Social Issues Q&A
17 experts · 41 questions answered
Latest Q&As
Sober Living House Neighbor Nightmare
Thank you for your question. I understand your frustration and anger over that situation. I wouldn't want a poorly run sober living house to be my neighbor either. But a well run sober living house is an asset to the community. It doesn't sound like the sober living house next to you is being run pr
Answered by Anna Deeds
Yes Reach Out
Hi there and thank you for your question - your concern is really a matter of common sense and yes urge you t contact whether you are required to by law or not. Its clear that this weighs heavily on your mind and that you have a big heart. If you are feeling brave, I urge you to reach out directly t
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Will E-Cigarettes help me control my weight?
Thank you for your question. A 2011 study by researchers at Yale University found that nicotine activates a pathway in the brain that suppresses appetite which could explain why people gain weight when they give up smoking. As you say that you are eating no more than before though, I'm wondering if
Answered by Rebecca Ashton
Healing America
A reader asks whether collective self-righteousness and outrage in media and society are toxic, and how this growing 'hate spiral' driven by moral judgment can be stopped on a societal level.
Answered by Loren Gelberg-Goff
Call This Number Right Now
A suicidal reader with no insurance or money has spent $50,000 on crack and other drugs/alcohol in 90 days, hasn't slept in 6 days, and is urgently seeking a rehab or treatment center.
Answered by John Lee
War on Drugs
Wow - great question and you're making some strong points. Short answer - you ask how can existing policies stand on moral grounds and to be perfectly candid with you, I find many of the policies and the application of them to be immoral - but also entirely ineffective. No one to my knowledge has do
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Alcoholism Recovery Employment Assistance in Mass.
I took a look at their website, specifically their service authorization determination criteria, and it seems that in order to be eligible for services you'd need to have a primary mental health disorder (other than substance abuse) or other disability as well being in recovery in order to receive s
Answered by John Lee
It's Your Life
Sorry, I thought I had replied to this already but it seems the reply didn't go through. Basically, it depends on whether you are happy and functional. That is to say, if you like your life and don't feel the need to shoot for more, maybe there's no reason to. However, if you're happy with your life
Answered by Rabbi Raffi Bilek
Professional Help is Required in Dealing with Impulse Control
I read and reread what you wrote several times. I noticed that you made no mention of seekiing professional help. Given the anger problems that you have and issues of impulse control I would strongly suggest that you seek out a therapist who is psychodynamiically/psychoanalytically oriented. Only th
Answered by Dr. Shirley Schaye
At what age is it ok for children to drink energy drinks?
As with so many things there is no age, no amount etc that we can say is ok. Most parents will have opinions on what is appropriate, but none of us gets everything right with our children, and it isn't surprising that your neighbor might be offended by your suggestion, even though well intentioned.
Answered by Mark Hughes
Enabling vs. Compassionate Support
I understand your concern and confusion. I can tell you that I have worked with clients over the years who have told me that there were many times they would have preferred the streets over shelters since the shelters were very challenging places to be. Your daughter may choose to spend all her mone
Answered by Loren Gelberg-Goff
Safe drinking?
Should I teach my daughter how to drink responsibly? She is 16. Last night she was sleeping over at her best friend’s house when her friend’s mom called us up after midnight and aid the girls had come home drunk from some party they snuck out to. I am thinking about teaching her to how to handle 2 o
Answered by Jill Edwards
Harm Reduction not Enhancement
Not sure if you're truly asking a question or making a statement here. Harm reduction models have been shown to be effective in some areas - what you're asking about seems more ideological than pragmatic. To keep it simple, I don't approve of any approach that helps people to continue using drugs, b
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Mom Needs to Go to a Nursing Home
Helping a loved one make a difficult decision when they are unable to care for themselves can be a very delicate task. No matter how careful you approach her, the outcome is not guaranteed. I do encourage you to work with her primary physician on this and be sure you have his support as well. He/she
Answered by David Johnson
Does a little daily marijuana affect my memory?
I don't know if marijuana use is proven to affect memory. Clearly it helps you cope with life, and it may not affect your health significantly, but I recommend you do some research to help you understand the risks, and possibly consult your Doctor for advice. As a counsellor I recommend you consider
Answered by Mark Hughes
I saw my neighbor share a joint with his 14 year old son.
I can only give you my personal opinion, although my being a social worker does play into that. First of all, I would not call the police. If you call them, the result might be that your neighbor is charged for his own marijuana use. Is that a result you could live with? I can understand your concer
Answered by David Shannon
Does Smoking Pot Make You Lazy?
You say you smoke a daily joint. This is not heavy use. On the other hand, heavy marijuana use can include apathy, lethargy, reduced concentration, lowered intelligence and a lack of desire to partake in meaningful activities of upwards mobility. It is called amotivational syndrome. But 'amotivation
Answered by Lita Perna
She wont leave him
Your daughter believes that by helping her husband, she can make him better and cure him of his illness. As you said there is a cycle in which they will separate and then come together her partner fees guilt for his behaviour and hope that he can get better and wants to have a partner back. Those ti
Answered by Jill Edwards
Marijuana as a Learning Aid?
This is an excellent and thoughtful question. Because I am licensed, I cannot ethically or legally condone illegal drug use. But I can direct you to resources. Please Google: ADHD and Marijuana , On Marijuana and ADHD and ADHD and Medicinal Marijuana ...for starters. There is a lot of material. Read
Answered by Lita Perna
Doper Scout Leader
How do you know your son’s scout leader was doing cocaine in the bathroom? Are you sure? Why? If it is true that he was doing cocaine in the bathroom then yes, you should be worried. At the very least, the scout leader is a hypocrite. I don’t think you’re over reacting. You’ve learned about a whole
Answered by Lita Perna
Calling Child Protective Services: Rock and a hard place
Your question is probably only theoretical, and I'll explain why in a moment. It's a tough call. We know that the foster care system has some serious shortcomings. At the same time, a 9-year-old in the care of a cocaine addict is in danger on multiple counts. That said, you have a responsibility to
Answered by Rabbi Raffi Bilek
There is No Recovery From Addiction
I don’t know how you learned that one of your salesmen is in recovery. Doesn't it make you wonder how many of your other sales people are in recovery that you don’t know about? Have you ever considered that any one of your sales people could be a binge drinker, hidden alcoholic or secret prescriptio
Answered by Lita Perna
Treatment for "Out of Control" Son Threatening Suicide: DANGER!
Take his threatening suicide seriously. Call the cops immediately when he makes threats and get him back to the ER. Take his rages seriously, call the cops immediately and get him back to the ER. He is out of control. He needs psychiatric help. He needs help to stop the drugs. Ask the professionals
Answered by Lita Perna
The System Sucks
You bring up some excellent points. Your anger and frustration is justified. You’re right, someone on methadone is less of a problem to society…they’re often also less of a problem to themselves. I don’t know what you mean when you say helping ‘these people’ costs too much. What kind of help are you
Answered by Lita Perna
Recovering Addicts Make Huge Contributions as Counselors
Congratulations for seeking higher education and training in this very specialized field of prevention/addiction. As you mentioned, you are attending an online university for your Bachelor’s/Master’s in psychology with a specialization in substance abuse. My question about this is “Does your degree
Answered by John O'Neal
How Long After Marijuana Use Is It Safe To Drive?
While I appreciate your faith in me, as a mental health expert and not a medical expert, I cannot give you an authoritative answer on this question. I did some research to see if there was anything out there that a medical expert had published to give you an answer, but everything I saw told me it d
Answered by Stephanie Adams
I Don't Use Drugs but I Failed a Drug Test.
You did not say what drug you tested positive for. I am also unclear if you failed the test for two different jobs. I will assume you tested positive for Benzoylecgonine, the metabolite (what’s left behind) that a body creates when cocaine has been consumed. It is proof that you have knowingly or un
Answered by Lita Perna
Threatening Suicide
Wow. Using threats of suicide to get someone back sounds manipulative and very scary. There is no way to tell whether he would have tried to kill himself or if he was simply threatening her as a way of control. Either way, it's not a good situation for your sister to be in. It's important for her to
Answered by Jill Palmer
Appropriate To Give Money To Homeless People?
Since you can't know for sure whether you are fueling an addiction or if the person would wisely use the money, I have heard (and agree) that the best way to deal with it is to keep on hand gift cards to supply them with necessary resources. Giving them a gift card to a major chain store or grocery
Answered by Stephanie Adams