Redefining Addiction. Reimagining Solutions.
By Paul Earley, MD and Yngvild Olsen, MD, MPH
Words matter. When it comes to addiction medicine, stigmatizing language and misunderstood terminology may keep some people from seeking effective care, leave families poorly equipped to support their loved ones, and drive policymakers to make counterproductive, even harmful, policy.
In 2011, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) — the nation’s largest organization representing medical professionals who specialize in addiction prevention and treatment — set out to revise the society’s definition of addiction. This task was not easy given the complexity and stigma surrounding substance use and the term itself. At a time when the public had limited understanding and acceptance of addiction as a chronic brain disease, ASAM’s revised definition focused heavily on brain circuitry.
Over the past decade, however, more families, policymakers, and […]
JLAP Welcomes ABA Young Lawyers to the Big Easy
The ABA Young Lawyers Division presented the 2019 Fall Conference: Your Practice, Your Future, October 3 – 5, 2019 at the Sheraton in New Orleans. This conference brought people together from across the legal community to offer outstanding training on advancing justice.
JLAP’s Executive Director, Buddy Stockwell, spoke on Wellness and Well-Being in the Legal Profession, noting that it will be the Young Lawyers that will change the culture, making the practice of law more healthy.
Donna Nesbit, ABA Director, Operations and Meetings – Early Career Strategy and Buddy Stockwell, JLAP Executive Director
Christopher L. Brown, J. Logan Murphy & Buddy Stockwell
October 10th is National Law Students’ Mental Health Day
Law is a challenging discipline that involves the ability to analyze, reason, and communicate. The study and practice of law is rigorous and often stressful, however, a law degree can open many doors to a rewarding career in business, practice, government, teaching and public service.
For those law students struggling with issues of depression, anxiety, drug addiction or alcoholism or other mental issues, the JLAP is here to help. We offer a full range of resources and solutions to help you manage your issues in the short and long term. Every service provided through the JLAP is 100% confidential and 100% free.
September is National Recovery Month
National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. This observance celebrates the millions of Americans who are in recovery from mental and substance use disorders, reminding us that treatment is effective and that people can and do recover. It also serves to help reduce the stigma and misconceptions that cloud public understanding of mental and substance use disorders, potentially discouraging others from seeking help.
To learn more, click here.
How opioids reshape your brain, and what scientists are learning about addiction
None of us has the brain we were born with. Brains grow and adapt. This process, called neuroplasticity, doesn’t end when you step out of the classroom. Even habits—reaching for cookies when stressed out, keeping your head down during staff meetings—cut “trails” in the brain throughout life that can be hard to overcome.
To read Ian Haydon’s complete article from Medical Xpress, click here.
NEW! You Can Now Make a Donation to JLAP Online
Did you know you can donate to JLAP online now?
You can now conveniently pay online via PayPal and Visa/Mastercard/Discover.
Simply go to our donation page to donate.
You will receive a letter from JLAP acknowledging your tax deductible donation.
The Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and donations are tax deductible as allowed by the IRS. Your donation will help support the life-saving work of JLAP and further its mission to save lives and careers in the legal profession.
All proceeds will be dedicated to providing direct assistance to lawyers and judges in need of JLAP’s services. Thank you for your support!