News & Views
Marijuana’s health, policy impacts on Colorado and North Carolina
Dr. Christian Thurstone recently spoke with the Triangle Christian Medical and Dental Associations about marijuana's impacts on health and public policy, and he provides an overview of the details of a "medical marijuana" initiative being pushed by (mostly Democratic...
Treating the youth Fentanyl epidemic with MAT
Medication-Assisted Treatment, or MAT, is an increasingly important tool for addressing addiction to opiates, including powerfully potent Fentanyl, the chief driver of a significant spike in drug-overdose deaths in the United States in recent years. Consider the...
Dr. Christian Thurstone speaks on dangers of teen vaping with Fox 31
The United States Food and Drug Administration on June 23, 2022, issued marketing denial orders to JUUL Labs Inc., for all of their products currently marketed in the United States, effectively banning the maker of e-cigarette devices and other vaping products from...
Thurstone named recipient of Meritorious Service Medal
U.S. Army LTC Christian Thurstone is the recipient of The Meritorious Service Medal. To All who shall see these presents, greeting: This is to certify that the President of the United States of America authorized by Executive Order, 16 January 1969 has awarded The...
Colorado House approves regulation of THC concentrate
Colorado House lawmakers today approved a bill to regulate concentrated THC, the active ingredient of the cannabis plant strongly associated with development of psychosis and several other mental health problems. The bipartisan effort, led by Democratic Rep. Yadira...
Thurstone speaks with The Economist about overdose deaths
The headline above the May 15 report in The Economist gets straight to the point: "Last year, more people in San Francisco died of overdoses than COVID-19." As reported: "While covid-19 rampaged across the country, America’s other epidemic has quietly boiled over....
Get to know Johnny’s Ambassadors
Today, we caught the vision for a new effort to raise awareness about the potential health harms of marijuana use and the importance of seeking mental healthcare for addiction and a wide range of mental health problems, including depression, suicidal ideation and...
Recommended reading: Jesus and Mary Jane
My wife and I are always honored when someone seeks our help with the treatment of addiction and mental health. The call we received from Charlie Granade, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Rogue River, Ore., was certainly no exception. He and the Rev. Barnabas...
Thurstone talks mental health in the days of COVID-19 with 9News
Today, KUSA 9News in Denver helped advance the mission of Mental Health Awareness Month with a panel discussion examining things to consider about mental health during in these days of the coronavirus known as COVID-19. I am honored to have been invited to...
Resources for those affected by COVID-19
I am based in Colorado, so this roundup of resources offering help during the COVID-19 outbreak is state-specific. However, I hope it provides some ideas for others compiling similar lists. Regardless of where you are, please contact me if you have a link to share....
Read the book
Clearing the Haze is a guide designed to help parents determine whether their child may have a substance problem and, if so, how to begin to address it. This book includes the voices and insight of experts in substance abuse counseling, young people in recovery, and parents who have lived the nightmare of adolescent addiction.