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.

Ten Years of Abstinence in Former Opiate Addicts

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 4 Comments

I recently stumbled on this article about methadone treatment in Oregon. The above graphic caught my attention. I found the original study, here are some of the highlights from it's conclusions. (MMT = methadone maintenance treatment; MR = medication free) Overall differences: The results of this study revealed that all in all, MMT patients suffered more … Continue reading Ten Years of Abstinence in Former Opiate Addicts

Update on 911 Good Samaritan Legislation in Michigan

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 1 Comment

Baby Steps This summer, Michigan Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) introduced House Bill 4843, a bipartisan measure, that would create Good Samaritan protections for individuals under the age of 21 who seek medical attention for themselves or another person believed to have overdosed. However, the Good Samaritan protections are limited to the illegal possession of prescription drugs (in … Continue reading Update on 911 Good Samaritan Legislation in Michigan

Buprenorphine Outpatient Outcomes Project

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 3 Comments

I recently came across this 2014 study of 220 buprenorphine patients. I mentioned it in another post and noted this sentence from the conclusion as underwhelming, "The number of legal charges for drug possession decreased from 70 to 62." Turns out that this sentence casts their outcomes in a misleadingly positive light. In the year … Continue reading Buprenorphine Outpatient Outcomes Project

Opiate-addicted Parents in Methadone Treatment: Long-term Recovery, Health and Family Relationships

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 3 Comments

I recently came across this 10 year follow-up of parents in methadone treatment and their children from 2011. Here's a review of their outcomes. First, here's their definition of recovery: Recovery status was based on recent drug use, history of drug problems, and history of incarceration. Long-term recovery was defined as no recent drug use (self-report … Continue reading Opiate-addicted Parents in Methadone Treatment: Long-term Recovery, Health and Family Relationships

Evidence for community

~ Jason Schwartz ~ 5 Comments

Let us hope that the frequent framing of pharmacological treatments as the only evidence-based approach doesn't eclipse the evidence for behavioral and social interventions like sober housing: Following substance abuse treatment, individuals who live in a collaborative housing setting with community rules and responsibilities have their substance abuse treated more effectively than those not provided supportive housing, according … Continue reading Evidence for community