Category: Understanding Addiction
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Marijuana is often viewed as harmless — especially when compared to other substances. But psychiatry tells a more nuanced story. Cannabis affects the brain systems responsible for mood, anxiety, motivation, and perception. For some people, it may temporarily reduce distress. For others, it can worsen anxiety, contribute to panic, interfere with motivation, or increase vulnerability…
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This article is part of Understanding Addiction: A Psychiatry-Informed Foundation, a series that explains the neuroscience, psychology, and clinical realities behind substance use disorders. For decades, addiction was misunderstood as a problem of willpower, morality, or “bad choices.” Those beliefs caused enormous harm — increasing shame, stigma, and silence, while delaying care for millions of…
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This article is part of Understanding Addiction: A Psychiatry-Informed Foundation, a series that explains the neuroscience, psychology, and clinical realities behind substance use disorders. One of the biggest misunderstandings in the addiction world is the belief that drug use and addiction are the same thing. They’re not — not even close. People often assume that…
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This article is part of Understanding Addiction: A Psychiatry-Informed Foundation & Medication-Assisted Treatment & Harm Reduction Psychiatry, a series that explains the neuroscience, psychology, and clinical realities behind substance use disorders. A PMHNP Perspective on Why Cravings Happen — and How We Treat Them Understanding Craving Neurobiology and Medication Options One of the most harmful…
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This article is part of Understanding Addiction: A Psychiatry-Informed Foundation, a series that explains the neuroscience, psychology, and clinical realities behind substance use disorders. For generations, people believed addiction was a sign of weakness, a lack of self-control, or a moral failure. Today, science tells a very different—and much more compassionate—story. According to the National…
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This article is part of The PMHNP Guide to Addiction Psychiatry, a clinical education series exploring how Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners assess, diagnose, and treat substance use disorders using evidence-based, trauma-informed care. In recent years, the role of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) has gained significant attention as mental health care becomes a…