fake urine tests. One doctor who was drinking three bottles of vodka a day actually devised a chemical concoction of drugs she took every morning to disguise her hangovers.

Only a few hospitals and organizations require medical professionals to undergo random drug testing, although such tests are routine in other professions where people’s lives depend on the competence of the person in charge. For example, pilots undergo drug tests and can be fired if they fail a test even once. The American Medical Association does not even have a drug testing policy, and relies upon each state to set up a government-supervised Physician Health Program or PHP. Doctors who have problems with drugs can be referred to a PHP and required to go through therapy and sometimes even residential treatment programs. Most continue to practice medicine while they are in treatment. However, most experts, including Dr. Leape, believe that the majority of doctors with drug problems escape detection by PHP monitoring boards, and their colleagues and patients.

"Medicine tolerates bad behavior that in any other profession would be unacceptable," he said.

The thing is that physicians who do enter treatment have a superior rate of recovery. One of the few studies performed about this issue found that of 904 doctors enrolled in PHPs, 78% were able to abstain from drugs during the five years of the study. Dr. Mark Gold concluded this study by saying, "Treatment works. It is safe, effective, and cost effective."

Doctors are often the last people to reach out for help. As Dr. Michael Wilks, an Australian doctor who struggled with substance abuse said, "Doctors are taught to be decisive and they are treated with respect. So to ask for help you have to climb off your pedestal and admit you have a problem." Doctors don’t want to reach out for that help because they don’t understand that a real addict cannot help himself."

The thing is if when doctors who abuse drugs do reach out for help, they can and do overcome the problem.

Bibliography

"Addicted doctors still treat patients," CNN News, March 31, 2003.

"Beloved doctors murdered in cold blood," CBS News, and 48 Hours TV Show, Oct. 27, 2007.

Cox, Lauren. "Urine Drug Tests for Doctors?" ABC News, November 12, 2008.

Gilbert, Susan. "Doctors found to fail in diagnosing addictions," The New York Times, Feb. 14, 1996.

Guadagnino, Christopher. "Treating Physician Drug Abuse," Physicians’ News, March 1997.

Malone, Andrew. "Why are so many doctors addicted to drink or drugs?" The Daily Mail, May 13, 2010.

Markel, Howard. "Treatment for addiction meets barriers in the doctors’ office," The New York Times, Oct. 21, 2003.

McGrath, Tim. "Is your doc addicted?" Men’s Health, May 14, 2010.

McGrath, Tim. "Addicted doctors put patients in peril," Men’s Health, June 24, 2010. Also seen on msnbc.news.

McKinney, Matt. "Nurse accused of stealing pain meds in treatment," The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Feb. 17, 2011.

Thompson, Cheryl. "Medical boards let physicians practice despite drug abuse," Washington Post, April 10, 2005.

"Treating Drug-addicted doctors is good medicine," Science Daily, March 1, 2009.

Zaroff, Larry (M.D.) "A Bout with Addiction, for the doctor who has everything," New York Times, May 9, 2006.

When a Doctor Has a Substance Abuse Problem is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

On April 22, 2010, the movie Crazy Heart was honored as the top feature film to portray substance abuse issues for its impressive representation of a self-destructive country singer who struggles with alcoholism. Actors Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal were also bestowed accolades for their performances in the film. The Soloist, the story of a supremely talented schizophrenic street musician, won for top feature film to accurately portray mental health issues. The Prism Awards recognize those works of art dealing with substance abuse or mental health issues that promote education and knowledge to their viewing audiences. Through their portrayals of the realities of substance addiction and mental disorders, these works of art are delivering a hopeful message that underlines the value of treatment and recovery.

Other Prism awards were received by such television shows as NBC’s “Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit,” “Law and Order,” and “Celebrity Apprentice,” AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” HBO’s “The Alzheimer’s Project,” a special episode called “Kids in Rehab” on Nickelodeon’s “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee,” and PBS’s “Betty Ford: The Real Deal.” The television movies on Lifetime called “Natalee Holloway” and “Prayers for Bobby” also took home awards. Actors Rosie O’Donnell for her performance in Lifetime’s television movie “America,” Kevin McKidd from the television show “Grey’s Anatomy,” and Tony Shalhoub and Hector Elizondo for their performances in the television show “Monk.”

EIC was founded in 1983 by leaders in the entertainment industry and continues to connect science and art via the recognition of media forms that support mental health awareness. The Prism Awards began in 1997 and have developed into a celebrated annual event among the Hollywood scene. To learn more, visit EIC’s website at eiconline.org or prismawards.com.

PRISM Awards Acknowledge Substance Abuse Portrayals in Cinema is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

No other country in the world produces as much heroin, opium, and hashish as Afghanistan, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The steady rise in the number of domestic drug users belies the argument by some Afghans that drug consumption is a non-Afghan problem and that the drugs trade brings money to the country.

"There is the Coca-Cola effect between production of drugs and consumption and addiction; supply inevitably does create demand," said Jean-Luc Lemahieu, UNODC’s country representative.

"The distinction between producing and consuming countries has blurred. Traditionally, consuming countries have become producers of synthetic drugs. In turn, producing countries have become consumers. What remains is a shared international responsibility. No country should be left alone," he said.

"There is a risk Afghanistan could become the world’s top drug-using nation – albeit proportionate to its population – if the current addiction trend continues and we fail to stop it," said MCN’s Afzali.

Addiction, not production, is Afghanistan’s biggest problem, experts say. "If each addict spends $1 a day on his/her addiction it is waste of $45 million a month," Tariq Suliman, director of a drug users’ rehabilitation centre called Nejat, told IRIN.

He said addicts seeking treatment at his centre come from all walks of life but most are young men who could otherwise be of use to their family and country.

Officials at the MCN said drug addiction was having a devastating impact: "Drug addiction adds to insecurity, social crimes and communicable diseases and undermines Afghanistan’s development efforts," said Afzali, adding that providing free treatment and rehabilitation services for the addicts was an unnecessary financial burden.

Transmission of communicable viruses – particularly HIV – among injecting drug users is a serious health risk. Awareness about sexual diseases is very low.

At least 3 percent of injecting drug users in Kabul were diagnosed HIV positive, according to a 2006 World Bank study in Kabul.

"Drug addiction and HIV/AIDS are, together, Afghanistan’s silent tsunami," said Suliman of the Nejat Centre.

There are about 40 treatment centers for addicts, but most are very small and under-resourced.

Over the past few years, donors have disbursed hundreds of millions of dollars to counter Afghanistan’s drug problem.

However, officials concede that counter-narcotics efforts have been concentrated on poppy eradication and interdiction but little attention has been paid to the rising addiction crisis.

"Donors logically adopted counter-narcotics policies based on their own national interests," said UNODC’s Lemahieu, adding that Afghanistan’s addiction and HIV problems were increasingly being acknowledged by donors and the government.
MCN’s Afzali praised US support for counter-narcotics efforts but said other donors, particularly European ones, have not properly understood the country’s drug problems.
 

Drug Addiction Growing in Afghanistan is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Beyoncé related how she first came to know the Brooklyn chapter of Phoenix House, the nation’s leading non-profit provider of substance abuse and prevention services, when she was preparing for the role of Etta James in the 2008 film “Cadillac Records.”

To play the part of the former heroin addict, Beyoncé met with women in treatment at the Career Academy, and she was so moved by their powerful stories of addiction and recovery that she later donated her salary from the film.

Last year, she and her mother, who is also her business partner and a fashion designer, conceived of the idea of Phoenix House’s new cosmetology program.

The Beyoncé Cosmetology Center, which Beyonce is also funding, will offer a seven-month cosmetology training course for adult men and women, teaching the theory and practical skills that clients need to pass the New York State Cosmetology Licensure Exam.

As Beyoncé is a spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris, the company is generously providing all makeup, skin care, and hair care products.

“We were thrilled when Beyoncé and her mother Tina approached us about creating a cosmetology center for our clients,” said Phoenix House President and CEO Howard Meitiner. “Their generosity and compassion toward the men and women we serve is extraordinary. With this tremendous gift, they have given our clients a route to achieve successful, rewarding lives in recovery.”

Tina Knowles recalled how some of the stylists in the Houston salon she once owned struggled with addiction and other problems, but when they got behind the styling chair they could “throw down” with the best of stylists, and that the trade changed their lives.

“We all make mistakes, but as I learned from my daughter, it’s not how you fall down, but how you get up,” she said.

Beyoncé Offers Cosmetology Training for Recovering Addicts is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

What is the Spin Zone?

Usually, when you hear the words spin zone you think of politics, business, sports or Hollywood. “Spin” is another word used by public relations experts to cast a more favorable light on a person, company, product or situation that has come under scrutiny following a major blunder, fair or unfair criticism, police matter, legal issues or social snafu. What it really is, however, is embroidery of the facts. It’s telling the story in a way that’s designed to favor your client, company, product or situation – regardless of the truth.

In the world of the drug addict, spin takes on a slightly different meaning as well. There is certainly considerable embroidery of the truth, but it may or may not be deliberate. Depending on the substance the addict abuses, he or she may still have some semblance of rational thinking left. Still able to separate reality from illusion or hallucination, the drug addict may wish to spare the feelings of family and friends. He or she may try to hide evidence of their addiction by telling what they think are only little white lies.

As the addiction progresses, however, all efforts to try to maintain a normal life disappear in a cloud of lies, half-truths, deliberate omissions, anger, hurt, betrayal and loss. In a sense, everything in the addict’s world spins. It’s not just what comes out of his or her mouth that doesn’t make sense. Nothing makes sense. It’s important for you to understand why.

It’s All About the Fix

Addiction is, by definition, abuse of a substance to the point where the individual continues to use despite negative consequences, needs to use more of the substance and more often in order to achieve the same high. They have gone far beyond physical dependence on the drug – whether the drug is alcohol, illegal street or prescription drugs, or a combination of drugs, or compulsive sexual, eating or gambling – to a point where they physically have to have the drug (or engage in the activity). Their lives become all about the fix. They crave the high, the euphoria they feel when they inject, smoke, snort, pop, inhale, drink, eat or satiate themselves with the drug or activity. Nothing else matters – family or friends, not the job, not their health or finances, and, certainly, not their future.

While loved ones and friends of the addict can argue, cajole, scream, threaten, or try to gloss over, dismiss or ignore what’s happening in a vain attempt to make it go away, the fact is that addiction will not go away by itself. In most cases, this is beyond the control of the addict. They can’t stop by force of will – despite what they may tell you. Remember, their words are part of their spin zone. They will tell you what you want to hear. In the end, however, they’re only concerned about maintaining their habit. Their primary thought is about the next fix. It’s always about the next fix.

Illness vs. Weakness

Whichever side of the fence you are on – and there are many addiction experts who claim one or the other – whether addiction is considered an illness or a weakness isn’t what really counts in the overall scheme of things. Some critics of the illness argument say that when someone is ill they’re not responsible, so saying an addict has an illness gives them an excuse to go on being an addict. On the weakness side, the criticism usually centers on the fact that people with very strong will and determination may be unable to overcome addiction on their own, so it has to have a physical component.

This is not meant to debate which side is right. The point to be made is that addiction will persist and progress to a point of no return, even to death, without treatment. Sheer willpower won’t do it alone, although the addict has to want to change before any treatment will work. Unless and until the underlying behaviors are changed, the spin – and the addiction – will continue.

Brain Functions Falter

What actually happens during the various stages of addiction to make the drug addict so untrustworthy, unreliable, and unpredictable, with wild mood swings and often violent behavior? It has to do with brain chemistry. Repeated drug use disrupts the brain’s complex and finely-tuned network that governs all thoughts, emotions, drives, and perceptions. Over time, such disruption distorts and changes a person’s needs and desires, replacing them with a single motivating drive to seek and use drugs.

All drugs of abuse involve activating the same brain circuits as behaviors linked to survival, such as eating and sex. Use of drugs or alcohol releases a surge of the brain chemical called dopamine which, in turn, leads to feelings of pleasure or euphoria. The brain remembers this feeling and wants to experience it again and again.

What happens is this: within seconds of entering the blood, the drug cause dramatic changes in the brain synapse. It completely bypasses the body’s five senses and enters the brain’s pleasure center, causing a jolt of intense pleasure.
The brain has to try to adapt to these abuse drugs and does so by shutting down or reducing the number of dopamine receptors at these synapses. As the body comes down from the high, the drug user needs more of the drug the next time in order to replicate the high. This is known as tolerance.

As the user continues to abuse drugs, other areas of the brain outside the reward pathway are altered. These include physical changes to regions involved in judgment, learning and memory. In essence, the brain becomes hard-wired, and the drug-seeking behavior becomes habit-driven, an automatic reflex. The user has become an addict.

Another neurotransmitter affected by repeated drug abuse is serotonin. The role of serotonin in the brain is to regulate many of the body’s functions, including body temperature, sleep, mood, appetite and pain. Increasing use of abuse drugs alter the serotonin pathway and can lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior, depression, and anxiety disorders.

How the Addict Displays Spin

The proficiency with which the drug addict is able to manifest some outward signs of normal life changes over time, as more and more of the brain’s regions are damaged by continued drug use. It’s important to note that different drugs affect the brain in more severe and immediate ways. Addicts who abuse multiple drugs simultaneously, or combine drug and alcohol abuse, or have co-occurring mental disorders, may show more signs, or more severe signs, than a single-substance addict. Here, then, are some – but not all – of the most common behaviors that show the addict’s spin.

• Confusion – Usually when you think of a person who is confused you identify that with someone suffering from Alzheimer’s or some other debilitating mental condition. The origins may be different, but the behavior is the same. The addict often displays confusion over seemingly normal situations, not knowing what to do, where they are, finding it difficult to comprehend. They may be sitting at the dinner table and not know which utensil to pick up, or not realize they’ve already eaten their meal and ask for more. Confusion is also related to memory problems in that both occur more frequently in addicts.

• Inability to reason properly – Following a sequence pattern to make a decision involves the ability to reason. This is an ability that suffers as the addict continues to use. You may be discussing why your son or daughter should not be allowed to go to a party after disobeying family rules, getting bad grades or into some trouble at school. The addicted parent may come up with some incredibly faulty reasons why the child should be allowed to go or, on the other hand, some equally unreasonable reasons why not. Faulty reasoning may also be accompanied by wild mood swings as the drug’s effects wane and the addict is in need of another fix.

• Problems with judgment – Errors in judgment occur more frequently. Not only is the addict often confused and unable to reason properly, but he or she cannot accurately determine the right course of action at any given moment. This is particularly dangerous if the individual attempts to drive, operate dangerous equipment or perform a delicate task, such as surgery or using high-speed or hazardous equipment. The expression “judgment call” doesn’t apply to an addict. In the addict’s distorted world, whatever they decide is usually on the wrong side of judgment. They aren’t able to adequately judge and this only worsens over time.

• Learning and memory problems – Addicts find it increasingly difficult to remember even simple tasks, let alone learn and comprehend complex instructions. Short-term memory is profoundly affected as more and more brain circuits are damaged due to continued drug use. In your interactions with the drug addict, you may begin to see that he or she forgets important engagements, doesn’t show up for meals on time or at all, doesn’t pay bills or attend to financial or other responsibilities or other problems associated with learning and memory.

• Concentration suffers – Jitteriness, fidgeting, jumping all over the place in conversation – all are signs that the addict’s concentration is being affected by drugs. He or she can’t seem to stay on one topic, which may be extremely aggravating at the least, and, potentially, very damaging or harmful in the worst case scenario.

• Difficulty separating reality from illusion – Certain drugs of abuse such as hallucinogens cause addicts to have difficulty separating what’s real from what’s only an illusion, a fantasy, not reality. You can’t have a logical conversation – or any conversation, really – with someone who is so far gone that they’re seeing and hearing things that aren’t there. You’ll have to wait until they come down from the drug in order to have any hope of getting through to them.

• Problems with motor ability and space and time – Some drugs affect the addict by slowing down their motor ability or their perception of space and time. They move slower, or jerk uncontrollably in involuntary leg or arm movements. They may act as if they’ve just nodded off for a second when in reality they’ve been in a drug stupor for hours or longer. Having any conversation or interaction with an addict who is exhibiting any of these signs is next to impossible. Again, you will need to wait until they have come down from the drug to have any, hopefully, meaningful conversation.

How You Can Counter the Drug Addict’s Spin

By now, you’re probably wondering what, if anything, you can do to counter the spin you get from the drug addict. The best advice is to educate yourself on all aspects of addiction, particularly to the substance or substances your friend or loved one is addicted to. You need to know exactly what it is that you’re dealing with. This is important because different drugs have different side-effects, and short-term and long-term consequences. The risk for overdose, serious and potentially life-threatening consequences is greater for some drugs than for others. Knowledge is your first powerful tool.

Next, get help. While in most cases the addict has to be ready and willing to acknowledge that he or she needs help and then commit to getting treatment (and stay with it), and you can’t help them yourself, you can and should seek help for yourself. Dealing with an addict in any stage of the addictive cycle is difficult at best and can be impossible or even dangerous, especially if there are children present in the environment.

There are 12-step organizations for friends and loved ones of addicts that can provide support to you – whether or not your addicted loved one or friend decides to seek treatment. Check these organizations out on the Internet and see if they’re a good fit for you. Choose how you want to interact with them – strictly using their site to obtain tips and links to resources, or by participating in live meetings, or meetings via phone or Internet.

• Al-Anon/Alateen
• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Nar-Anon Family Groups
• Co-Anon Family Groups
• Co-Dependents Anonymous
• Co-Dependents of Sex Addicts
• Gam-Anon
• S-Anon

Also investigate potential treatment programs for the time when the addict is ready to (or is forced to for legal or job-related issues) get treatment. Look into residential treatment centers, outpatient or inpatient hospital facilities and/or private counseling. Make sure they specialize in the particular addiction. Inquire about special financing, grants or scholarships, or sliding-scale or pay-as-you-go programs.

Remember, the spin will continue as long as the addiction continues. If you are going to remain with the drug addict, you will need all the help you can get to remain safe, sane and secure yourself, as well as to be supportive of the addict’s desire to change.

Caution: Entering the Drug Addict’s Spin Zone is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Tyler has been estranged from the rest of the group—despite a recent onstage appearance with guitarist Joe Perry—since August, when he fell from a stage in South Dakota and forced the group to cancel the rest of its summer tour.

"This guy has a tremendous history of drug abuse, and you have to be suspicious that this is something that is probably going on with him," Whitford told rockradio.com. "I think that’s got to be a part of this irrational behavior. People in recovery and stuff, if you’re really doing it, it takes a lot of work.”

"Historically or statistically, the majority of people in that situation don’t make it. I have a feeling we might be looking at, you know, someone who’s just really struggling very badly with this,” Whitford continued.

The band also revealed that despite Tyler’s recent onstage appearance where he declared he was not quitting the band, none of the other bandmates have had any contact with Tyler in months.

Drummer Joey Kramer also admitted that the band is unsure how to carry on, but they all want to continue playing with Tyler.

"You know, getting someone else is one of the questions," Kramer explained. "We all know that there’s really no way to replace Steven, but we want to continue touring together.”

"We even have a 40-year anniversary coming up and it’s a milestone. We want to be able to celebrate it together and there’s millions of fans out there that are dedicated to us."

Kramer’s comments come alongside Joe Perry’s recent comments that the band will carry on without Tyler if they have to.

Aerosmith Frontman Steven Tyler May Be Abusing Drugs is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

The new research suggests that ordinary decisions are driven by expectations of pleasure involving dopamine.

Scientists from University College London conducted an experiment in which 61 volunteers were asked to imagine their ideal vacation.

Participants were first invited to rate their expectations of happiness at each of 80 destinations, ranging from Thailand to Greece. They were then given a drug that increases dopamine activity and asked to imagine being on vacation in those destinations.
The next day they had to pick between pairs of destinations they had assigned equal ratings at the start of the study.

One member of each pair had been given the dopamine-enhancing drug L-DOPA, and the other member was given a placebo.

Finally, the volunteers rated all 80 destinations again.

The research showed that the dopamine effect had an impact on choices. Participants were more likely to select destinations imagined after taking L-DOPA, and final ratings for destinations visualized under L-DOPAs influence also increased.

The researchers wrote in the journal Current Biology: “Understanding how hedonic expectations are formed is critical both for understanding human action, which is largely driven by estimations of future pleasure and pain, and for understanding how pleasure expectation can go awry in a multitude of neuro-psychiatric disorders that implicate dopamine, such as drug addiction.”

New Research Suggests that Decisions are Driven by Expectations of Pleasure is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Admitting her “addictive personality,” Griffith once told the Australian magazine New Idea that she was lucky to be alive. “I was never as bad as some people I knew, shooting heroin and stuff. But I did do a lot of drinking and cocaine. I thought I was just having a good time,” she said.

Her problems first got out of control at age 18, when she was "living in a real wild ‘sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll’ lifestyle" with actor Don Johnson, whom she first married and divorced in 1976 (they later remarried). "I wasn’t very concerned about my future," she told Parade in August 2000.

Five years later, she married actor Steven Bauer, and admitted turning to alcohol after they divorced in 1985. When she showed up to the set of Working Girl in 1988 drunk, director Mike Nichols pulled her aside. Three weeks later, she entered the Hazelden Foundation, a rehab center in Minnesota.

In 1994, she told Vanity Fair that she was never loved unconditionally. “Coke, booze give you a feeling, a physical sensation…a buzz inside your body that takes the place of something you should have had when you were a child.” She also admitted that when she was 10 she would drink wine like it was soda. “I was medicating myself so I could escape my pain and insecurities.”

Johnson helped her get sober when they reconnected in 1989 during her stay at Hazelden. He had been sober for five years and told Griffith he would support her. Almost a decade later, when Griffith checked into another facility in 2000, husband Antonio Banderas was by her side. In 2002, the couple told Diane Sawyer that they fought while she struggled with painkiller addiction, which stemmed from a neck injury.

For now, Griffith’s latest trip back to rehab will be an uphill climb, according to addiction specialist Dr. David Sack, CEO of Promises Treatment Centers. “What’s true for anyone who’s been in recovery for a while, sometimes they take their situation for granted,” said Dr. Sack, who is not treating Griffith.

“When you have been doing well, it’s easy to minimize and you forget. You don’t want to believe you are still vulnerable,” he said. “It requires strategy.”
 

Melanie Griffith’s Battle with Addiction is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment