New Study Links Marijuana to SchizophreniaArticles>Addiction ResearchBy The RanchNovember 16, 2014As two states have voted to legalize recreational marijuana, and several others will vote on legalization in upcoming elections, the federal government has been evaluating the information about the potential risks related to marijuana use. On June 5, 2014, members of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published the results of their evaluation in… Details
Nurturing Touch as a Recovery ToolArticles>Early RecoveryBy The RanchNovember 14, 2014Humans are hardwired to give and receive touch. As infants, it’s the way we explore the world around us. Even before we can see clearly, our skin — the largest organ in the body — is in contact with our environment. Newborn bodies respond to the temperature in the room, the texture of whatever is… Details
Brain Injury Increases PTSD RiskArticles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchNovember 12, 2014The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming to an end, but, as family members of service men and women know, soldiers don’t always return home unchanged and unharmed, even when there is not a scratch to be seen. A recent study took a look at how receiving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects a… Details
Veterans and Addiction – A Forgotten Consequence of WarArticles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchNovember 11, 2014As Veterans Day rolls around, we all take a moment to pay our respects to those who’ve fought for our freedom in both historical and current conflicts, but it’s easy to forget that veterans can’t leave the horrors of war on the battlefield. Drugs have been a part of war for centuries, and although in… Details
The Challenge of Treating Chronic Pain in SobrietyArticles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchNovember 8, 2014Treating chronic pain in sobriety can be a slippery slope in which you’re threatened by a double-edged sword. Living with constant pain hurts your quality of life, but giving in to taking narcotics may set you up for a relapse.
What Is Marijuana Wax?Articles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchNovember 6, 2014Wax is the most potent form of cannabis available today. The drug first appeared in California but has rapidly spread across the country over the past decade. Named for its waxy consistency, marijuana wax is extremely concentrated and offers an intense high that can take even experienced users by surprise. While wax (or cannabis concentrate)… Details
Hookah and AddictionArticles>Drug AddictionBy The RanchNovember 4, 2014Cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. Despite this fact, many people still smoke and get hooked on nicotine, one of the most addictive abused substances. A growing sector of smokers, mostly young people, is rejecting cigarettes for the hookah, or water pipe. Research on hookah smoking is… Details
Horses Helping Addicts HealArticles>Addiction TreatmentBy The RanchOctober 31, 2014The therapeutic benefit of being around animals has long been known to anyone who has cared for and loved a pet. Whether that animal is a dog or a cat, or even a horse, the unconditional love and the selflessness they exhibit can be immensely healing. For drug addicts, the presence of animals during therapy… Details
Substance Abuse, Psychosis Affect Men and Women DifferentlyArticles>Mental HealthBy The RanchOctober 29, 2014Significant numbers of the people in the U.S. dealing with serious substance-related issues also have symptoms of a highly destabilizing mental state called psychosis. Some affected individuals meet the basic criteria used to identify a substance- and mental health-related condition called dual diagnosis. In a study published in September 2014 in the Journal of Dual… Details
Female Athletes at High Risk for Eating DisordersArticles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchOctober 27, 2014The eating disorder risk that female athletes face is intuitive and counter-intuitive at the same time. On the one hand, it’s natural to assume that athletes know how to take care of their bodies as well or better than anyone else in the world. On the other hand, many athletes are under great pressure to… Details
