Author: Jason Schwartz

I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I currently serve as the Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care for a healthcare system. I've also served as the Director of Behavioral Health at another hospital. I'm also a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work. Views expressed here are my own. Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.

The Politicization of Harm Reduction

~ Jason Schwartz

(Credit: Fred Murphy) A friend shared this interview with Susan Stellin and Graham MacIndoe with me yesterday. Susan and Graham do a lot of public education about addiction and drug problems, including their traveling exhibition Reframing Recovery. It's rare to hear a lengthy discussion that communicates such sincere respect for both recovery and harm reduction. … Continue reading The Politicization of Harm Reduction

Jekyll or Hyde? What’s the nature of the person with addiction?

~ Jason Schwartz

The following describes the divergent approaches of Dr. J. Edward Turner and Dr. Albert Day, both one-time leaders of the New York State Inebriate Asylum that operated from 1864 to 1879. The fundamental point at issue between Turner and Day was whether the inebriate was at his core Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. Although both … Continue reading Jekyll or Hyde? What’s the nature of the person with addiction?

In search of synthesis for positive and negative liberty and addiction

~ Jason Schwartz

In a recent post, I highlighted a schism in advocacy efforts related to addiction. On one end we see advocacy focused on non-interference in drug use, and various levels of facilitation of less risky drug use. These efforts largely emphasize negative liberty, or "freedom from" interference in living one's life as one chooses. On the … Continue reading In search of synthesis for positive and negative liberty and addiction

More on differing compensation and expectations in the peer recovery workforce.

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 1 Comment

Yesterday, Austin shared a post about inequities in compensation for peer recovery specialists. He closed with this thought. If we agree that, at least in this sphere of recovery, such inherent exploitation is contradictory to the overarching aim of recovery systems, then each of us must make a specific and deliberate stand to prevent the … Continue reading More on differing compensation and expectations in the peer recovery workforce.

Substance use disorder is too inclusive to be useful

~ Jason Schwartz

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: A companion infographic (SAMHSA Publication No. PEP23-07-01-007). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-nsduh-infographic The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was recently released and … Continue reading Substance use disorder is too inclusive to be useful

Protecting autonomy by denying it? Undermining autonomy by asserting it?

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 4 Comments

I started working as an addiction counselor in 1994 and I cannot recall any time since then that has been characterized by such polarization in the responses being proposed and implemented. At one pole, multiple states are proposing and passing legislation to allow for involuntary treatment. We've long had mandated treatment in criminal courts, but … Continue reading Protecting autonomy by denying it? Undermining autonomy by asserting it?