PeaPod steps into a little controversy: A professor of psychiatry, Tom McLellan is well respected and has had a distinguished career including as an advisor to the White House. When it comes to addiction, he tends to know what he’s talking about. At a conference in New Zealand last week, he said; “The consensus definition now used for … Continue reading Drug free means tobacco free?
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.
Willpower
Steven Pinker reviews a new book titled Willpower: What is this mysterious thing called self-control? When we fight an urge, it feels like a strenuous effort, as if there were a homunculus in the head that physically impinged on a persistent antagonist. We speak of exerting will power, of forcing ourselves to go to work, … Continue reading Willpower
Negotiating Recovery
An Addict In Our Son's Bedroom touches upon a very important issue for loved one's of addicts: We've all done it. Seldom, if ever does it work. We make deals, we are willing to sell our soul, our dignity and our future to an addict in an effort to stop the madness. My efforts … Continue reading Negotiating Recovery
Tolerance and Celebration
There's a lot of discussion online about multiple pathways to recovery within and outside of 12 step groups. It's prompted me to reread this great paper by Ernie Kurtz and Bill White. I tend to think that the prevalence of one-wayism is overstated by critics of twelve-step groups and treatment. This paper makes it very clear that … Continue reading Tolerance and Celebration
a family disease
Guinevere Gets Sober has a great post unpacking some of her thoughts about the new ASAM definition of addiction and what it means for the common expression that addiction is "a family disease." When I woke around 6 this morning I started to wonder: if addiction is an illness inside the addict’s neurological system, then how … Continue reading a family disease
Not God
One atheist AA member shares her story: It wasn’t magic; it was brutally hard work to get from point A to B. I do believe I’d be dead without the help of the people and the structure of the steps in AA. But I don’t believe in God.
why economics and addiction do not mix
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. —H. L. Mencken Here, here. Focusing on “how addicts make decisions” is hammering the proverbial nail in sideways.... And so, I kindly ask economics to stop trying to figure out what sort of logic addicts use. It acts as though thoughtful, tailored decision-making … Continue reading why economics and addiction do not mix
Motivational Interviewing crash course for parents
After setting up a scene of a parent with a child in the ER for the second time with alcohol poisoning, a blogger at intervene.drugfree.org offers some advice: People tend to only listen to one person — themselves. And, as a result, they’re only influenced by one person …again — themselves. So, as frustrating as … Continue reading Motivational Interviewing crash course for parents
Keep fit | Get happy
Exercise provides significant benefit for more than half of subject with depression that did not respond to SSRIs: Study participants diagnosed with depression, who ranged in age from 18 to 70 and who had not remitted with treatment using a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant medication, were divided into two groups. Each group received a … Continue reading Keep fit | Get happy
Surprisingly high 12-Step attendance?
More evidence that women (Young women, in this case.) affiliate with and benefit from AA at rates at least as high as men. (More here.) It has been assumed that young women often don’t engage in 12-Step meeting environments, because they see them as a male-dominated atmosphere. Yet that notion has rarely been subjected to critical analysis, … Continue reading Surprisingly high 12-Step attendance?
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