Dr. Rhet Happel
Dr. Rhet Happel is currently a second-year resident at Washington Hospital. He was born and raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. For his undergraduate education, he attended Allegheny College, where he majored in biology and minored in psychology. After that, he attended medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine before moving to Washington, PA for residency.
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
Help us celebrate National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month this September by learning more about the topic. Historically, drug and alcohol dependence were misunderstood as bad habits. More recently, the scientific community has recognized these issues as chronic medical conditions as the brain becomes rewired to become physically dependent on these substances. It can truly happen to anyone. Some individuals are at higher risk than others because of genetics, environmental influences, and specific personality traits. For alcohol use disorder specifically, genetic factors alone might be responsible for approximately half of why an individual may be vulnerable to the disorder.
Why is all this important?
The third leading cause of preventable death in the United States is alcohol consumption. In October of 2017, the Opioid Crisis was declared a Nationwide Public Emergency. By the end of April 2022, there were 108,000 deaths from overdose over the preceding 12 months.
Anyone can be suffering. If you believe that you or a loved one needs help, contact your primary care physician to receive a screening for these disorders. Make an appointment today to begin the discussion.