I've always struggled with how to talk about "process addictions" and other compulsive behaviors. More specifiically, how to distinguish them from AOD addiction.A psychiatrist wrestles with sexual addiction and wonders if obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is the best way to conceptualize sexual addiction:It seems difficult to me to distinguish OCD from so-called sexual addiction; perhaps … Continue reading Not a Tiger Woods post

On more thought from the author of the book I referenced last night:One of the things I’ve become most aware of while working on this book is the degree to which cultural critics inside and outside of the academy write about phenomena that reflect and reinforce their own tastes and worldviews. There’s a lot of … Continue reading Who are you calling square?

A new book offers a wide ranging look at addiction as a cultural phenomena. The description of the tension with academia is interesting:At another level, however, this book addresses a blind spot that seems particularly to affect academic researchers. Many recovering people have good reasons for not inquiring into the intellectual genealogies of their programs. … Continue reading terra incognita?

The group that reached this conclusion:The available experimental studies did not demonstrate the effectiveness of AA or other 12-step approaches in reducing alcohol use and achieving abstinence compared with other treatments, but there were some limitations with these studies. Furthermore, many different interventions were often compared in the same study and too many hypotheses were … Continue reading The Wisdom of Cochrane

Recently published:The investigation of the applicability of Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) for teens has only been a subject of empirical research investigation since the early 1990s. In the present review, the author describes teen involvement in AA/NA programming, provides an exhaustive review of the outcomes of 19 studies that used an AA/NA model as part … Continue reading A Review of Alcoholics Anonymous/ Narcotics Anonymous Programs for Teens

What is there to say?

Bill White makes the case for ending the use of the word "abuse", as in substance abuse. He make's 5 arguments:The term abuse applied to substance use disorders is technically inaccurateThe terms alcohol/drug/substance abuse/abuser reflect the misapplication of a morality-based language to depict a medical condition.The terms abuse/abuser contribute to the social and professional stigma … Continue reading Putting substance “abuse” to rest

Wow. This guy has written extensively on substance use disorders and domestic violence.In September 2004, William Fals-Stewart, 48, of Eden, was accused of scientific misconduct for allegedly fabricating data in federally funded studies he was undertaking as an employee at the University at Buffalo and Research Institute on Addictions. According to court papers, the allegations … Continue reading CUOMO ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST FORMER UB RESEARCHER FOR HIRING ACTORS TO TESTIFY DURING MISCONDUCT HEARING AND ATTEMPTING TO SIPHON $4 MILLION IN TAXPAYER FUNDS

A lot of people have sent this to me. I don't know what to say about it. I have an attraction/aversion thing with Gladwell. He's a great writer and fascinating, but I can't read him without thinking of this Mencken quote, "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." … Continue reading The sociology of drinking

Hmmm. I'm open to harm reduction, but I'm troubled by the culture of many harm reductionists.