A letter to The Guardian expresses a sentiment that I believe is unsaid but at the at the root of many drug policy disagreements: the "war" is not only wrong in practice, it is wrong in principle. The right to intoxicate is a fundamental human right, as basic as the rights to worship or to engage in … Continue reading A basic human right
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.
do this, get that
Rabbi Taub offers an agnostic-friendly explanation of how the steps work: It is my personal belief—and this is the theologian in me talking now—that the Steps work because they conform to certain basic, immutable laws of the universe. “You do this, you get that.” ... The Steps do not teach what the laws of the universe … Continue reading do this, get that
In the news
The Times Colonist has a series on addiction that grapples with the questions of what services to provide (Namely, harm reduction vs. treatment.) in the context of scarce resources.
The Week mentioned us
We received a mention in The Week recently. I'm not sure I feel the paraphrased me entirely correctly, but close enough.
Sentences to ponder
On the dangers of excessive certitude: "There is a tendency for all of us to extend our own experiential truth to the status of universal truth and to then define differences between our own and others’ experience in categories of inferiority and superiority." — William White
Recovery as a marathon
I have a piece over at The Fix: Addiction is not an acute illness—like, say, strep throat—that can be treated and cured. Addiction is a chronic illness and, like other chronic illnesses, requires long-term treatment, monitoring and support. Think of someone suffering from cardiac disease—let’s say your Uncle Bob. He has a heart attack and … Continue reading Recovery as a marathon
Grief, love and addiction
On Being's blog draws a link between "complicated grief " (a potential new DSM-V diagnosis) and addiction. UCLA researchers found that grief over losing a loved one can take an extreme form of bereavement, stimulating the part of the brain normally associated with reward and addiction. This is called “complicated grief” and the name alone gives more … Continue reading Grief, love and addiction
A Matter of Interpretation
Stuart Gitlow is underwhelmed by a Cochrane review of naltrexone for alcohol dependence. In the process of dismantling Cochrane's conclusion (Naltrexone appears to be an effective and safe strategy in alcoholism treatment), he questions the value of drink counting. The authors reviewed 50 studies with nearly 7,800 participants. The review summary indicates that more patients … Continue reading A Matter of Interpretation
“the drug of choice right now”
The NY Times reports on the new hot drug in prisons: Mr. Barrett and other prison officials nationwide are searching their facilities, mail and visitors for Suboxone, a drug used as a treatment for opiate addiction that has become coveted as contraband. Innovative smugglers have turned crushed Suboxone pills into a paste and spread it under … Continue reading “the drug of choice right now”
If the only tool you have is a hammer…
So...the reason for benzo use in methadone programs is untreated anxiety disorders? Important information on epidemiology of BZD misuse among methadone-maintenance patients suggests that most methadone programs do not address co-occurring anxiety problems, and methadone treatment may trigger onset or worsening of BZD misuse. The first few minutes of this video includes a methadone patient … Continue reading If the only tool you have is a hammer…
Recovery Review 