Following up on yesterday's post, a few articles jumped out at me. First, the Michigan legislature is considering lowering the blood alcohol level for boats and other recreational vehicles to 0.08, so that it matches the BAL for driving a car. Sorta makes sense, right? Look at the comments in the Detroit Free Press and the … Continue reading Alcohol’s place in our culture
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.
“look at alcohol!”
I frequently find myself in discussions about drug policy. I feel strongly that incarcerating people for possession is stupid and wrong, but I'm reluctant to legalize drugs. (I think there are a lot of options in between.) In these discussions, I inevitably hear someone say, "Look at alcohol. It's way worse and it's legal!" My … Continue reading “look at alcohol!”
Heroin Shortages Drive Deadly Alternatives
Though the federal government is participating in marketing buprenorphine as having low addiction potential, buprenorphine is being identified as a growing problem overseas: Responses to the drought varied by country, with drug users in each developing their own preferences for heroin alternatives, according to reports from the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and … Continue reading Heroin Shortages Drive Deadly Alternatives
Sentences to ponder
Marc Schuckit discussing findings from a 30-year study of nearly 400 men: “If you’re an alcoholic, you’re going to have a lot of mood problems,” Schuckit said. “And you may be tempted to say, ‘Well, I drink a lot because I’m depressed.’ You may be right, but it’s even more likely that you’re depressed because you … Continue reading Sentences to ponder
Sentences to Ponder
Drug policy expert Mark Kleiman: The question about my own use or non-use of pot always comes up, and I always answer the same way, with a polite (I hope) “None of your business.” I don’t think there’s any ill will involved in asking the question: journalists simply want to “place” their sources culturally on … Continue reading Sentences to Ponder
RIP Jason Molina
Indie singer-songwriter, Jason Molina recently died of alcoholism. Oregon Public Broadcasting has a nice memorial post.
Sizzurp
Lil Wayne's recent scare prompted The Atlantic to post a primer on sizzurp.
Sentences to ponder
In a book review of Drugs for Life, while discussing the Pharma driven model of health that pathologizes many normal experiences/processes" ...even while risk and illness are treated, health itself can be ill-served.
Pharma gamesmanship in addiction
Points offers a post summarizing the history of Suboxone up to the present. Including the role of NIDA in helping Reckitt: Reckitt brought Subutex and Suboxone to market with part of the costs of development absorbed by NIDA “to ease the burden to Reckitts” (Campbell and Lovell 2012: 135). They note that Reckitt had … Continue reading Pharma gamesmanship in addiction
The “decline effect” hits naltrexone
The "decline effect" hits naltrexone. Background Oral naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication for treating alcohol use disorders. Although its efficacy has been supported in multiple clinical trials, an earlier review found that its effect sizes (ESs) on relapse to heavy drinking and, to a lesser extent, percent days drinking were smaller in more recent trials … Continue reading The “decline effect” hits naltrexone
Recovery Review 