Addiction and Treatment Archives - Fifth Avenue Psychiatry

Peer Pressure and Drug Use in High-Level Positions

PSYCHIATRY NYC December 20, 2022

High-Stress Careers and the Prevalence of Peer Pressure No one is exempt from peer pressure, not top athletes, movie stars, or even executives in fast-paced, high-level companies. Executive peer pressure is often associated with the need to act successfully and show leadership, even when not in the office. Along with this comes the pressure to do what those before you did, and do what other high-level executives may be doing, including the use of alcohol, drugs, and other addictions to deal with the stress of high-pressure positions. This pressure and need to resemble the crowd are especially prevalent in the hospitality and recreation industry. Although the fun and excitement of the hospitality and recreation industry may bring professionals around illicit

Q & A: The Complex Cycle of Alcohol Use and Depression

PSYCHIATRY NYC October 10, 2022

By: Tracey Basett, Psy.D. The relationship between depression and alcohol use is a very complicated one. This is because both depression and alcohol can exacerbate the effects of each other in unhealthy ways. Although there is the common perception that depression causes alcohol misuse, the majority of studies show that alcohol use actually increases the likelihood of depression (1 & 2). In addition, studies also report a co-morbid relationship between depression and alcohol that actually increases with age. It has been shown that the combination of Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression is “associated with higher risk of alcohol dependence, suicide attempt, lower global functioning, and life dissatisfaction” (3). The complex relationship between alcohol and depression for a lot of people

Adderall Addiction in the Workplace

PSYCHIATRY NYC June 28, 2022

By Britt Gottlich, Psy.D. At Fifth Avenue Psychiatry, we often get new clients seeking stimulant medications for ADHD. These individuals are usually surprised with how cautious we tend to be with these medications, as our NYC psychiatrists require new or recent neuropsychological testing to confirm this diagnosis rather than just handing out medications based on reported symptoms. The reason we are more conservative with stimulant medications is because of the high rate of stimulant addiction that we see as a result of these controlled substances being prescribed too readily. What are Prescription Stimulants? The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines stimulants as “medications generally used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy- uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep. They increase alertness, attention,

How To Choose the Right Psychiatrist for Addiction Treatment

PSYCHIATRY NYC May 9, 2022

By Samuel Glazer, MD Addiction is understood as a brain disease that is multidimensional, and, to this point, there are still very few effective treatments. What we also know is that addiction responds best to a combination of both medicine and psychotherapy for the addiction, as well as its underlying causes (only once the substance use stops). Unfortunately, though, there is still a great deal about addiction and its treatment that is misconstrued by both patients suffering with addiction and many psychiatrists and therapists treating them. Though there are many excellent therapists and skilled psychiatrists with variable levels of training, the following are some suggestions by our New York City addiction psychiatrist on how to find a psychiatrist who can

What is Kratom? | NYC Kratom Addiction Psychiatrists

Kratom: Harmful or Helpful?

PSYCHIATRY NYC April 22, 2022

By Dr. Ronnit Nazarian There is little information on Kratom, and there is much misinformation out there. Some people believe Kratom is a safe drug to use because it is legal, easy to obtain, natural, advertised heavily, and has “claimed” to treat many illnesses from anxiety to diabetes to opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, the consequences of Kratom use have shown that the drug can create dependence and addiction similar to the effects of opioids (e.g., pain relief and euphoria) and stimulant properties. In some cases, Kratom can actually create Opioid withdrawal symptoms and lead to opiate use disorders or even mimic them.2 Our New York City addiction psychiatrists are here to help provide the following information: What is Kratom? Why

Understanding the Harm Reduction Model (Controlled Drinking)

PSYCHIATRY NYC October 11, 2021

By Dr. Britt Gottlich, Psy.D. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health performed by the NSDUH, “[A]bout 7.3 percent of adults ages 18 and older who had Alcohol Use Disorder in the past year received any treatment in the past year… People with Alcohol Use Disorder were more likely to seek care from a primary care physician for an alcohol-related medical problem, rather than specifically for drinking too much alcohol” (NIAAA). Why? Seeking help for substance abuse can be overwhelming and scary. Often, clients report that coming in for the initial appointment is the hardest part due to the unknown of this type of treatment program. What clients often do not expect, is that substance abuse treatment

Cannabis: A New Drug Epidemic?

PSYCHIATRY NYC September 30, 2021

By Dr. Olga Megwinoff During the late 1990’s when I was a psychiatry resident at NYU Langone Medical Center, the opiate epidemic was just beginning. We were taught that if a patient had pain, you had to give them prescription painkillers. At the time, “research” showed that they were necessary to control pain and did not have addiction potential when used to treat people for pain. This didn’t make sense to me, but who was I to question my teachers or “the research?” I was but a lowly resident. The mood about marijuana reminds me of the early days of opioid painkiller use. Though I don’t believe marijuana will ever be understood to be as dangerous as prescription painkillers have

Alcohol and Anxiety | Manhattan Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Anxiety and Alcohol Use

PSYCHIATRY NYC September 8, 2021

By Ronnit Nazarian, Psy. D A common theme that I have found while speaking with patients who overdrink has been that they also experience an underlying anxiety disorder. Moreover, they have mentioned having difficulty finding something that helps them disconnect from their stress and anxiety that works as well as having a drink. To most people looking in from the outside, a person who experiences anxiety and a person who experiences drinking problems are often viewed as two separate individuals. Contrary to common belief, however, research shows that approximately 50% of individuals who experience alcohol problems also meet the criteria for one or more anxiety disorders.1 Alcohol use and anxiety are strongly linked and often called co-morbid disorders that interact

What is an Addiction Therapist?

PSYCHIATRY NYC May 24, 2021

By Tracey Bassett Psy.D. Deciding to take the step to seek addiction treatment is a very important and often difficult step. It can be complicated by the overwhelming amount of treatment centers, treatment modalities, and types of professionals that say they specialize in addiction. Today, our Manhattan addiction therapists will explore the different types of addiction treatment professionals and how to decide what is best for you. Types of Addiction Treatment Professionals Addiction Psychiatrist (MD) A psychiatrist is a doctor who went to medical school and then specialized in mental health. Psychiatrists conduct evaluations for treatment planning and diagnosis, prescribe medication, and sometimes, but not always, conduct therapy as part of their practice. There are general psychiatrists who treat a

The Importance of In-Person Addiction and Alcoholism Treatment During the COVID 19 Pandemic

PSYCHIATRY NYC October 19, 2020

There have been many mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased depression, anxiety and exacerbations of PTSD as a result of isolation, changes in lifestyle and fear. Along with increases in suicidality and domestic abuse, one of the most dangerous mental health effects of the pandemic has been increased substance abuse.1Along with all the dangerous effects of substance abuse there have been “an increasing number of reports from national state and local media,” including New York, of “an increase in opioid and other drug related mortality.”2 What is the Cause of Increased Substance Abuse During the Pandemic? The cause of increased substance abuse is many. More people are using illicit drugs and alcohol to cope with their symptoms

Category: Addiction and Treatment