Marc Lewis discusses an important role of endogenous opioids. Some very prominent emotion scientists have theorized that opioids (made inside our brains) are at the root of human attachment. Mother’s milk is rich with opioid molecules. In other words, nature found a surefire way to soothe the baby with its mother’s milk, using the same … Continue reading NA gives its members opioids?
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.
Changes in brain gray matter in abstinent heroin addicts
A few years ago, Bill White called for research on the neurobiology of recovery. (He noted that all of our research efforts have been focused on understanding addiction without any research on understanding recovery.) Well, some Chinese researchers have made a contribution. Good news for heroin addicts. Background Previous neuroimaging studies have documented changes in … Continue reading Changes in brain gray matter in abstinent heroin addicts
Response to Why Addiction is NOT a Brain Disease
In a thoughtful post, Marc Lewis questions the disease model of addiction. He doesn't dismiss it out of hand. He seems to look for ways in which it's right and useful. It’s accurate in some ways. It accounts for the neurobiology of addiction better than the “choice” model and other contenders. It explains the helplessness … Continue reading Response to Why Addiction is NOT a Brain Disease
Cognitive performance of opioid maintenance vs. abstinence
A new study finds lower cognitive functioning in maintenance patients compared with abstinent former users. It also found no difference between methadone patients and buprenorphine patients. Background To compare the cognitive performances of maintenance patients (MAIN), abstinent ex-users (ABST) and healthy non-heroin using controls (CON). Methods Case control study of 125 MAIN (94 … Continue reading Cognitive performance of opioid maintenance vs. abstinence
WTH?!?!? (What the heck)
I'm not, in any way, against efforts to develop pharmaceutical treatments for addiction. However, I'm of the opinion that there is a culture problem among researchers and some members of their universe. Does any serious, knowledgeable person with an eye toward practice believe that a stimulant drug is going to be an effective treatment for alcoholism? Yet, … Continue reading WTH?!?!? (What the heck)
Suboxone Strategy: Protecting Patients Or Profits?
I'm a little late on posting this one, but it still seems worth sharing. Reckitt Benckiser has decided to pull Suboxone tablets from the market. Why? It's an evidence-based decision and an expression of their desire to be a good corporate citizen and their concern for children. Late last month, Reckitt Benckiser created a stir … Continue reading Suboxone Strategy: Protecting Patients Or Profits?
One way?
So much for the frequently asserted but bogus argument that 90%+ of treatment providers in the US are one-true-way 12 steppers: The researchers surveyed 913 members of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Counselors from across the United States. About 50 percent of the respondents said it would be acceptable if some of … Continue reading One way?
Treatment is big money
From Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly: In September, when Tennessee-based Acadia Healthcare Company paid $90 million for Timberline Knolls, a 122-bed inpatient treatment program in Chicago, treatment providers wondered if their programs were worth that kind of money, bed for bed. Other deals in recent months, including Foundations Recovery Network’s acquisition in early October by … Continue reading Treatment is big money
Acomprosate – A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Recently published and found no "evidence of efficacy for acamprosate compared to placebo". However, "A goal of abstinence was significantly associated with improved drinking outcomes". Efficacy of Acamprosate for Alcohol Dependence in a Family Medicine Setting in the United States: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Background Acamprosate has been found to enhance rates of complete … Continue reading Acomprosate – A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Another Reaction to Hazelden’s Adoption of Suboxone
Mark Willenbring, a former Director of the Treatment and Recovery Research Division of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism/National Institutes of Health weighs in on Hazelden's embrace of Suboxone Hazelden's new approach is a seismic shift that is likely to move the entire industry in this direction. I told Marv that it was like … Continue reading Another Reaction to Hazelden’s Adoption of Suboxone
Recovery Review 