If you do need to take prescription meds, understand as much as you can about them before you ingest them.

Sleep experts believe that our 24/7 culture has created such pervasive sleep deprivation that abnormal sleepiness is the norm. Unfortunately, there is...

Virtually anything can be addictive for the "right" person at the "right" time -- one of stress or disorientation, when that experience holds out significant and powerful associations for the person, when the person is not inclined or able to be restrained.

While advances in science no doubt help us in countless ways, and in no way am I suggesting we impede the development of medicines that improve the quality of our lives, we need to keep a watchful eye on the cultural pressures some unwittingly create.

Millions of people believe that psychiatric medications have saved their lives, while millions of others report that their psychiatric medications were unhelpful or made things worse. All this can result in mutual disrespect for different choices.

It almost sounds too good to be true: painkillers that could be more effective in relieving pain and less likely to result in dependence and addiction...

We have to acknowledge that a certain percentage of the population will never be entirely drug-free, and we have to figure out what to do about that. It's costly and regressive to continually respond with arrests, drug courts and incarceration.

I know that prescription medications can help many people turn their health around, and I don't want to suggest that prescription drugs are all bad. But they are powerful enough to change our physiology and for this reason should not be taken lightly.

Safe collection and disposal policies keep medications out of landfills, groundwater and drinking water, and reduce risks of poisoning, suicide, and antibiotic resistance.

Children are learning that success comes not by training, practice and hard work, but by taking shortcuts. We tell young people, "Don't use drugs," but our beliefs and actions encourage them to win at all costs.