I stumbled upon this interesting study that's based on a thought experiment. Researchers asked smokers the following question, "Imagine that a new ’clean’ nicotine product has been developed. This new product is as satisfying to use as smoking cigarettes. It is also as addictive as cigarettes, but it is far less harmful than cigarettes. It … Continue reading harm-free addiction?
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.
Portugal – “Is there really always a spot in a drug treatment facility?”
The quote below is from a piece that compares San Francisco's drug plan to Portugal. The author appears to be an advocate of a comprehensive response to San Francisco's drug problem -- criminal justice reform, harm reduction, treatment, etc. -- so she definitely is not making an argument against harm reduction. She refers to an … Continue reading Portugal – “Is there really always a spot in a drug treatment facility?”
Should addiction treatment prefer abstinence (however we define it)?
The is a post was initially published in 2018. Please note that abstinence can mean abstinence from illicit drugs, or abstinence from all drugs that produce euphoria or are commonly misused (including agonist medications, benzodiazepines, etc.). For the purposes of this post, this distinction is irrelevant because the arguments in the second article really apply … Continue reading Should addiction treatment prefer abstinence (however we define it)?
What to make of nicotine addiction?
Background David McCartney wrote a great post about the PHP model of care that addicted physicians receive and its outstanding outcomes. David framed the PHP model as the gold standard treatment. I also frequently call PHPs the gold standard. I recently shared an interview with Robert DuPont discussing his discovery that his methadone patients were … Continue reading What to make of nicotine addiction?
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Josh Meisler
Who are you? My name is Josh Meisler. I am a social worker and father of two school-aged daughters. What do you do professionally? I manage Recovery Support Services programming for Growth Works Inc. We are a non-profit agency based in Wayne County, Michigan. Do you have any personal interest in addiction and recovery that … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Josh Meisler
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Kristal Reyes
A friend shared this video of Kristal. It's so great that I wanted to share it with you and re-up her interview. https://youtu.be/lWVbHjl8JS8 Who are you? That is a loaded question! My name is Kristal Reyes, and I am a person in long-term recovery. I am also a wife, I'm a mother, I'm the Director … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Kristal Reyes
Developing insight, destabilizing insight
I was poking around in some journals looking for something to post about. I found 3 articles that interested me. One describes the intuitive truth that insight is associated with change, while the other two seem to complicate acquiring that insight. Broken brains? Photo by meo on Pexels.com Curing the broken brain model of addiction: … Continue reading Developing insight, destabilizing insight
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Jude Johnson-Hostler
This interview was done by Chris Budnick. Thanks Chris and Jude! Who are you? Well, I will first start by saying I'm a woman in long term recovery. What that means is that I haven't found a reason, since June the 13th, 1991, to use any substance. I'm also a mom, a grandmother, a wife. … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Jude Johnson-Hostler
“I was running a heroin treatment program, they died of alcoholism”
David's post from yesterday explored some of Robert DuPont's research on programs for addicted physicians. Here's a recent interview with Dupont that explores his experience as a pioneer in methadone treatment, the cultural specificity found in 12 step meetings, the disease model, the "hijacked" brain, physician recovery programs, prevention, and engagement in treatment.
Radical empathy for Joe Biden (and parents affected by addiction)
Radical empathy is not about you and what you would do in a situation that you have never been in and perhaps never will. It is the generosity of spirit that opens your heart to the true experience and pain and perspective of another. . . . The work that goes into learning another person’s … Continue reading Radical empathy for Joe Biden (and parents affected by addiction)
Recovery Review 