Healthland has a post on the relationship between identity and health: When is a label a badge of honor, and when is it a harmful stigma of sickness or deviance? This question is of critical importance to public health... But what does any of this have to do with health care? One of the best ways … Continue reading Identity and recovery
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.
Memory ‘trick’ relieves drug cravings
We've previously posted about the use of medications like propranolol to interfere with memory reconsolidation and reduce the power of addicts' neurological triggers to get high. Chinese researchers are experimenting with non-pharmaceutical approaches to using memory reconsolidation to reduce craving: Addicts tend to associate a drug's effects with drug-taking equipment and a certain environment, which can make … Continue reading Memory ‘trick’ relieves drug cravings
Criminal charges before and after initiation of buprenorphine maintenance
I would have thought this was a softball in support of buprenorphine. But, no: Among subjects with prior criminal charges, initiation of office-based buprenorphine treatment did not appear to have a significant impact on subsequent criminal charges. The paper gets a little says that this lack of effect includes drug charges. I'm no fan of … Continue reading Criminal charges before and after initiation of buprenorphine maintenance
Twelve-Step attendance trajectories over 7 years among adolescents
More evidence for the benefits of 12 step facilitation for adolescents: Results of multivariate logistic GEE models indicated that adolescents with continued 12-Step attendance had better outcomes over time, whereas those in the early but not continued group had no different long-term outcomes compared to those in the low/no attendance group. A problem, of course, … Continue reading Twelve-Step attendance trajectories over 7 years among adolescents
Nicotine replacement ineffective
A recent study found nicotine replacement ineffective: In the prospective cohort study the researchers, including lead author Hillel Alpert, research scientist at HSPH, and co-author Lois Biener of the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Center for Survey Research, followed 787 adult smokers in Massachusetts who had recently quit smoking. The participants were surveyed over three time … Continue reading Nicotine replacement ineffective
Almost alcoholic?
This article demonstrates a big problem in understanding addiction and the a big problem in the current diagnostic categories. ...when we think about alcohol abuse or alcoholism, our thoughts often go to situations like this where someone is at a stage where they are doing immediate damage to themselves or others, but what about the … Continue reading Almost alcoholic?
Opiate use soars
The AP has a story on the explosion of prescription opiate sales: Nationwide, pharmacies received and ultimately dispensed the equivalent of 69 tons of pure oxycodone and 42 tons of pure hydrocodone in 2010, the last year for which statistics are available. That's enough to give 40 5-mg Percocets and 24 5-mg Vicodins to every person in … Continue reading Opiate use soars
Project Forgive
The Detroit Free Press ran a very complicated (emotionally and cognitively) story about a recovery, a relapse, a tragedy and forgiveness. "Tom had been sober for years," Duperon said. "He was a very giving man, an extraordinary man, and life hit him, and he went back to drinking again. It's that circumstance where you have … Continue reading Project Forgive
The 3 worst arguments for marijuana legalization
Pro-legalization Reason recently posted an intellectually honest article picking apart 3 arguments frequently used by their allies: 3. Legalizing Marijuana Will End Cartel Violence in Northern Mexico 2. Marijuana Should Be Taxed and Regulated Because It Is America’s Largest Cash Crop 1.) Marijuana Should Be Legal Because It’s Medicine Reasonable people can disagree about marijuana … Continue reading The 3 worst arguments for marijuana legalization
Buprenorphine Maintenance and Health Care Professionals
Mayo Clinic Proceedings published a new article entitled, Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy in Opioid-Addicted Health Care Professionals Returning to Clinical Practice: A Hidden Controversy. From the article: When considering all of the aforementioned issues with buprenorphine diversion, it does not seem reasonable to prescribe this medication to an HCP (Health Care Professional) with a history of opioid … Continue reading Buprenorphine Maintenance and Health Care Professionals
Recovery Review 