Not sure what to make of this: A Chinese research team's study of drug addiction treatments published inScience on 13 April is coming under fire from Human Rights Watch (HRW), the New York City-based advocacy group. This week's issue of Science contains a letter from the group accusing the Chinese team of not making it clear whether their … Continue reading Rights Group says U.S.-backed study exploited China prisoners
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.
We’re not alone
Pat Deegan linked to a report on the state of treatment for schizophrenia for medicaid recipients. Although there was some state-to-state variation in the findings, the study found that, while more than 90 percent of beneficiaries with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder received an evidence-based medication during the year, only 61 percent of those beneficiaries continuously … Continue reading We’re not alone
“a life beyond imagination, but it was fleeting”
So sad. Thoughts from someone who went to treatment with a British heiress who recently died of addiction. They both stayed sober for more than 10 years and both relapsed. (Warning: I don't like the writer's use of the 'r' word.) So I got lucky, and Eva didn’t. I’m sure her parents and her people … Continue reading “a life beyond imagination, but it was fleeting”
A commercial note
For all of you Michigan addiction professionals, we are now offering distance CEs for all MCBAP certifications. We'd rather see you in person, where you can get CEs for free. But, if you can't make it, this is a great way to get recovery-oriented CEs pretty cheap. Spread the word!
Songs of addiction and recovery
The drugs don't work: "There's a new track I've just written," he says, nervously avoiding eye contact. "It goes the drugs don't work, they just make me worse, and I know I'll see your face again'. That's how I'm feeling at the moment. They make me worse, man. But I still take 'em. Out of … Continue reading Songs of addiction and recovery
Following the evidence
Ouch: Abstract: This paper raises the question about whether the data on the medications we call antidepressants justify the label of antidepressant. The authors argue that a true antidepressant should be clearly superior to placebo, should offer a risk/benefit balance that exceeds that of alternative treatments, should not increase suicidality, should not increase anxiety and … Continue reading Following the evidence
Sentences to ponder
On drug policy reform: "Demonstrating that the frying-pan is hot does not prove that it would be prudent to leap into the fire." --Keith Humphreys
Goodbye
Steve Earle introduces this song by sharing the 1 minute version of his story and referring to the song as "kind of a 9th step in the key of C": [Thanks for the tip Bart!]
GlaxoSmithKline’s corruption
The details are simultaneously exactly what you'd expect and shocking. And some people wonder why we're reluctant to embrace the latest and greatest pharmacological fad. Keep all of this in mind next time someone suggests that medicalizing addiction treatment will improve professionalism, ethics and reliance on scientific evidence. Sham advisory boards: Glaxo also used sham … Continue reading GlaxoSmithKline’s corruption
The medical model and recovery
Yesterday's post about the disease model and recovery got me thinking about complaints that treatment is not medical enough. It's worth noting that mental health treatment has a medical model and these patients believe it's been harmful to them. What they want is something more like the holistic lifestyle approach, peer support and talk therapy that one … Continue reading The medical model and recovery
Recovery Review 