The SILC Health Editorial
Clinician-reviewed.
Substance use, mental health, treatment process, and the practical questions about recovery — written for the person looking for real information, not a sales pitch. Every article medically reviewed by a physician and clinically reviewed by a licensed clinician on SILC's team.
Editorial
Clinician-reviewed
Review
Two-tier byline
Substance Use
Substance use.
- Substance Use7 min read
What Is Considered Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use — And Why It Matters
If you've been taking a benzodiazepine for weeks or months and you're wondering whether that counts as "long-term," here's what that actually means clinically — and what to do next.
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August 3, 2026 - Substance Use8 min read
Why Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Fails (And What Actually Works)
If a past attempt at quitting drinking didn't stick, that's not a personal failure — it's usually a treatment design problem. Here's how to fix it.
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July 27, 2026 - Substance Use7 min read
How Do You Know If You Have DTs? Delirium Tremens Symptoms Explained
If you're shaking, confused, or scared after stopping drinking, you're asking the right question. Here's how to tell if it's DTs — and why it can't wait.
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July 20, 2026 - Substance Use7 min read
The Unique Benefit of MAT for Opioid Use Disorder
Medication-assisted treatment does something therapy alone can't: it addresses the brain changes that drive opioid cravings at a biological level. Here's what that means for you.
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July 6, 2026 - Substance Use7 min read
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System for a Urine Test?
Alcohol clears the bloodstream in hours, but urine tests can detect it for up to 80 hours. Here is what the science says about detection windows and metabolism.
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June 22, 2026 - Substance Use8 min read
How long does Valium (diazepam) last? Duration, half-life, and what affects it
Valium has one of the longest durations of any commonly prescribed benzodiazepine. Here's what to know about peak effect, half-life, residual effects, and what shapes how long it actually stays in your system.
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June 15, 2026 - Substance Use9 min read
How to get alcohol out of your system fast: what actually works (and what doesn't)
There's no real shortcut to eliminating alcohol — your liver metabolizes it at a fixed rate. But there's a lot you can do to manage symptoms, stay safe, and decide whether you need medical help.
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June 15, 2026 - Substance Use10 min read
Ambien side effects: what to expect, what's serious, and when to call your doctor
Ambien (zolpidem) is one of the most prescribed sleep medications in the US — and it has a side effect profile that's worth understanding before, during, and after use.
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June 15, 2026
Treatment Process
Treatment process.
- Treatment Process7 min read
PHP vs. IOP vs. Inpatient: What's the Real Difference?
Trying to figure out which level of care fits your life? Here's a clear, human breakdown of PHP, IOP, and inpatient treatment — and how to pick the right one.
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August 3, 2026 - Treatment Process8 min read
What to Expect When Detoxing From Alcohol at Home
If you're searching this at 2am, you're probably scared and trying to plan. Here's what alcohol withdrawal actually looks like, and why it's one of the few detoxes that needs medical eyes on it.
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July 27, 2026 - Treatment Process7 min read
What Is the Primary Purpose of the ASAM Criteria?
If you've heard the term 'ASAM criteria' and wondered what it actually means for your care, here's the plain-English answer — and why it matters for your treatment plan.
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July 20, 2026 - Treatment Process7 min read
What Is the ASAM Criteria? Understanding How Treatment Levels Are Decided
If you've heard a counselor mention 'ASAM levels' and felt lost, you're not alone — here's what the ASAM criteria actually is and why it matters for your care.
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July 13, 2026 - Treatment Process7 min read
ASAM 3.7 Level of Care: What It Means and Who It's For
If someone told you that you or a loved one needs ASAM 3.7 care, here's exactly what that means — and what happens next.
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July 6, 2026 - Treatment Process7 min read
ASAM Level 3.7: What It Means and Who It's For
If someone told you that you or your loved one needs '3.7 level of care,' here's exactly what that means — and what happens next.
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June 29, 2026 - Treatment Process11 min read
IOP vs PHP vs inpatient treatment: which level of care do I actually need?
The continuum of care for substance use and mental health treatment runs from inpatient at the most intensive end to outpatient at the lightest. Here's how to figure out where you fit.
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June 15, 2026
Mental Health
Mental health.
- Mental Health7 min read
TMS Therapy for Depression: How Many Sessions Will You Actually Need?
Wondering how many TMS sessions it takes to feel different? Here's what the typical course looks like, why it varies, and how to get started.
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July 27, 2026 - Mental Health7 min read
Bipolar 1 vs. Bipolar 2: Which Is Worse, and Why That's the Wrong Question
Bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 aren't a ranking of "worse" and "less bad" — they're different patterns of the same illness, each with real risks worth taking seriously.
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July 20, 2026 - Mental Health7 min read
Ketamine Therapy for Depression: How It Works and What to Expect
Ketamine therapy is offering real relief to people who've tried everything else. Here's an honest, clear look at how it works and whether it might be right for you.
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July 6, 2026 - Mental Health7 min read
Panic Attack vs. Anxiety Attack: What's Actually Happening in Your Body
They both feel terrifying — but panic attacks and anxiety attacks aren't the same thing. Here's what sets them apart and what you can do right now.
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June 29, 2026 - Mental Health10 min read
PTSD symptoms checklist: when trauma needs professional treatment
PTSD symptoms cluster into four categories — intrusion, avoidance, mood/cognition changes, and arousal. Here's the clinical checklist, what's normal trauma response vs. PTSD, and when to seek treatment.
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June 15, 2026
The standard
Editorial
you can trust.
Every article on the SILC Health Editorial carries a two-tier byline. Medical review by Peter Scheid, MD — a board-certified addiction medicine specialist and SILC's Medical Director — sits alongside clinical review by Alexandra Truman, LMFT for substance use content or Christina Kayanan, LMFT, LPCC for mental health content. Each byline links to the reviewer's full profile.
Physician-level medical review verifies clinical accuracy and the safety of any pharmacological or medical claim; licensed-clinician review verifies that content reflects current scope-specific clinical understanding, uses plain language a worried family member or prospective client can follow, and stays within SILC's editorial rules: no patient stories, no outcome guarantees, no claims of a cure.
Posts are re-reviewed when clinical guidance changes, when we update site-wide messaging, or on an annual cadence — whichever comes first.