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Over the years there has been a wealth of data compiled concerning the consumption of alcohol by women during pregnancy. For decades, the general consensus has been that it is best for pregnant women to abstain from alcohol consumption; however, the emergence of new studies places the question surrounding alcohol consumption and pregnancy back at the forefront of medical discussions. Although some studies have surfaced that suggest that moderate consumption of alcohol by pregnant women does not increase the risk of neurodevelopmental issues in the fetus, the predominance of evidence to the contrary is clear in the expression of the need for pregnant women to abstain from alcohol consumption. While Americans appear to be more conservative when it comes to drinking during pregnancy, alcohol consumption during pregnancy is far more pervasive in Europe. There seems to be a common perception in Europe that “moderate” drinking during pregnancy is okay.

With the 2016 presidential campaign currently in full swing, there is no shortage of topics on which these candidates are squaring off. With drug addiction being such a prevalent issue in the U.S., many people are interested in knowing where these candidates stand as far as addiction treatment is concerned. Currently, it is estimated that as many as 23 million Americans are struggling with addiction and drug abuse. What is even more alarming is the fact that only 11 percent of these individuals will actually receive professional treatment. There is a common notion that one of the primary causes for such a low percentage of people who suffer from addiction actually receiving treatment is the criminalization of drug addiction, which creates a negative connotation that inhibits people who are struggling with addictions from seeking health. Following are some of the thoughts and stances of the leading 2016 presidential candidates as revealed in the Washington Post.

In late 2014, California voters adopted Proposition 47, a landmark bill that impacted the sentencing of drug-related offenses. This new legislation reclassified drug possession and several other non-violent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. It's been estimated that Proposition 47 could reduce the sentencing for over a million offenders, the majority of whom were arrested on non-violent drug charges. The adoption of this bill has been met with controversy: is it a way to treat casual offenders with more compassion and reduce prison crowding, or is it a "get out of jail free" card that allows repeat offenders to game the system? Let's take a closer look at the details of this sentencing reform and talk about its consequences on the legal system in California.

The presidential hopefuls for 2016 have weighed in on a number of issues over the last several months as they gear up for the primary push. With more states acquiescing to the legalization of marijuana, many people are concerned with where the 2016 candidates stand on the access to drugs and the legalization of drugs that have historically been classified as illegal. The majority of the candidates have voiced their opinions on the subject, with their positions ranging from moderate to extremely conservative. Jeb Bush While admitting to having used marijuana in the late 1960s, presidential hopeful former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) has taken a strong stance against the legalization of marijuana. He has stated that his use of marijuana in the past was stupid, and that he does not believe that legalizing it is in the best interest of the country. He also supports increasing funding to create programs that reduce teen substance abuse. Dr. Ben Carson Republican candidate Dr. Ben Carson stands somewhere in the middle on the issue of drug legislation. While opposing the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, he does support legalizing medical marijuana. According to Carson, his religious convictions kept him from using during the '60s when it was popular among people his age. Hillary Clinton Former Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), also former Secretary of State, has taken somewhat of an ambiguous stand on the drug issue. According to the Wall Street Journal, she is clear in her support of medical marijuana; however, she has chosen to withhold judgment, for now, on the recreational use of marijuana. It is likely that she will defer to individual states to make the final decision on recreational use. Ted Cruz While Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has not weighed in on the actual issue of access and legalization, he believes that mandatory minimum sentencing for drugs should be reduced. Mandatory sentencing laws are becoming a significant issue among many constituents on all sides of the political arena. Lindsey Graham While many of his counterparts have been soft spoken on the issue of drugs, especially marijuana, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has taken a stern stance. He is not in favor of needle exchange programs, nor does he support medical use of marijuana, voting against both in the Washington, D.C., area. Mike Huckabee When it comes to the issue of drugs, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) has been outspoken in favor of increased sentencing standards for drug offenses. He is also in favor of drug courts for nonviolent offenders, believing that drug courts might be a more effective response to the rise in drug abuse and drug addiction. He has remained relatively quiet on the issue of legalization and access. Bobby Jindal Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has been clear in his stance against any type of legalization of drugs, although he has suggested that too many people are locked up for casual drug use. He believes the focus should be placed on rehabilitation for individuals who struggle with addiction. Donald Trump While Republican Donald Trump has made it clear that he never uses drugs or consumes alcohol, he is for the legalization of drugs, suggesting that the tax revenue generated by the legal sale of drugs should be used to fund drug education on a national scale. While there are a couple of candidates who are taking a hard-nosed approach to the issue of drug legalization, the majority are finding a comfortable median that will allow them to successfully navigate along the line of public opinion. With the legalization of certain drugs having the potential to impact the nation both socially and economically, it will likely play an integral role in the 2016 election moving forward. Photo credit I, Daniel Schwen [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons Sources: Reinhold, Beth, "Third Way," Wall Street Journal, 2014 Staff, On the Issues - Drugs, On The Issues, 2015

The 2016 Presidential race is building steam as candidates are weighing in on a number of issues in an effort to differentiate their position from their competition’s. The more presidential candidates speak out on social, cultural, and economic issues, the more they develop a sense of identity with the public. Mental health is a prevalent issue in the U.S., and many Americans are concerned with the specific opinions of the candidates from all political affiliations on this topic. While politicians commonly change positions and ideologies, the following points are the most recent established positions of the 2016 presidential candidates on mental health and available treatment, as revealed by “On the Issues.”[1]

When recovering from addiction, it is important to be surrounded by a peaceful and tranquil environment. One of the best ways to provide this type of environment for our patients was to partake in a house blessing ceremony. Once we had completed the renovations on our newest house, (which will soon be integrated into our programs), we partook in a non-denominational house blessing ceremony. During this ceremony we had a Buddhist monk, a priest, and a minister walk throughout the home burning sage and each saying a personal blessing. There are many benefits to having a house blessing ceremony, especially during addiction recovery.