Dr. Po Chang Hsu, MD, MS

As the opioid epidemic continues to grip the nation, heroin has emerged as a popular and dangerous street drug. To avoid detection by authorities, drug dealers often use code names for their products. Heroin, which has been in circulation for decades, is known by many different street names depending on the location. What Exactly Is…

The Los Angeles Department of Mental Health reported in 2018 that there were 1,316,000 residents with depression. Of those, 496,000 are male, and 812,000 are female. The age group with the highest number of depression was 30 to 39, with 250,000 people. This group was followed by 249,000 people aged 50 to 59; 229,000 aged…

A dual diagnosis occurs when someone experiences a mental health condition and a substance abuse problem. If you suspect you have a mental health condition and addiction, you might be interested in exploring the various treatment programs available. In this article, we’re taking a close look at the link between depression and addiction. Depression And Addiction…

If you’re worried about experiencing a relapse while recovering from addiction, you may be interested in ways to prevent relapse and maintain the course on your recovery journey. In this article, we’re exploring how to prevent relapse and providing six helpful habits to try. How To Prevent Relapse You are an overcomer. You have achieved great…

The negative impact of addiction is widely known. However, despite the latest research from mental health and therapy professionals, there are several serious misconceptions people still believe. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at 7 of the most common myths about addiction. 7 Myths About Addiction While the research and industry knowledge on addiction treatment…

DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) is a technique therapists often use to help people with certain mental conditions. While this technique was originally developed to encourage mental health improvement, it is also helpful when treating addiction. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at DBT for addiction. DBT For Addiction Addiction has a long history…

The family plays an important role in successful addiction recovery. It’s all too common for people with an addiction to seek support without their family’s support, making it more difficult to move forward honestly and transparently. In this article, we’re exploring the importance of family support for addiction recovery. Family Support For Addiction Recovery In…

Some addictions require close medical attention and care throughout recovery to ensure the patient is safe. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at one of the concerns we hear often from people interested in overcoming addiction – what is PHP treatment? What Is PHP Treatment? At first glance, partial hospitalization sounds like a step…

Although the causes of addiction aren’t as big of a mystery to us as they may have been in the past, there are still many things we don’t completely understand. As meticulous as the scientific community can be, studies are imperfect, and many theories require years of research and data analysis to verify. As such,…

Oscar Wilde said, “Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live. It is asking others to live as one wishes to live.” Selfishness is a trait that everyone has. Whether we want to admit it, we tend to be biased toward ourselves. We think our way is the best, our views are the better, and…

One thing about addiction that is undeniable is that it does not discriminate. Addiction does not care about age, sex, skin color, or sexuality. It doesn’t care whether you go to church or abstain from religion. It does not look at your paycheck to determine your income and class. Addiction has a singular target: humanity.…

An addict is always in recovery. I am sure you have heard that statement before, as there is no cure for addiction. Once you hit recovery, that is where you will stay – unless you relapse. For an addict, the risk of relapsing is always right around the corner. Let’s face it – relapse happens.…

Cocaine is a stimulant derived from coca leaves. First discovered and used as a medicinal tool after the creation of coca wine in the 19th century, cocaine today is an illicit drug capable of creating a powerful sense of joy and euphoria, followed by an extreme crash. It is highly addictive and has extensive side effects…

Drug addiction has an unfortunately high likelihood of causing permanent damage to the body and mind – and far too often, it ends in death. The dangers of drug addiction can’t be understated, and they’re more relevant today than ever before, as an overdose without treatment is the leading cause of death in the United…

Living a sober life is a challenge – but challenges are what shape people and, generally, help us become stronger and better individuals. When framing something as a challenge, it doesn’t become an impossible wall to climb but a mountain to conquer. That’s exactly the kind of attitude that best describes a successful recovery –…

At its core, the conversation around addiction prevention versus addiction intervention reflects a similar dichotomy in medical circles: prevention vs. cure. Everyone knows the adage: prevention is better than cure. But in the case of addiction, it’s not quite so clear-cut and simple. The thing about addiction is that you have to approach it as…

In a way, we are the sum of our experiences and perceptions of people around us. Through our families, friends, adversaries, and role models, we create an image of what we should be like, and struggle to fulfill those self-set expectations. In a perfect world, the family helps us not just figure out who we…

Addiction in the family can be very delicate, but when approached correctly, you can help avert a great amount of tragedy and find an opportunity to help your family member onto a path of recovery long before things hit rock bottom. Learning how best to talk about addiction to that family member is important to…

If you are ready to enter rehabilitation for your addiction, it’s important to understand your options. There are different levels of care depending on how intensive your treatment plan is. Each patient’s needs are assessed based on the level of their addiction, whether they can take weeks off of work, their family obligations, whether the…

In short: yes, addiction can kill. But rather than keep it at that, it’s better to go in-depth into how and why addiction can kill you – and how you can keep it from killing you. There’s no doubt that addiction carries with it a lot of baggage. It can lead to long-term damage to your…

In days gone by, an excuse arose: “the devil made me do it.” The idea behind this phrase is that there are always nefarious spirits lurking about, whispering in our ears and encouraging us to do things that are against our self-interest. Temptation, in this worldview, is the manifestation of these invisible whisperers knowing what…

Starting on the road to sobriety is an exciting time. Dreams and hopes tend to come easily, as all of the possibilities for a future without drugs and alcohol appear bright. As your journey progresses, it is important not to lose sight of those initial hopes. The following is a list of some of the…