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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

Personality disorders are mental illnesses that involve chronic patterns of unhealthy attitudes and behaviors, inflexible thoughts, and false beliefs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder that's characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deeply-ingrained need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Beneath the excessive show of confidence, people with NPD usually have an extremely fragile self-esteem and are unable to cope with even slight criticism, according to the Cleveland Clinic. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder often use drugs or alcohol as a way of dealing with with the inevitable relationship problems and other interpersonal issues that result from this disorder, which also commonly co-occurs with other mental illnesses like depression, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder. Due to the complexity of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, one of the most effective treatments for this condition is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can be modified to treat a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse and addiction, which often co-occur with NPD.

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]

Depression is a serious mental illness that saps your energy and reduces your quality of life. Living with depression can cause other illnesses, and it can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices, including drug or alcohol abuse. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 20 percent of American adults who suffer from depression also have a substance abuse disorder, and 20 percent of people with a substance abuse disorder are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Depression can be effectively treated with both medication and psychotherapy, although the National Institute of Mental Health notes that psychotherapy is typically the best option for mild to moderate depression in adults. Psychotherapy can be administered one-on-one or in a group setting. Group therapy is less expensive than individual therapy, and numerous studies, including one meta-analytic study published by the American Psychological Association, show that there is no difference in outcomes between group and individual therapy.

Catastrophizing is a common type of cognitive distortion, which is the umbrella term for a number of irrational ways of thinking that keep us stagnant in life and negatively impact our behaviors. Psychologists often refer to catastrophizing and other cognitive distortions as "stinking thinking," because they're almost always part of the cause of anxiety, depression, addiction, and other mental health disorders. If someone you love has a tendency to catastrophize, your initial reaction may be to simply roll your eyes and assume they're simply overreacting. But in some cases, particularly when a drug or alcohol addiction is involved, catastrophizing can do some serious damage. People who catastrophize tend to deplete your energy and take up more of your time than you can afford. You may even feel threatened at times, especially if you're on the receiving end of misguided accusations or invalid conclusions.

If you have a partner, child, sibling or friend who is struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, you want to make the best possible choice for effective treatments. It's easy to be overwhelmed with the different treatment approaches available: 12-step, holistic, cognitive behavioral, etc. Is existential therapy a viable option? Keep reading to learn more.

Holistic refers to the idea that the whole is greater than merely the sum of its parts. In relation to holistic therapy for substance abuse, this concept has wide ramifications. Research has showed that addiction is a systemic brain disease marked by compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Of course, there are surefire methods of helping a person get clean. However, even these methods don't always take into consideration the whole individual. The holistic approach to treating substance abuse goes beyond traditional therapies such as those for individual, group, or family through behavioral or pharmacological treatment. Instead, this approach promotes recovery by healing the mind, body and soul.

Are you someone who has shrugged off yoga as an activity solely for other types of people? It's time you reconsider the power of Om. Yoga packs a mighty punch when it comes to developing mind-body awareness, which is why yoga should be an integral part of your addiction treatment. Before you mistakenly pass off yoga as being for "the other guy," find out how it can provide a positive impact on your addiction recovery.

As you know, depression is like a cloud hanging over everything you do. It alters who you are by affecting how you interact with and treat others. It diminishes the joys of your life and makes you see your future as a drudgery. But, thankfully, there is hope when it comes to treating depression. In addition to medication and counseling (both vital tools of recovery), art therapy has a positive impact on depression.

After you have completed treatment, the biggest challenge to enjoying a life free from addiction is learning to deal with triggers. According to UCLA, triggers are "specific environments, people and objects that can spark an addict's craving for drugs." This can be something as simple as walking into the room where drug use regularly happened or feeling an emotion that would have caused you to turn to drugs before recovery. While some triggers, like the places or people you were around when you used drugs, are avoidable, avoiding triggers is not possible 100 percent of the time. If you are struggling with the desire to use drugs, even after successfully completing a recovery program, your reaction to triggers may be to blame.

You feel like you should be able to grit your teeth and just get through urges to use. Just go cold turkey and do it on your own. But, if you are like many people who struggle, you’ll need more than willpower to overcome addiction and get past cravings to maintain your sobriety. The surprising reason why? Willpower is most likely a limited and exhaustible resource.

Substance abuse impacts the lives of every individual in a family. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (1), family members face a variety of challenges and complications when a loved one abuses drugs or alcohol. Finding the right treatment approach is crucial and allows the addicted individual to focus on personal treatment goals. Gestalt Therapy for addiction recovery is proving to be a viable option. Gestalt Therapy is a holistic approach to the recovery process that allows a person to make positive changes by understanding the factors that contribute to an addiction.