2019

Finding Fentanyl Test Kits

General Help / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

It tastes a little sweeter than heroin. If it is pure white, it's not safe. If I buy from the same guy, I'll never get a bad batch. These are the things we tell ourselves when we're buying street drugs. We know they are dangerous, and we realize that every hit could be our last. [...]

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Mixing Zoloft and Alcohol: Is it Dangerous?

Alcohol / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

How much do you know about the substances you put in your body? Most of us don't move past the label. We know how to categorize what we eat and drink, but we don't know how these substances work at the cellular level. That ignorance could be deadly, especially in regards to mixing Zoloft and

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Inpatient vs. Outpatient: What’s the Difference?

Addiction, Drugs, General Help, Treatment / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

You didn’t plan to develop a drug addiction. It started with one little hit, and it seemed harmless enough. But before you knew it, that one little hit became a critical part of every day in your life. Now, you cannot imagine your life without it. Sound familiar? When an addiction takes root, you need

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Discrete Rehab Centers

General Help / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

Every year, many people enter treatment programs. More than 1.4 million do, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. But few of those people shout about their treatment from the rooftops. We know addictions are diseases of brain chemistry, and we know they can be treated. But the fact remains that addictions

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Pregnancy, Addiction, and Treatment

Addiction, General Help, Treatment / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

When you are pregnant, you and your baby are intimately connected. You feel each kick, turn, and sigh your baby makes. And your baby feels every substance you put into your body. That includes drugs and alcohol. You may think a shot of alcohol or a hit of heroin is yours alone. But those substances

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Alcoholism and Diabetes

Alcohol, Treatment / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

Diabetes isn't a death sentence. With proper care, you can live a long and healthy life with the condition. But people with diabetes have to be careful about what they eat, and they have rules about medications, footwear, medical exams, and more. If you don't have diabetes now, you should do all you can to

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Signs of Heroin Addiction

Addiction, Drugs, General Help / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

Is someone you love abusing heroin? Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know the answer to that question. Few people who abuse drugs broadcast that fact to friends and family members. And many drug abusers are adept at hiding their use. You don’t have to be a super sleuth to uncover the truth. And thankfully,

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Does Cigna Pay for Drug Detox and Treatment?

Insurance / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

Cigna is one of the largest names in the health care insurance business. According to company records, more than 95 million people worldwide count on Cigna for coverage. But does bigger always mean better? Insurance companies balance the needs of shareholders and stakeholders with the demands of consumers. Balancing the books means providing just enough

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Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Pay for Treatment?

Addiction, Alcohol, Insurance / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

A lack of health insurance was once common. Now, it's unusual. According to the United States Census Bureau, less than 9 percent of Americans didn't have health insurance in 2017. Most of us had some form of coverage. If you have health insurance or you've shopped for coverage lately, you've probably heard of Blue Cross

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Confronting a Spouse About Addiction

Addiction, Alcohol, General Help / Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

Every evening, when the workday is through, a couple opens up a bottle of wine. They discuss the day's events, nibble on dinner, and watch the setting sun. But as the evening progresses, one of those partners opens up another bottle of wine. Words slur, steps falter, and drunkenness sets in. What started as a

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