We’re all different—and the neurodivergent label acknowledges the unique ways that human brains develop, sometimes diverging from expectations. The term neurodivergence was coined to describe the wide array of differences in human thinking patterns and behavior. When these differences become clinically significant—sometimes including diagnosis through medical evaluation and cognitive testing—they can pose challenges to social […]
Treatment Topics
Paying for Treatment
Paying for treatment can sometimes be a concern for families. As an in-network provider with Anthen, Aetna, Cigna, and Kaiser, Muir Wood is making high-quality care more affordable for familes. Once parents understand and accept the fact that their teens will need help in order to overcome an addiction, and that the help is best […]
Teen Support Groups
During the teenage years, young people are highly sensitive to the opinions and attitudes of their peers. Peer pressure is one of the strongest influences that drive teens to abuse drugs and alcohol, but when it’s turned in a positive direction, this powerful force can also help young people stay sober. According to Substance Abuse […]
Is Medication-Assisted Treatment a Safe Bet for Opiate-Addicted Teens?
For adults who are dependent upon opioid drugs like heroin and painkillers, medication that “replaces” the drug of choice and minimizes withdrawal symptoms is often used. Methadone and buprenorphine are the most commonly prescribed medications for this purpose, but in teens, most doctors are reluctant to use these drugs. The conversation on whether or not […]
The Butterfly Effect in Recovery
By Andrew Finley, LMFT Newton’s Third Law of Physics states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Scientifically, this is true, but in the recovery profession we deal with far more than the physical plane. In our world, we have seen the possibility of our actions causing immense, even global reactions that […]
Pauper in his Palace: Can Integrated Treatment Make a Prince?
David E. Smith, MD, FASAM, FAACT; Michael Wachter, MD; and Jennifer Golick, MFT The challenge of integrating treatment is not new to the medical world. Any patient struggling with a chronic illness is frequently seen by a team of treatment professionals who attempt to collaboratively address the unique needs of the patient. Addiction treatment in […]
How to Plant the Seeds of Hope in Teens
By Ben Spencer, Teacher and Academic Director (Google+) At the end of last week, I had a chance to sit down with Jason Lechner, Muir Wood’s Program Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program. Jason also acts as the Primary Therapist for the Residential Program. During our conversation, I filled Jason in on the academic program […]
Adolescents Need Adolescent Addiction Treatment, Not Adult
By Lisa Frederiksen, Group Facilitator (Google+) Until the turn of the 21st century, there was little understanding of the inner workings of the teen brain—I mean the inner workings, the science that shows how the brain develops and what influences that development (childhood trauma, mental illness, social environment, genetics, and puberty), let alone the profound […]
Early Substance Abuse Treatment Intervention Can Save Your Son’s Life
Dr. John Sharp, a respected psychiatrist, author, and faculty member at Harvard Medical School and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, explains early substance abuse as the combination of two evils: (1) a genetic tendency to be prone to addiction, and (2) an altering of the chemical balance that is still forming within […]
New Liver Toxicity Drug Maybe Helpful for Teen Marijuana Use
Taking too much Tylenol can cause liver toxicity. A medication that has been used in the treatment of this issue may also be effective in the treatment of teenagers who are addicted to marijuana as long as it is used in combination with behavioral therapy, says a speaker at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual convention. […]