What is Driving the Increase in Adolescent Mental Health Issues?
Adolescent suicide, depression, and other mental health disorders were serious issues long before the onset of the global pandemic. Now, a year into the pandemic, experts are releasing statistics showing the drastic rise in mental health issues in all age groups, including adolescents. A pre-publication, peer-reviewed report in the journal Pediatrics found significantly higher increases […]
E13: From Psychiatric Institutions to Stardom w/ Comedian Mark Lundholm
FEB 17, 2021 – Does being homeless, drug addicted, and ending up in a psychiatric facility in 4-point restraints sound funny to you? For most normal people, these are not laughing matters. However, as recovering addicts and alcoholics, eventually we are able to share and laugh at our most painful experiences. Comedian Mark Lundholm learned […]
What’s Driving the Increase in Adolescent Eating Disorders?
Any eating disorder has the potential to cause serious health damage and even death, but decades of research finds anorexia has the highest death rate of any mental disorder “due to the effects of weight loss and starvation on the body and brain.” Tragically, anorexia is also one of the most common eating disorders seen […]
Family Interview with Kate N.
We are continuing a series we started last year of Family Interviews. We spoke with the family members of those who struggled to get sober, those who are sober today and those who died as a result of their addiction. Family members are often in pain after years of doing everything in their power to […]
Turning Point of Tampa earns Cigna Centers of Excellence Designation
With a wide range of behavioral health and substance use hospital and residential treatment locations across the country, the Cigna Centers of Excellence program helps customers identify the most appropriate care. Recognized for quality care and cost efficiency, Turning Point of Tampa has received the Cigna Center of Excellence designation for Substance Use. “One of […]
What’s Driving the Increase in Adolescent Substance Use Disorder?
Most people begin using addictive substances like alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs, and tobacco during adolescence and young adulthood, according to National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) statistics. By the time students are seniors in high school, NIDA statistics find: Almost 70 percent have tried alcohol About 50 percent have taken an illegal drug Almost […]
E12: A Voice for Recovery in Washington, DC with Mark Dunn
FEB 03, 2021 – Addiction continues to be a serious national public health crisis. Estimates are that as many as 81,000 people died of a drug overdose in the 12 months leading up to May 2020. Access to addiction treatment has increased with the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity […]
Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of Turning Point of Tampa
As we celebrate our 34th anniversary, all of us at Turning Point of Tampa proudly continue our mission to provide high-quality, 12-step based recovery programs that are affordable and effective for the treatment of addiction, eating disorders, and dual diagnosis. It is humbling to reflect on the thousands of people who have entrusted us to […]
Florida Legislative Roundup For January 2021
On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2021 into law. The CAA combines the federal budget for the fiscal year 2021 with a COVID-19 relief package, which includes increased funding for substance abuse and mental health services. The increases are in addition to funding previously approved for the […]
E11: It’s A Family Disease with Robin Piper Lutz, LMHC, MCAP, NCC, CCTC
JAN 20, 2021 – For Episode 11 we are joined by Robin Piper-Lutz , CEO & Clinical Director of Turning Point of Tampa. Robin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Counselor, a Masters Certified Addiction Professional and a National Certified Counselor. On today’s episode we will talk with Robin about what family […]
Finding my passion by Robert W.
For me, I was very sedentary when I was using and drinking. I barely got out of bed unless it was to get drugs or to do something that supported my substance issue. I quit a lot of hobbies when I starting drinking and getting high, one of which was my passion for fitness and […]
Turning Point of Tampa earns ASAM Level 3.5 Certification
CARF International and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) announced in June 2020 the ASAM Level of Care Certification nationwide. This certification addresses the addiction crisis by establishing processes for validation of treatment program capabilities, building industry transparency and increasing patient confidence in treatment services. Increasing patient access to evidence-based addiction treatment is critical […]
Family Support Through Process Addiction
Process addictions are behavioral addictions rather than drug or alcohol addictions. Individuals who have an overwhelming impulse to engage in a specific behavior even when it results in negative consequences may have a process addiction. Examples of process addictions include compulsive behavior related to gambling, sex, shopping, gaming, pornography, exercise, work, and eating issues. As […]
Update on Overdose Increases During COVID-19
Current data shows that more than 1.9 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19, including almost 370,000 Americans. While these are shocking numbers, they do not include the many people who have died from COVID-related mental health challenges. Experts believe the virus continues to contribute to drug and alcohol overdose deaths, suicide, and the exacerbation […]
E10: Employee Assistance Programs w/ Mark Davis, LCSW
JAN 06, 2021 – On this episode we will discuss Employee Assistance Programs with Mark Davis, LCSW. Employee Assistance Programs, according to today’s guest, mean FREE COUNSELING for employees and a healthy workforce for employers. You’ll hear him reference that a few times on the episode. Estimates by the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug […]
What are Employee Assistance Programs?
Many employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to provide free and confidential counseling services for employees experiencing personal problems. Employee problems may be related to work, relationships, health concerns, financial or legal issues, substance abuse, depression, or other issues. The employer pays for EAP services, often in conjunction with health insurance plan benefits. Even though […]
Unrealistic New Year’s Resolutions in Recovery
If you are in recovery, you have already taken the most important step of your life. Now that 2021 has arrived, you may be making inspirational resolutions concerning your life in the coming year. However, to maintain your sobriety and thrive in recovery, it is more useful to set specific, attainable goals than rely on […]
Holi-Daze by Ali M.
The holidays can be a difficult time of the year or is it just that we can be extra difficult this time of year? Like all of us, the path that led me to recovery is paved with tragic failure and personal shortcomings – such as the impressive ability to disappoint my family, unbelievably more […]
An Introduction to Behavioral Health Professionals
Behavioral health professionals specialize in treating the emotional, behavioral, and biological aspects of a person’s physical and mental well-being. These professionals include psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed mental health counselors, and other counselors and clinicians. Behavioral health issues may include substance use or eating disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity […]
E9: Which Came First, the Booze or the Blues, w/ Dr. Ryan Estevez
DEC 23, 2020 – Happy Holidays and welcome to our last episode of 2020. We hope you and your families stay safe and sober as we look forward to 2021. This is also the last episode of Season 1 of The Point is Recovery Podcast but we will be bringing you more great content in […]
Understanding Body Image Issues
Body image refers to how we perceive our physical self, how we think others perceive our appearance, and any negative or positive thoughts that accompany that perception. Beliefs about our appearance may or may not be accurate but nonetheless affect our self-esteem and self-acceptance. A positive body image means you are comfortable with your body […]
Invest in Yourself by Taking Care of Your Mental Health
From time to time, most of us face unusually stressful situations in our lives, whether because of illness, grief, unemployment, financial or legal problems, or another factor. Experts link prolonged or unmanaged stress to a variety of physical and mental illnesses, which can damage health, relationships, and quality of life. Chronic stress can be deadly. […]
The Pain is in the Resistance, by Derek S.
I first heard this saying from a residential therapist while in a treatment center in 2011. He did not tell it to me once, but every day for the 14 months I was there. Talk about overkill. But the truth is that I needed to hear it that many times, and I still must remind […]
The Dangers of Over Exercising and Supplement Use
Regular exercise provides a wide range of benefits, including physical fitness, improved mental health, and a reduced risk of some serious diseases. However, too much exercise can cause physical and mental harm. This is also true for supplements. Reasonable doses of certain vitamins and other supplements support good health, but what you take and how […]
