Individuals were grouped as heavy lifetime cannabis users if they had greater than 1000 uses, as moderate users if they had 10 to 999 uses, and as nonusers if they had fewer than 10 uses. Heavy weed use appears to dull the brains of young adults, particularly affecting their short-term working memory, a new study suggests. MRI scans showed less brain activation in heavy tokers performing tasks that tested their ability to temporarily hold a limited amount of information at the ready for immediate mental use, according to results published Jan. 28 in JAMA Network Open.

Signs that ADHD may be affecting a person’s driving include: Forgetting to check blind spots, Making unsafe lane changes, Ignoring speed limits and other signs, Rubbernecking, Turning to look at passengers Texting or talking on the phone, Trying to use social media in the car, Struggling to focus during long trips, Taking photos or videos while moving, Reaching for items in the floorboard or back seat, Falling asleep after driving for several hours, Losing control of the vehicle, Adjusting cabin controls constantly, Failing to stay in a lane, Missing stoplight changes, Attempting to multitask, Receiving multiple traffic tickets, Getting into preventable accidents. If you notice these behaviors in yourself, a friend, or a family member, it may be time to speak with a clinician about ADHD and driving.

From Dr. Sachs: "Take with a grain of salt and don't just believe one study. Nevertheless, I felt this was an important article/study to pass along that just made the news." A study of more than 30,000 British adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D., found that, on average, they were dying earlier than their counterparts in the general population — around seven years earlier for men, and around nine for women.

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.