The Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed a civil complaint on Dec. 18 alleging that CVS Pharmacy Inc. and various subsidiaries helped contribute to the opioid crisis by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act while also seeking reimbursement from federal health care programs. In the complaint, filed in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, the DOJ alleged that the prescriptions filled by the company lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were not valid, or were not issued in the “usual course of professional practice.” According to the DOJ, CVS filled unlawful prescriptions, including those for “dangerous and excessive” quantities of opioids, early refills of opioids, and trinity prescriptions, described by the department as “an especially dangerous and abused combination of drugs consisting of an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and a muscle relaxant.”

The idea of getting outside psychological testing for a diagnosis of ADHD is completely unnecessary, causing patients to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars, possibly wait many months to get an appointment with the few psychologists who do test for ADHD, and then take that lengthy report back to your prescriber (more time and money) to possibly receive ADHD medication.

Prescribing cannabis where state laws allow it, appears to decrease prescription benzodiazepine use. This is a small study and not conclusive, but it points out the possibility that there may be less addictive treatments to mental health ailments with the new cannabis state laws.

Great news to all my ADHD patients. Looks like the past few months have been going better with more medication available, and it's not just a coincidence. Just got this update in...

Research suggests exercise may be more effective for treating depression than antidepressant drugs, with dancing far surpassing all other activities and pharmacological treatments—and intense exercise close behind.

It’s one of the most common psychiatric disorders in adults. Yet there are no U.S. guidelines for diagnosing and treating patients beyond childhood.  At this clinic, any adult has the correct diagnostics to make an accurate ADHD diagnosis and start treatment.  Do things still need to be updated in the DSM? Definitely. Especially, the line about symptoms starting before age 12.

I always update my Facebook page with interesting mental health news, new therapies, ADHD information, medication trials, anything in this field that I think would be in the public interest. I update it frequently, more often than I can update this blog page.

Regarding ADHD treatment: DECREASE IN INJURIES FROM ACCIDENTS. One theory is that attention/concentration is increased, especially when driving cars, and especially in the 16-19 yo population.

In this study, antidepressant dispensing to adolescents and young adults was rising before the COVID-19 outbreak and rose 63.5% faster afterward. Many more females than males received antidepressants during COVID. What this article doesn't give are definitive explanations as to why, just some guesses (in the discussion section). I don't really see the "why," so perhaps you can enlighten me. Is this a coincidence or a finding based in solid reasoning?

Proud to be on the list this year. 5 in a row! Thanks to my great patients who it's been a pleasure to help. Appointments still available.