Ambien, xanax, adderall, Ritalin, OxyContin, hyrdocodone, ativan, percocet …. it seems that our medicine cabinets are flooded with prescription medications. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the total number of prescriptions for stimulants increased from 4 million to 45 million in a twenty-year span between 1991-2010. And not everybody is taking these prescription medications for their intended purposes – there are currently over 7 million persons who take psychotherapeutic drugs for nonmedical reasons in this country alone.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this flood of prescription pills in our country has become a national epidemic. The abuse of certain prescription drugs – opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants – can lead to a number of adverse health effects, including abuse and addiction. If you need more information about the prescription pill epidemic in our country, Dr. Meghan Marcum provides a comprehensive look into prescription drug abuse and addiction. The main areas discussed include the neuroscience of addiction, prescription drugs & abuse, warning signs and why attorneys are especially at risk. Dr. Marcum also discusses brain chemistry, dopamine, neurotransmitters, genetic & environmental addiction factors, co-occurring disorders, treatment, detox, psychotherapy, neurofeedback, the prescription pill epidemic, opiates, CNS depressants, stimulants, tolerance, professional support and why our youth are especially at risk.
Dr. Meghan Marcum, PsyD, is a cognitive behavioral therapy specialist who has developed specialized, research-based programs and curriculums that enhance cognitive functioning and teach brain wellness to patients of all levels of functioning. She carries a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University and has over a decade of experience in the mental health and addictions fields. Within Hoag’s Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Marcum collaborates with other specialists and participates in special projects like the Teen Brain Program. Dr. Marcum’s primary specialties include chemical dependency, trauma/anxiety disorders, neuropsychological assessment and treatment for adolescents. Recently asked to present at the 2013 Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction (CPA) meeting in Atlanta, she continues to provide education to attorneys and other providers on the increasingly problematic topic of addiction.
Practice Areas: Substance Abuse
State Accreditations: California (CA)