The American Society of Addiction Medicine has issue a new definition of addiction. The short version good, but the long version is REALLY good. Here are some of the new elements, some of them are followed by my responses: Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Nothing new … Continue reading Top Posts of 2011 #12 – Addiction redefined
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.
Smartphones for recovery
I recently got an android phone and was looking at this app today. The app allows for all sorts of automation and reminders. It got me thinking ab0ut what might be possible for relapse prevention in treatment. Some possible uses include: Warning text messages based on location. Old using haunts, for example. These text messages … Continue reading Smartphones for recovery
Christmas, capitalism and drugs
A nice illustration of how capitalism and drugs can be a toxic combination:
Pain, meds and money
A few stories on opioids caught my eye. First, one about methadone, pain and class: Map the deaths and you see the story. Assign a dot to each person who has died in Washington by accidentally overdosing on methadone, a commonly prescribed drug used to treat chronic pain. Since 2003, there are 2,173 of these … Continue reading Pain, meds and money
Free will vs. addiction
This post from Points does a good job framing why, I think, so many people resist the concept of addiction: Although addiction may be defined and operationalized in a number of different ways, the heart and core of the concept lies in its implication of the loss of the ability to choose – that … Continue reading Free will vs. addiction
The confines of culture
I recently read a series of great posts that had no direct relationship to addiction or recovery but they got me thinking about the power of culture as a sustaining force in addiction. The series was sparked by a Forbes blogger who wrote a post entitled, If I Were A Poor Black Kid. It inspired … Continue reading The confines of culture
The wager
The passing of Christopher Hitchens caused me to reflect on libertarian thinking about drugs and alcohol. I don't like to get into reading other's minds, but, in spite of all their pragmatic arguments for libertarian drug policies, I've always thought pragmatic considerations were an afterthought and that their motivations were much more philosophical. They bristle … Continue reading The wager
Sentences to ponder
An important truth for professional helpers: “Many times when we help we do not really serve. . . . Serving is also different from fixing. One of the pioneers of the Human Potential Movement, Abraham Maslow, said, "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.' Seeing yourself as a fixer may … Continue reading Sentences to ponder
One way?
A few weeks ago, The Fix posted one of its typical confessional pieces by a guy who had been in recovery and relapsed while writing a memoir/investigative report on opiate addiction in America. He talks about his attempts to keep it real in his book led to relapse, he went to treatment, got kicked out … Continue reading One way?
Number one, community.
"... Number two, a safe place to be in recovery." Local U-M recovery advocate, Jennifer Cervi, is interviewed by Bill White. Very cool. U-M is lucky to have this program.
Recovery Review 