Question by That One Girl: What do you think of the article “A budget cure: Marijuana taxes?”?
Agree or disagree? Thoughts?

The article talks about how much money the government is using to stop marijuana and how much they are missing out on by not taxing medical marijuana. It also covers the pro’s and con’s.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StockInvestingTrading/a-budget-cure-marijuana-taxes.aspx#pageTopAnchor
I posted this before, but wanted to get different opinions.

Best answer:

Answer by Invisible
Never going to happen save your breath.

Answer by Charlie K
Realistically, nothing much will change regarding marijuana laws under Obama. It’s more of a state issue anyway. But Obama has larger problems and higher priorities right now.

Police, Nacada Partner to Rid Region of Drug Abuse
NYANZA regional coordinator Francis Mutie has directed the police to firmly deal with drug peddlers in the area. Mutie said officers manning the borders need to be vigilant, pointing out that drug abuse trends in the region are worrying. The order …
Read more on AllAfrica.com

Heroin's hook in NH
The highly addictive narcotic is a drug of last resort for addicts who can never be sure of its potency or purity, but either graduated to it after abusing other street drugs or turned to it as a cheap alternative to prescription painkillers they no …
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Documentary about game addiction premiers at Sundance Film Festival
The story wasn't reported on much in the United States since it broke in 2010, but the couple received a reduced sentence after the court recognized their addiction as a mental disorder. The filmmakers … It was fear that [drove] these news stories …
Read more on GameSpot

by NYS OASAS

Question by misskrisq2: What does it mean by examining the classifications?
I am doing a paper for abnormal psychology. I am unsure on what the instructions mean by examining the classifications of certain disorders. The instructions state, “Examine the various classifications of eating, substance abuse, sex/gender/sexual, and personality disorders.” These are the classifications. Because they are categories within the DSM-IV. Can someone explain to me what to do? Sorry this is probably a dumb question, but I appreciate the help.

Best answer:

Answer by Kristal [Ward 7 Resident]
Generally speaking, the classifications can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) ~ which is a reference book used in the mental health field.

The DSM
Psychologists and psychiatrists use a reference book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to diagnose psychological disorders. The American Psychiatric Association published the first version of the DSM in 1952. It has been revised several times, and the newest version is commonly referred to as the DSM-IV.

The DSM-IV uses a multi-axial system of classification, which means that diagnoses are made on several different axes or dimensions. The DSM has five axes:

1.Axis I records the patient’s primary diagnosis.
2.Axis II records long-standing personality problems or mental retardation.
3.Axis III records any medical conditions that might affect the patient psychologically.
4.Axis IV records any significant psychosocial or environmental problems experienced by the patient.
5.Axis V records an assessment of the patient’s level of functioning

Take LSD, stay out of prison? Large study links psychedelic use to reduced …
“Our results provide a notable exception to the robust positive link between substance use and criminal behavior,” the researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine wrote in their study, which …
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Rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are higher among people with …
The study analyzed smoking, drinking and drug use in nearly 20,000 people. That included 9,142 psychiatric patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder — an illness characterized by psychotic symptoms such as …
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Severe Mental Illness Tied to Substance Use: Which Comes First?
Do you need another reason to stop using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or illegal drugs? New research indicates that substance abuse may lead to serious mental conditions such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder with psychosis. With the help of a …
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Question by denveryay: How is it possible to absolutely categorize Alcoholim as a disease and not an illness?
“Disease” is a very loosely defined term in many respects. There are multiple disorders, infenctions, and symptoms that can be typical of a definable disease. Also, a disease must have specific and constant cause(s), which in the case of Alcoholism is the CHOICE to drink ethyl-alcohol. The cause of the “disease” is the recurring and disregarding CHOICE to drink. A choice, however pathological or illogical, doesn’t seem to be appropriate as a cause or a condition of any disease. Despite the negative psychological, physiological, and other results of long-term alcohol abuse, it seems that it shouldn’t be classified as anything more than a treatable mental disorder.

“Illness, although often used to mean disease, can also refer to a person’s perception of their health, regardless of whether they in fact have a disease. A person without any disease may feel unhealthy and believe he has an illness. Another person may feel healthy and believe he does not have an illness even though he may have a disease” – Wikipedia on ‘Disease’

It is true that if some Alcoholics didn’t have a disease to blame for their disorder, they would not be able to stop drinking. It is also true that because of Alcholism-as-a-disease, many people who ABUSE alcohol are led into misperceptions about their drinking habits. In fact, it is only alcohol DEPENDENCE that could possibly even begin to be categorized as a disease.

An individual who is alcohol-dependent exhibits behavior indicitive of addiction. Drink-seeking, withdrawal and tolerance, and psychological malfunction among others are the results and symptoms of addiction. My father and friends have struggled with alchohol and drug addictions and I have seen the both successful and unsuccessful treatments implemented in their lives.

It seems that Alcoholism and drug addictions are psychological disorders that in a vast majority of instances could be cured by a conscious choice (however difficult) to STOP using the cause of the addiction. It has been proven in many instances that an addict can stop using the object of their addiction without any complications, as long as they are commited to quitting.

It seems that diseases should only be those such as Cancer, Diabetes, Hepatitis and the like. People who have these diseases cannot make a choice to simply stop a behavior to ease their pains. Whereas, although undoubtedly difficult, an addict can ease his or her addiction by making a powerful choice to stop using.

By allowing alcoholism to be categorized as a disease, it seems that negative stigma is removed from addicts’ behaviors and people who drink are given an excuse to justify their behavior. Instead of feeling like they’ve let themselves and their families down, they are able to blam their behavior on a cause outside of their control, which is simply not true.

“Neither the U.S. Veterans Administration nor the Social Security Administration makes payments to individuals, whose disabilities stem from substance abuse, including alcoholism.” – From Shoutwire

I am NOT pro- or anti- any of this I am looking for factual objective evidence and ideas that could lead to helping me understand why Alchoholism is given reprieve by its disease classification.

Best answer:

Answer by kentuckyredhead5353
Well about half way through I had a problem and I developed this question. What is the difference with what you were saying in comparison to a cigarette smoker for some it’s the habit and the motion and some get physically sick for the lack of nicotine is it not similar. emotional vs physical and different for different personality types? 🙂 Guess I could read on have a good one:-)
OK I’m finally done now i get it, it’s all in there head so all they have to do is get it out of their head and it will all go away. They just will it away. Take 2 aspirins have a sucker and call me in the morning:-)
oh excuse me revision: update-read the last part. it was taken out as a disease because social security was being drained by leagal alcoholics that the government makes good taxes off of. The only help and recourse for a recovering alcoholic, drug user, vet, is a mental health clinic because why did they drink in the first place. Now uncle sam pays for their drugs and kills them off with a lousy health plan. looks who is on all the class action suits that will never collect anything. Trust me I have done my homework on this subject. I know many vets and low income disabled people. Nothing has changed but the name of the disease.

Answer by vinnydamedic
The so called “holy bible” of the world of Psychology and Psychaitry classifies Alcoholism as an addiction, and a psychological disorder (call it illness, disease, whatnot). With it’s classification in the DSM-IVTR, it is now possible to use this disorder as reason for non-competence for crimes, permanent psychiatric disability and other medical claims.

Anoka Co. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program Gets High Honors
An Anoka County drug and alcohol treatment program was recently honored for its work to help local women get their lives back on track. The county's Enhanced Treatment Program earned both the Achievement Award from the Association of Minnesota …
Read more on KSTP.com

Rock Doc: Old drug offers new hope for quitting alcohol
But there is still a long road to travel before gabapentin is considered by the Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for alcoholism. And even if the FDA took action today to approve gabapentin for such use, people who suffer from …
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A Pill to Cure Addiction?
In 2011, more than 21 million Americans needed treatment for a problem related to alcohol or drugs, according to the federal government's most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Many try to quit, but studies show 60% or more of alcoholics …
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1 in 6 unemployed Americans abuses drugs or alcohol
The DSM-IV, the American diagnostic manual for classifying mental disorders, defines substance abuse as a pattern of mood-altering substance use that leads to adverse behavioral changes or social problems — including loss of employment. Alcohol is by …
Read more on Al Jazeera America

Question by teepetlhw: Can you help me understand these Japanese insurance terms?
I will be studying in Japan this summer, but not long enough to warrant a student visa or international student eligibility for Japan’s National Health Insurance, so I’m required to get my own health insurance that covers 15 million yen in “Injury Death” and 5 million yen in “Injury Treatment”, “Sickness Death”, “Sickness Treatment”, and “Rescuers Expense”.
These terms don’t match up to any policy I can find.
I can find things like Lifetime Maximum Benefits, Pregnancy Coverage, Policy Year Maximum Benefits, Basic Medical, Supplemental Major Medical, Fees for Diagnosis/Treatment, Hospital Charges, Laboratory/Diagnostic/X-ray, Outpatient Prescription Drugs, Durable Medical Equipment, Hospital Room & Board, Intensive Care, Mental Disorders, Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Motor Vehicle Accident, Ground Ambulance, Injuries to Sound Teeth, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains.
It seems like “Accidential Death and Dismemberment” oughta be what covers both “Injury Death” and “Sickness Death”, but I can’t find anything anywhere close to 15 mill yen (about $ 150,000 usd), so I’m thinking maybe they lump in some other stuff like repatriation and hospital fees, but I’d like to see some actual definitions.
“thecheapest”‘s answer gave a common sense explanation for what the terms might be, which doesn’t really help. I have common sense. I’d like a translation of these Japanese benefit terms to American benefit terms like the ones I listed in the paragraph that starts with “I can find things like…”

$ 150,000 benefits for accidental death and dismemberment is unheard of, so “injury” death must include something else, or else dying in Japan is exceptionally expensive.

Best answer:

Answer by thecheapest902
“Injury Death”; money to pay to your family when you get injured and died as a result.

“Injury Treatment”: money to pay to you as its cost when you get injured and get treatment

“Sickness Death”:money to pay to your family when you get sick and died as a result.

“Sickness Treatment”: money to pay to you as its cost when you get sick and get treatment

“Rescuers Expense”: money to pay to your family if they need to come to you as emergency

Answer by Leftcoast USA
If you already have health insurance, there usually is international coverage, just that you have to pay the full medical bill up front and put up with a reimbursement that may only take forever. So travel insurance is what you want to get. You can get a policy from an American issuer or a Japanese issuer.

http://www.hthtravelinsurance.com/1_benefits_exc.cfm
http://vivavida.net/en/plan/meds.html

The Japanese Viva Vida policy has exactly the coverage you need, but the premium is five times as high for a one-year-long coverage.

But life insurance makes no sense if you have no dependents (children or maybe spouse), so you might as well just ignore that part if you aren’t even married.

Most of both injury and sickness treatment translate to basic medical. Injury death would translate to the accidental death & dismemberment, but sickness death would not.

Question by Michael Brian: What addictions does the APA recognize as actual addiction disorders?
I know technically anything can be an “addiction” but I’m trying to find a list that the APA has put out that lists the actual addictions someone can be diagnosed with.

Best answer:

Answer by Peachy Perfect
Depends on what you count as an addiction. The DSM-IV (current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) doesn’t have a definition for the word “addiction” and doesn’t use it.

As far as what *you* might classify as an “addiction”, you can be diagnosed with either Substance Abuse or Substance Dependence, depending on the severity of the addiction. This involves either the dependence on or abuse of substances, like alcohol, heroin, caffeine –yes, I said caffeine–, cocaine, nicotine, etc.

As far as other “addictions” to non-substances go, the ones found under the “Impulse Control Disorders” category include:
– Pathological Gambling (people addicted to gambling)
– Kleptomania (people addicted to stealing)
– Pyromania (people addicted to setting fires)
– Trichotillomania (people addicted to pulling their hair out — yes, I’m serious)

There are lots of other disorders, including but definitely not limited to pedophilia and hypochondriasis, which you might consider addictions (pedophilia being when you are “addicted” to sexual endeavors with children, hypochondriasis being when you are “addicted” to being sick), but I don’t really count those under the “addictions” category, personally.

However, in the DSM-5, which is set to come out in May 2013, they are going to add a ton more disorders involving addictions under the category “Substance Use and Addictive Disorders”. But mostly the only change that will be made is specifying the type of substance that one is abusing, dependent on, and/or suffering withdrawals from. For example, instead of being diagnosed with plain “Substance Abuse” with alcohol listed as a side note, an alcoholic would be diagnosed with “Alcohol Use Disorder”, “Alcohol Intoxication”, and/or “Alcohol Withdrawal”.

Addiction definition in flux
In September, Yale professor of psychiatry Marc Potenza published a letter in the journal “Addictive Behaviors” on how the definition of “addiction” had broadened in the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) …
Read more on Yale Daily News (blog)

You can't treat addiction with willpower and denial
These phenomena have been incorporated into the definition of addiction as a chronic relapsing brain disorder by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the symptoms include cravings and withdrawal with observable consequences such as loss of …
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Sugar as addictive as Cocaine
If we look at the above definition, then no, sugar is definitely NOT an addiction and using the term is highly erroneous. My view though is that "addiction" is much more complicated to define. Firstly we aren't all tempted by the same vices. I will …
Read more on News24