Current Events

It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Considering the ongoing opioid epidemic and the 14 million adults with alcohol use disorder, the demand for addiction treatment is rising. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has caused stress on the addiction treatment industry, challenging traditional treatment methods. In short, there is an ongoing […]

While all eyes were on the presidential election in 2020, voters in Oregon got to make a different kind of choice with their ballots: they voted to become the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize all drugs. Additionally, they voted to expand access to addiction treatment. Oregon’s Measure 110 passed by a wide margin […]

When we last left off in the saga of Purdue Pharma, makers of the notorious opioid OxyContin, the multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical company had recently declared bankruptcy amidst ongoing legal struggles. Purdue was embroiled in thousands of lawsuits brought by states, counties, cities, Native American tribes, and other plaintiffs alleging that they played a key role in […]

There’s no doubt about it. We are enduring many pains, hardships and sorrows during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The count of those who have contracted the disease continues to tick up. The number of people who have succumbed to it does too. But the misfortunes don’t stop there. Others indirectly relate to this vicious scourge. […]

With the election right around the corner, there are only a small handful of key issues that seem to be on everyone’s minds: COVID-19, the economy, health care, the Supreme Court, but relatively few others. One important issue that’s gotten overlooked, however, is the opioid epidemic. Though it hasn’t been in the news recently, the […]

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th and ends October 15th. It is the cultural and historical celebration of the contributions of American citizens whose ancestry can be traced back to Central and South America, Mexico, Spain, and the Caribbean. It started under President Lyndon Johnson as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. Twenty years later […]

Anxiety, Stress, and Loneliness Being isolated can cause many negative emotions and feelings such as, anxiety, stress, fear, and loneliness. These are all normal feelings and emotions to have during these current circumstances. For those of us working from home it’s important to keep a routine and balance throughout the day. It can be tempting […]

The month of March doesn’t just honor women and the contributions that they’ve made throughout history, but it also honors the dedication and work of the social worker in the United States. On that note; Happy Social Work Month! A supportive individual to others facing so many challenges, social workers sometimes get overlooked in the […]

It’s an election year and candidates are offering their stances on all types of policy under the sun. However, one issue that may be getting lost in the endless media coverage is the opioid epidemic, and how presidential candidates will address the opioid crisis. In honor of Presidents Day, we’re going to take a look […]

Kids these days. What with their newfangled gizmos and constant preoccupation with their social media. What good are these new technologies anyway?  Well, at least in the world of addiction recovery, one particular social media platform has proven to be something of a boon to youth overcoming their struggles with substance use: TikTok, the short-form […]

Learning the ABC’s is taking on new meaning on the famous TV boulevard called “Sesame Street.” That change came about with the arrival of a new pigtailed Muppet, Karli, in May 2019. Sweet as can be, all bright green and furry with a purple tinged nose and eyes, she is staying with her foster family. […]

In August 2019, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson settled a lawsuit over their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. The company agreed to pay $572 million to those who fell victim to their deceptive opioid marketing practices. In November 2019, a judge has reduced that settlement to $465 million, citing a “math error”. What exactly […]