BOSTON, October 13, 2018 – “We now understand that addiction is a chronic relapsing disease”, said Dr. Martha Kane at a HUBweek event about addiction treatment and recovery for young adults. Dr. Kane, the clinical director of the Addiction Services Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, added, “everyone needs an individualized treatment plan.”
Dr. Scott Hadland, the second panelist, is a pediatrician and addiction specialist at Boston Medical Center. The two panelists discussed how they approached addiction in young adults with comprehensive treatments. Young adults are people between the ages of 18 to 25.
According to the 2014 national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “more than 1 in 5 young adults aged 18 to 25 were current users of illicit drugs in 2014.” The Boston Medical doctor noted that at this age, the brain is still developing the parts of decision making, planning and impulse control. Heavy substance abuse can alter these development processes.
Dr. Hadland considered that this demographic might be more susceptible to have some type of drug disorder due to the transitioning periods they go through during this particular time in their lives.
via “One size fits all treatment doesn’t work,” said addiction specialist at HUBweek — (un)titledmx
