Healing from Addiction

Insight and encouragement from addiction medicine

Cannabis
How Cannabis Hijacks the Teen Brain

Timmen L. Cermak MD on December 19, 2025

Once cannabis has hijacked the reward center, daily users have no destination in mind. Here's how parents maintain empathy for an addicted child.

Once cannabis has hijacked the reward center, daily users have no destination in mind. Here's how parents maintain empathy for an addicted child.

Cannabis
Daily Cannabis Users Surpassed Daily Alcohol Users in 2022

Timmen L. Cermak MD on December 5, 2025

Daily use of cannabis has now surpassed daily use of alcohol. Understanding how it affects mental functioning can help users calculate the cost-benefit ratio of daily use.

Daily use of cannabis has now surpassed daily use of alcohol. Understanding how it affects mental functioning can help users calculate the cost-benefit ratio of daily use.

Gratitude
The 3 A’s: Useful Tools for Developing Gratitude

Timmen L. Cermak MD on July 17, 2025

How do we get rid of defenses developed during childhood? We cannot will them away, but we can become so aware of the pain they cause that they no longer seem worth the cost.

How do we get rid of defenses developed during childhood? We cannot will them away, but we can become so aware of the pain they cause that they no longer seem worth the cost.

Addiction
Attitude of Gratitude: An Important Recovery Tool

Timmen L. Cermak MD on June 24, 2025

While gratitude is the antidote for resentment and cynicism, maintaining an attitude of gratitude is not easy. Here are steps that may be useful.

While gratitude is the antidote for resentment and cynicism, maintaining an attitude of gratitude is not easy. Here are steps that may be useful.

Addiction
The Death of Science Means a Less Healthy Future

Timmen L. Cermak MD on March 26, 2025

Personal Perspective: Without hard data about drug use and mental health in America, leaders can create false narratives that cannot be fact-checked.

Personal Perspective: Without hard data about drug use and mental health in America, leaders can create false narratives that cannot be fact-checked.

Psychiatry
Cannabis Legalization Impacts Use of Psychiatric Medications

Timmen L. Cermak MD on September 19, 2024

When states legalize medical and recreational cannabis, fewer prescriptions for anxiety are filled, but more for depression and psychosis. Here's how to make sense of this.

When states legalize medical and recreational cannabis, fewer prescriptions for anxiety are filled, but more for depression and psychosis. Here's how to make sense of this.

Cannabis
Cannabis, Morality, and the Law

Timmen L. Cermak MD on September 13, 2024

Some cannabis entrepreneurs slipped through a legal loophole to market delta-8 THC hemp products to children and adolescents.

Some cannabis entrepreneurs slipped through a legal loophole to market delta-8 THC hemp products to children and adolescents.

Vaping
E-Cigarettes Are Highly Associated With Tobacco and Pot Use

Timmen L. Cermak MD on September 5, 2024

The popularization of e-cigarettes by Juul greatly increased nicotine addiction among youth. New research shows that many soon also used tobacco cigarettes and marijuana.

The popularization of e-cigarettes by Juul greatly increased nicotine addiction among youth. New research shows that many soon also used tobacco cigarettes and marijuana.

Spirituality
Spirituality Is More Experienced Than Understood

Timmen L. Cermak MD on May 19, 2024

People resist addiction recovery programs because they mention God. But spirituality means experiencing how community has power beyond understanding to heal.

People resist addiction recovery programs because they mention God. But spirituality means experiencing how community has power beyond understanding to heal.

Therapy
Motivational Interviewing Versus Motivational Speaking

Timmen L. Cermak MD on May 8, 2024

Motivational interviewing is a powerful method for engaging people in therapy, but clinicians too often resort to motivational speaking, which can activate defensiveness.

Motivational interviewing is a powerful method for engaging people in therapy, but clinicians too often resort to motivational speaking, which can activate defensiveness.

Cannabis
Practical Advice on How To Quit Cannabis

Timmen L. Cermak MD on April 16, 2024

A few months of abstinence is the only way to know if cannabis is impacting your life. But quitting, even briefly, is difficult for some people. Here is some practical advice.

A few months of abstinence is the only way to know if cannabis is impacting your life. But quitting, even briefly, is difficult for some people. Here is some practical advice.

CBD
Delta-8 Use Among Adolescents: New Report

Timmen L. Cermak MD on March 22, 2024

Delta-8 is legal under federal law because it is derived from hemp CBD, but its effects are similar to marijuana's THC.

Delta-8 is legal under federal law because it is derived from hemp CBD, but its effects are similar to marijuana's THC.

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