Medical Director Donald Harline, MD

Nearly 1.3 million Americans have cocaine use disorder. Cocaine is an illegal substance that acts as a stimulant, causing short bursts of elation and “highs” immediately after taking it. People can either snort or inject cocaine, leading to short- and long-term adverse side effects that can … [Read more...] about Early Signs of Cocaine Use: Here’s What You Should Know

Alcoholism is a chronic and severe disease affecting nearly 15 million Americans aged 12 and older yearly. Whether you’ve been addicted to alcohol for days, months or years, it can affect your entire body, from how you look and feel to how you act and everything in between. In fact, one of the … [Read more...] about What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Drinking? Here’s What You Need to Know

Drugs and alcohol can take a significant toll on your body. From physical and mental changes to those that affect your emotions and overall well-being, they cause detrimental long-term effects long after the highs and lows of the substances are over. Becoming sober is a monumental feat and a step … [Read more...] about 5 Signs Your Body Is Detoxing

Alcohol is a common beverage at restaurants, social gatherings and events. Although it is very much a part of our mainstream culture, it can cause a lot of harm for many individuals, especially those who become addicted to it. In fact, alcoholism is a serious disease that affects nearly 15 … [Read more...] about How to Stage an Intervention for an Alcoholic

Mood changes are a normal part of life, but if you experience ones that seem to go from one extreme to the other, it may be an underlying sign of a more serious mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder. Affecting nearly 5.7 million American adults, bipolar disorder is a relatively common … [Read more...] about The Four Types of Bipolar Disorder

Substance use disorder, more commonly umbrellaed as “addiction,” is one of the biggest public health crises of modern times. In fact, overdoses due to addiction are the top cause of accidental death in the United States, killing hundreds of thousands each year. The worst part? Only 1 in 10 people … [Read more...] about 5 Myths About Drug Addiction and Recovery Uncovered

The opioid epidemic, or opioid overdose crisis, is one of the greatest public health problems in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, largely due to the opioid … [Read more...] about What Is the Opioid Epidemic?

Benzodiazepines, sometimes called benzos, are a class of psychoactive drugs that act as a depressant to lower brain activity. They are often prescribed to treat conditions like anxiety, sleep disorders and seizures. The most prescribed benzodiazepines include Valium®, Xanax® and Klonopin®. … [Read more...] about How to Quit Benzodiazepines

Did you know our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes can positively or negatively affect how well our body functions? Perhaps even more interesting is that what we do with our physical body (what we eat, how much we exercise and even our posture) can impact our mental state. The mind-body … [Read more...] about Foods That Boost Your Mental Health