Across the United States, there are approximately 21 million people battling a substance use disorder. From alcoholism to opioid addiction, prescription drug abuse to compulsive marijuana use, Americans are struggling with all types of drug problems. Many are struggling with disorders beyond addiction, too. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry and recent national surveys, more […]

Some call it a solution for opioid addiction. Some call it a natural and safe alternative to opiate drugs. Some say that it can help with painful opioid withdrawal. Yet science says this drug is none-of-the-above, but rather, a dangerous opioid itself. And as parents, educators, and clinical professionals, we should all be aware of it. […]

We all know that it’s bad to drink and drive. Every day, approximately 28 people in the United States die in car accidents that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Drinking affects our judgment, results in poor coordination, and slows our reaction time – making it very hard to see, steer, brake, and generally control, a moving […]

Prescription and over-the-counter medications are ranked the third most commonly abused substances by Americans aged 14 and older, following just behind marijuana and alcohol. Due to their availability and accessibility, prescription drugs have become drugs-of-choice for adolescents and young adults. It is estimated that, every day, more than 1,700 teenagers use prescription drugs nonmedically for […]

The New York Times recently reported that the gateway drug theory is having a “comeback” – and new studies are supporting the notion that gateway drugs exist. As a parent whose son or daughter has smoked or drank before, should you be concerned? What’s Turnbridge’s take on the gateway drug theory? We detail our thoughts […]

Choosing the right drug treatment program for your loved one is not an easy nor clear-cut decision. There are many different types of rehab facilities out there – long-term vs. short-term treatment, one-to-one vs. group counseling, “luxury rehab” vs. evidence-based, inpatient vs. outpatient rehab – how can you possibly know that you are making the […]

In 2016, an estimated 21 million people over age 12 were diagnosed with a clinical substance use disorder and therefore required professional treatment. Yet less than 2 percent actually received it. This is especially true among younger generations – according to national data, only 0.7 percent of addicted adolescents, and 1.8 percent of young adults […]

Just months ago, the world lost iconic musician Tom Petty. He died after suffering multiple episodes of cardiac arrest. While Tom Petty experienced a long and hard journey with drugs (Turnbridge shares his story here), his death was not instantly deemed a drug overdose. Until now. On January 20, 2018 – more than 100 days […]

At the end of 2017, the latest Monitoring the Future data was released— and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there is some good news regarding adolescent drug use. Despite the ongoing opioid crisis affecting our country, despite the alarming increases in opioid overdoses nationwide, they said, opioid abuse among adolescents is at […]

2015 was a record-setting year for drug overdose deaths in the United States. Now, the 2016 numbers are in— and they are not boding well for the year ahead. In late December 2017, the Centers for Disease Control revealed that the number of fatal drug overdoses in America rose 21 percent from 2015 to 2016, […]