The Rise of “Medical” Cannabis and Shifting Perceptions in North Carolina So-called “medical” and recreational marijuana use has become increasingly widespread in the United States after 38 states and Washington, DC, legalized “medical” cannabis and 23 states, including Washington, DC, have legalized its recreational use. Many well-meaning people have internalized cannabis industry propaganda claiming that […]
“Advances in medical imaging have revealed that addiction is a complex disease of the brain,” said the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Nora Volkow four years ago. “By understanding how addiction affects different neuronal processes, we can gather insights that give us a better understanding of why the behaviors of people […]
American teenagers and young adults—especially college students—used to be able to party and experiment with drugs and alcohol without necessarily risking their lives. Not anymore! The drugs that kids encounter nowadays are much more powerful and in some cases deadly. The THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) levels in cannabis products have dramatically increased in the last few decades […]
In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that life expectancy at birth in the United States was 77.5 years, which is 1.1 years higher than in 2021 but still 1.3 years lower than in 2019. This is a reversal from 2021, when life expectancy dropped to 76.4 years, the lowest it […]
“You must practice tough love!”“Let them hit rock bottom!” For decades, we’ve heard these common recommendations come from the medical profession, therapists, friends, and even the recovery community itself. Unfortunately, these two themes rooted in concepts of tough love, could not be more inaccurate or hurtful to the health of our suffering loved ones and […]
Crystal meth may appear dazzling, but it is anything but harmless. The glass-like fragments or bluish-white rocks are a dangerous form of amphetamine – the same drug used to treat severe medical conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy in limited cases. Methamphetamine, or “meth,” is among the most widely abused substances worldwide. It is a powerful […]
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is an annual, week-long health observance that was created to spark conversation among young adults around the science of drug abuse and addiction. This year it falls from March 21st through the 27th. Although this dialogue is primarily focused on education for teens, the information we share can be […]
At The Blanchard Institute, we offer varying levels of outpatient care for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and the many co-occurring mental health disorders that often accompany these dependencies. Each of these different treatment programs is uniquely designed to work for each individual client. We understand that everyone has different needs and will require […]
As an organization that engages with people dealing with substance use issues, our ultimate goal for everyone that walks through our doors is recovery. This month, The Blanchard Institute, along with treatment centers across the country, is recognizing National Recovery Month, celebrating those in the recovery community, while encouraging others that recovery is possible for […]
Over the last 20 years, the United States has lost almost 1 million mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles, and friends due to drug overdose-related deaths. Every year on August 31, International Overdose Day is recognized as the world’s largest campaign to end overdose. The Blanchard Institute holds this commemorative day very […]
