THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL 6 www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com <strong>December</strong> <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong> www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com www.facebook/thevalleybusinessjournal For questions, comments, or story ideas, please e-mail publishertvbj@verizon.net or call (951) 461-0400. EDITOR/PUBLISHER/CEO Linda Wunderlich Email: publishertvbj@verizon.net ADVERTISING SALES INFORMATION (951) 461-0400 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Helen M. Ryan VP OF DISTRIBUTION Dane Wunderlich Addiction and Mental Illness is a Public Health Crisis by Matthew Taylor Let me first introduce myself, my name Matthew Taylor proud owner of TaylorMade Counseling & Consulting. Also, I am your Addiction and Mental Health Rehabilitation Therapist. I am so excited to be a new contributor and writer for this great publication, The Valley Business Journal. Overdose is now the #1 cause of accidental death in the United States, recently surpassing car accidents. Every four minutes a parent loses a child to addiction, and the rising cost of addiction now exceeds $400 billion a year. Research shows that the stigma of addiction keeps people from getting the treatment needed and my goal is to help change that narrative. This is a fact 1 in 3 families are impacted by substance use disorder but only 1 in 10 ever seek treatment, while we are looking at numbers let me share one more number with you, well a little more than one more number. It is estimated to cost businesses more than $193 million annually due to employee substance use. Not very long ago addiction was considered a moral affliction. Addicts were seen as bad people, devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification, rather than individuals suffering from a mental and physical affliction. After years of research, we now have a more enlightened understanding of addiction with the current model revealing that addiction is a chronic, progressive disease of the brain. In fact, addiction is sometimes alternately referred to as a substance use disorder, which prompts comparisons to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia as frequently as illnesses like diabetes. In my opinion Addiction and Mental Illness are siblings just with their own different personalities. In terms of psychological symptoms, individuals who have developed addictions have a dramatically disrupted hierarchy of needs, suggested by their tendency to act against their own self-interests. This is illustrated by the habitual substance abuse behavior in spite of the numerous consequences, including a decline in overall physical health and potential legal repercussions. As such, addicts become incapable of controlling their impulses, which is also a symptom of many other mental illnesses. Ok, it was not a mistake that I launched my new company here in Wildomar, California but I have one request of you, please help to make a difference in our communities. Matthew Taylor, AODC, MHRT, CCFP STAFF WRITERS/ CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gene Wunderlich Ted Saul Craig Davis Stefani Laszko Nicole Albrecht Julie Ngo Tom Plant Esther Phahla Steve Amante Monique deGroot Andrea Shoup Gloria Wolnick Dr. Drake Levasheff, PhD Mort J. Grabel, Esq. John & Christine Hamby Brian Connors Tristin Collopy Dr. Pat Utnehmer Bonnie Woodrome Haley Munson Criteria for Submitting Articles: 1. Since the publication of articles is an added public relations feature for our advertisers, their articles will be given first priority. Other articles will be published on a space available basis. 2. Articles should be submitted as a Word document file. 3. Articles must be business-oriented and pertain to the author’s area of expertise. A photo of the writer is appropriate. 4. All submissions are subject to editing by the publisher. 5. Send completed articles by e-mail to: publishertvbj@ verizon.net 6. Article and advertising deadlines are the 15th of each month for the next issue. The Valley Business Journal is a California Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the Publisher is prohibited. The publication is published monthly. The opinions and views expressed in these pages are those of the writer or person interviewed and not necessarily those of The Valley Business Journal. The Valley Business Journal hereby expressly limits its liability resulting from any and all misprints, errors and/or inaccuracies any advertisement or editorial may contain, to the credit of the specific advertising payment and/or the running of a corrected advertisement or editorial correction notice.
<strong>December</strong> <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong> THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com 7